DIO-Sustainability Programme Assurance Assistant Head

About the Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Do you want to work for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and play a key role in keeping our country safe through caring for the Defence estate and those that depend on it? DIO manages the Defence estate, one of the UK’s largest and most diverse property portfolios, enabling the armed forces and Defence civilians to live, work, train and deploy. From net carbon-zero accommodation to runways for the F35 fighter jets, our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe!
About DIO Strategy & Plans (S&P) Capability – Sustainability team
The Sustainability Team is the focal point for cohering and planning sustainability activity within DIO, working alongside Head Office to develop a road map to support Defence’s Approach to Sustainable Infrastructure. It is essential for Defence to understand the transition plan to NetZero, risks, and adaptation plan in the fight against Climate Change and how it supports wider sustainability initiatives such as nature recovery and care for the environment. The team has a key role in supporting the MOD Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach (Epochs 1 – 3) out to 2050, forthcoming MOD Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy, and Greening Government Commitment targets. The Sustainability team provides oversight, coherence, and co-ordination of the delivery of sustainability activity with key customers from across both DIO and the wider defence infrastructure enterprise.
The post provides an excellent opportunity to develop programme governance and rigour and track key sustainability activity across the defence enterprise along with exposure to work directly with Head Office and our TLB Customers operating as a single team. This is the chance to work in an exciting, high profile, cross functional and fast paced environment, that is tackling one of the biggest environmental challenges of our lifetime and is an opportunity to make a difference.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week., The post holder will play a crucial role in influencing and implementing defence wide sustainability initiatives and strategies. You will work closely with the senior Capability team, Head Office and TLB Customers to improve sustainability capability across the organisation. By effectively managing the sustainability portfolio of work, the Programme Assurance Assistant Head plays a critical role in embedding governance and rigour; whilst ensuring the portfolio is set up for success.
We operate in a fast paced and complex environment, so you must be flexible and resilient. A big part of what you will do is key stakeholder management and influence future priorities. You will need to be self-motivated and inspiring to bring others on board with the vision and be able to work within a broad role which underpins the whole portfolio. You are expected to display a commitment to continuous improvement, leading change, and improving performance.
Strong leadership and sound programme delivery experience are critical elements of this role, as is the ability to prioritise and manage a workload, analyse complex information, present recommendations, and make effective decisions. You must provide clear direction and focus, visibly championing the changes which deliver greater efficiencies. The Sustainability team expects all leaders within the team to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results.
Programme Management and Assurance (70%)
+ Build and develop the Sustainability Central Function to support the Defence Approach to Sustainable Infrastructure (DASI
+ Build out the Reporting requirements for the DASI portfolio in addition to wider DIO and MOD reporting requirements.
+ Oversee the Risk Management process and Risk Reporting requirements.
+ Work closely with the DASI core team and external suppliers to establish a benefits Management process and establish business-as-usual activities to support this.
+ Understand the multiple individual projects within DASI and lead on the tracking of multiple milestones and deliveries.
+ Lead on the identification of where there are dependencies on the development of DASI.
+ Oversee and lead on the management of the Financials, budgets, tracking of business cases, and annual budget cycle reviews.
+ Ensure business continuity across the DASI portfolio.
+ Lead on the governance and assurance of all DASI portfolio practices ensuring the team remain compliant on mandatory requirements.
+ Oversight of the full portfolio of work, progress tracking, and ensure all tracking and supporting processes are in place and documented covering all aspects of Business-as-Usual activities.
+ Problem solve, coordinate, de-conflict and raise any issues relating to the portfolio; provide reports and detailed information on the performance of the programme to inform benefits realisation.
+ Lead on planning and arranging secretariat support for the wider portfolio when required.
+ Adapt to changing priorities and tasks.
+ Provide oversight and leadership to adhoc tasks.
+ Organise time/workload to achieve outcomes required.
+ Provide support on continuous improvement and learning from experience activities.

Communication & Stakeholder Management (20%)
+ Strong collaboration and communication skills and experience working with key stakeholders to progress work.
+ Effectively communicate progress to Management, the wider team, and other senior stakeholders.
+ Influence and challenge stakeholders where appropriate.

Line Management (10%)
+ Assume line management responsibilities initially for 1xC1 and 1xC2. There is potential that the number of direct reports will increase.
+ Manage Mid-Year and End of Year Reviews, and frequent 1-1 meetings.
+ Oversight of team development, progress, welfare, and motivation., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Leadership
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Leadership
+ Communicating and Influencing, When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
Sift Stage
At sift stage you will be assessed against the following Successful Profiles Behaviours:
+ - Leadership
+ - Communicating and Influencing
Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history, full details of education and qualifications and previous experiences and skills. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.
Candidates will be required to complete a Statement of Suitability/Personal Statement of no more 500 words, providing details relevant to the essential and desirable experience in the job advert.
Interview Stage
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:
+ - Leadership
+ - Communicating & Influencing
+ - Managing a Quality Service
+ - Delivering at pace
+ - Working together
Further Information
The requirements for the role have been bench-marked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you are selected for an interview.
Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit.
You will also be expected to achieve Security Check clearance for this role
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

1. Demonstrable experience of managing multiple and competing priorities (essential)
2. Proven experience in managing a portfolio pf projects or programmes (essential)
3. Demonstrable experience of implementation of processes (essential)
4. Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively and delivering through others (essential)
5. Demonstrate experience in building and leading reporting frameworks, financial management, benefits realisation, risk management and strategic planning within a portfolio setting (essential)
6. Demonstrate experience of line management and leadership (essential)
7. A good working knowledge of Office 365

Alongside your salary of £57,670, Ministry of Defence contributes £16,706 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.