Project Support Officer

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
The Customer Services Group brings together Asylum & Human Rights, Asylum Support and Dispersal, Asylum Accommodation Centres, Resettlement Group, Passports, Citizenship & Civil Registration, Customer Operations Support Services and UK Visas & Immigration. As a major operational arm of the Home Office, we play a vital role in supporting the economy and cultural life of the UK.
This post reports to the SEO Project Support Officer working on one of the Governments Major Programme Portfolios (GMPP) – Asylum Support Accommodation Programme (ASAP). The Programme is responsible for delivering a suite of new and transformed non detained accommodation and support service contracts which meet all of the department’s requirements ensuring they are effective, scalable accommodation with a high degree of flexibility to address future changes., + Integrated Assurance - Responsible for ensuring Programme/Projects or activities have appropriate levels of assurance for the complexity of the programme/project, Including supporting external IPA reviews and Integrated Assurance planning.
+ Programme and Project Reporting – Responsible for co-ordinating key progress updates from across the Programme/projects and a variety of stakeholders to provide regular and accurate updates on cost, scope, and delivery timescales to governance boards. Developing board packs, performance reports and data sets.
+ Planning & Scheduling - Implement and maintain appropriate systems to enable effective planning for tracking and monitoring milestones. Close working with Project Teams/Stakeholders to ensure a robust MSPO plan is produced and maintained.
+ Risks, Issues & Dependency Management - Manage risks & issues using appropriate risk methodology and supporting tools. Working with risk owners to capture mitigations and escalating as appropriate. Ensure alignment of associated risks, issues and dependencies are aligned with programme/project plans and escalated when needed.
+ Change Control – Help support and maintain a Change Control Process in accordance with required standards.
+ Configuration Management – Maintain control procedures for managing and storing documentation to identify, track and protect the assets and products of the Programme/Projects.
+ Stakeholder Management and Communications - There is a key role in maintaining effective stakeholder engagement and communication with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
Note: Responsibilities may be subject to change and the jobholder will need to be flexible depending on wider demands and resources within the team. You may be required to carry out other duties within the scope of the grade.
Working Pattern
We encourage applications from candidates who wish to work part-time; however, part-time opportunities cannot be guaranteed and are subject to the requirements of the role and business. Candidates wishing to work part-time should notify the vacancy holder as soon as a provisional offer of employment is made, to explore whether this can be accommodated at your selected location., We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.
1. Application – by 7th November 2024
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
+ Personal Statement (maximum 750 words).
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
2. Sift – week commencing 11th November 2024
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement.
3. Interview – week commencing 2nd December 2024
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be:
+ Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions.
The interview will take place via Microsoft Teams.
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
You will only be able to select a single location preference so please ensure this is a location that you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at your preferred location and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
Additional Security Checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.
Further information
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.
If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.
For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Visa sponsorship
We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
+ Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
o 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
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
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)., If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

We are looking for someone who can work well in a team to deliver a quality service. You need to be self-motivated, and confident to take ownership of your work, building robust and professional processes to deliver products to time and quality. You should be able to manage and adapt to change with ease and react positively. If you are not currently part of the Project Delivery Professional, we need to see evidence of your transferable skills, experience, and your willingness to join the PDP profession., + Evidence of playing a key role in a PMO team or supporting delivery of change initiatives.
+ Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships. Engaging with colleagues across the team and wider business to deliver agreed objectives.
+ Strong communication skills with the ability to communicate at all levels.
+ Ability to work with ambiguity and to re-prioritise tasks and flex across different activities when needed.
+ Strong organisational skills, including the ability to be self-starting; work effectively and remain professional whilst working to multiple and sometimes competing deadlines.
+ Understanding of project governance, including board meetings, and reporting duties.
+ Candidate must be proficient and provide evidence of regular use of Microsoft Office 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), or if experienced in alternative IT packages, be able to commit to self-learning to adapt to using these Microsoft Office 365.
+ Look for better ways of working and enjoy coming up with new and original ideas.
Desirable criteria
+ PPM Qualifications - i.e. PRINCE2, APM and MS.
+ Experience with Microsoft Project Online.
+ Experience of supporting programme / project finance reporting., + Delivering at Pace
+ Changing and Improving
+ Making Effective Decisions

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
+ In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
+ 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
+ Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
+ 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 employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
+ See more of our benefits on our careers website.