SEO PMO Manager

This is a once in a decade opportunity to be part of designing a new operating model for HR and Finance services in the Cabinet Office.
The Cabinet Office is looking for a PMO Manager to join a team of programme, functional and technical specialists working together to deliver the MyCO Programme. The MyCO Programme is a small, focused team made up of programme, functional and technical specialists delivering a major corporate services transformation programme at the heart of government.
The Programme is accountable to the Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office ministers, and has been set up to deliver the government’s Shared Services Strategy for the Cabinet Office. The Programme goes beyond IT and service replacement - this is about transforming how we deliver corporate services. The focus is on business and organisational change to ensure the technology and services introduced optimise the way we work.
The MyCO Programme sits within a wider cross-government programme, the Matrix Programme, which is a transformation initiative working with eight other government departments. The Matrix Programme is a unique cross-government collaboration that will unlock simpler, better, and more joined-up working by bringing together the systems, processes, and ways of working for key government functions such as HR, Finance or Procurement, commonly known as Shared Services.
Matrix will deliver the Government's three overarching objectives for shared services:
1. Better experience for all users - intuitive systems that are easy to use and mobile-enabled.
2. Efficiency and value for money - better systems and services which support productivity and seek to reduce costs.
3. Standardised processes and data., The complexity and fast pace of the programme means the successful candidates must have experience working in large public sector projects or programmes. Experience of technology driven Software as a Service Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system implementation would also be beneficial but not essential.
The successful candidates will need significant experience, knowledge and confidence in order to manage the evolving and competing priorities of the team.
Please note this is a busy and high performing team, consisting of specialists delivering a time-bound programme - there is limited opportunity for ‘on the job learning’. The successful candidate will be highly experienced and able to ‘hit the ground running’.
Reporting directly to the MyCO G7 Head of PMO, the PMO Manager leads a range of daily operations of the PMO, supporting the development and implementation of robust programme and project management disciplines and working closely with MyCO workstreams to develop and manage workstream plans and outputs. You will support the management and delivery of the MyCO programmes governance structures and programme boards, and maintain workstream RAIDs, reporting and other key programme artefacts.
You will have strong organisational skills and attention to detail, and be able to use your knowledge of PMO and project management methodologies to meet the needs of a dynamic and fast moving and highly complex programme. You will have strong communication and relationship building skills in order to establish and manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders from the Matrix programme and across the Cabinet Office.
The MYCO team
The team is friendly and open, we work collaboratively and inclusively across teams, playing to strengths and supporting colleagues. We have a culture where everyone can thrive and we embrace diversity in all forms., The role involves, but is not limited to:
+ PMO operations: Lead on a range of daily operations of the PMO, ensuring programme aligns with organisational goals, identifying and managing issues and providing solutions.
+ PMO processes: Maintains PMO processes, tools, and templates to support programme management activities.
+ Project management: Managing a range of projects within the MyCO programme.
+ Planning: Working with MyCO workstreams to assist in the development & control of the Programme’s workstream plans.
+ Governance: Support the project management and delivery of the MyCO Programme Board and other governance meetings.
+ Reporting: Provides regular reports on project progress and status to the PMO Lead and key stakeholders.
+ Coordination: Coordinates with workstreams & other relevant areas to ensure smooth project execution.
+ PMO artefacts and knowledge: Implements and maintains programme documentation and PMO knowledge base.
+ Risk management: Supports workstreams in risk management and problem-solving activities.
+ Continuous improvement: Contributes to the continuous improvement of the PMO through feedback and process optimisation.
+ Programme RAID: Maintain workstream RAIDs, plans, reporting and other key PMO artefacts to assure the smooth running of the programme.
+ Delivery: Has an understanding of project execution and ability to assess/view problems from a project manager perspective.
+ Programme meetings: Deputise for the Head of PMO at Matrix PMO and RAID meetings.
+ Business case: Support business case development of benefits including data collection and analysis.
+ Representation: Deputise for the Head of PMO where required, ensure Cabinet Office views on shared services are accurately represented.
+ Line Management: Provide appropriate direction, support and guidance for the MyCO project support. Compliance with Cabinet Office HR policies and processes for line managers.

+ Experience of working on large public sector projects or programmes within a complex delivery environment.
+ Significant experience, knowledge and confidence in order to manage the evolving and competing priorities of the team.
+ The ability to maintain complex programme artefacts such as RAID logs and project plans to a high standard, through engagement with colleagues working on a broad range of complex and technical projects.
+ The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
+ Experience of delivering programme governance including Delivery Boards, monitoring and reporting.
+ Experience of working in a small PMO supporting complex and dynamic projects and programmes with experience of project management.
+ Experience of development and implementation of PMO processes, tools and templates.
+ Experience of stakeholder engagement within a complex delivery environment.
+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
+ Flexibility and personal resilience to work at pace without losing attention to detail, balancing changing and competing priorities effectively under pressure.
+ Complex problem-solving skills including ability to think logically and clearly, and take rational and decisive action under pressure
+ High level of IT literacy, including calendar schedules, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Desirable:
+ Experience of working in a Shared Service environment or on digital transformation programmes.
+ Experience of line management.
Qualification:
The following qualifications/skills are desirable to the role and proof will be required at interview:
(It is desirable to hold at least one of the following qualifications)
+ PRINCE2 Foundation or Practitioner
+ APM PMQ or PPQ, Your personal statement will be assessed based on your experience in relation to its applicability of this role. The experience indicators being assessed are:
+ The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders,
+ The ability to lead programme planning, governance and risks and issues independently.
+ Experience of stakeholder engagement within a complex delivery environment
+ Experience of delivering programme governance including Delivery Boards, monitoring and reporting
+ Experience of senior stakeholder engagement within a complex delivery environment.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
If successful at the sifting stage,You will then be asked to attend an interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence. The interview process will include a presentation, details will be shared with shortlisted candidates prior to the interview.

Alongside your salary of £42,382, Cabinet Office contributes £12,278 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 which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
+ A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30., 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 counter-terrorist 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
Open to UK nationals only.

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.