NCEA Business Manager

The overarching purpose of the role is to oversee and co-ordinate both the financial and project reporting of the NCEA Programme. This post holder will work closely with the NCEA Programme Lead and Programme Manager and will be a key part of an effective programme management team. Specifically, they will be responsible for monitoring and managing both the finances/ budgets of the programme as well as monitoring and collating performance metrics (for example, delivery milestones and KPIs) and reporting them to Defra.
Key Work Areas:
Working as part of the NCEA Programme Management Team, there are two key aspects to this role:
1) The post holder will be responsible for managing all aspects of the programme’s finances, budgets, financial reporting and forecasting. This will involve monitoring income and expenditure, processing invoices, oversight of change control, submitting monthly financial reports to Defra and working with the Programme Lead and Manager to develop future budgets.
2) The post holder will also be responsible for reporting and monitoring the programme’s performance. This will involve checking the status of individual projects through regular communication with FR Scientist and finance staff, checking performance delivery against KPIs and submitting regular performance reports to Defra.
Both the finance management and performance reporting aspects of this post will be achieved through liaison with business and scientific colleagues across FR and Defra. There is also a strong requirement to develop contacts across the broader programme with colleagues in Natural England, Environment Agency, Kew and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).
There is a requirement to work at either our Northern Research Station or Alice Holt 2 or 3 times per week. In addition, there will be some occasional (up to 6 times per year) travel that will require the post-holder to stay away from home., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Working Together
+ Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Communicating and Influencing, If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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+ Degree level trained, or significant relevant experience
+ Significant and demonstrable financial and budgetary management skills and track record of developing and monitoring large-scale project budgets and financial data
+ Relevant project management knowledge, skills and experience and a track record of delivering projects and performance reports in a timely and accurate manner
+ Strong and demonstrable organisational skills, relationship management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
+ Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including written reports and presentations
+ Experience of working with and influencing a wide range of stakeholders and partners
+ Expertise in the MS Office suite, especially Project, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint and Word.
Desirable Criteria:
+ Skills in gathering and using evidence to assess the costs, benefits and risks of delivery options when making commercial decisions
+ Formal project management and or financial training
+ An understanding of relevant legal, civil service and commercial terms, concepts, policies and processes, including project approvals, assurance and delivery procedures
+ Experience with providing a first pass review of legal documentation and working with external legal partners to ensure contractual risk is reduced.

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science? Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis? Forest Research is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.
We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways. Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our natural environment. With locations across the UK, you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer who promotes agile working to help you manage your work life balance. If you want to be a part of a growing organisation that makes a difference, find out more at Homepage - Forest Research
The Centre for Inventory, Forecasting and Operational Support (IFOS) at Forest Research have been involved in mapping and field data collection solutions for over 20 years. IFOS provides practical software and data solutions to help our customers manage information about their woodland resource in a pragmatic and integrated way. We also provide information, evidence and official statistics on the woodland resource in GB. We do this by blending GIS, Data Science, Statistics, Mapping and Forestry skills providing analysis, modelling and data processing solutions to answer the questions and queries posed to us.
The UK Government is committed to protecting and enhancing our natural capital, halting the decline in our biodiversity, adapting to, and mitigating against climate change, and leaving the environment in a better state for future generations. As part of this commitment, Defra’s £140 million Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme is delivering a nationwide survey of England’s land, coast, and sea: mapping the location, extent and condition of our ecosystems and the benefits they provide. At Forest Research, NCEA is a large programme, totalling £4.9 million p.a., where all forest and woodland ecosystem types are being monitored to enable the production of a set of Natural Capital Accounts and a broad environmental evidence base for all English ecosystems.

Alongside your salary of £45,260, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £13,111 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Your career
+ Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
+ access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings.
Your work/life balance
+ flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave. Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities
+ A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays.
Your wellbeing
+ A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
+ A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
+ We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays
+ Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time.
Your benefits
+ a highly competitive Civil Service Pension of 28.97% your salary
+ an employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops
+ Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans
+ Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports
+ With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave there’s the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.
Any move to Forest Research 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/.