Senior Responsible Owner – Cefas Future Delivery at Sea
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 27th May 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Project Delivery
Senior leadership
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to lead our work to identify how we will continue to collect marine scientific data at sea as our current research vessel, Cefas Endeavour, approaches the end of its planned economic life in 2033. You will be responsible for delivering the Cefas Future Delivery at Sea project, leading the project team working to develop a replacement capability to allow us to continue to undertake essential marine science at sea. As the project’s Senior Responsible Owner, you will be accountable for the project meeting its objectives, delivering the projected outcomes and realising the required benefits.
The establishment of this project and associated strategic outline case (SOC) has been approved by Defra, HM Treasury and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA). It is included in the government’s refresh of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and forms part of the National Shipbuilding Office’s 30 Year Cross-Government Shipbuilding Pipeline. Due to the size, complexity and cost of the project it is being included in the government major projects portfolio, which oversees the largest, most innovative and highest risk projects and programmes delivered by government. You will need to be confident operating in this environment and managing the scrutiny from other parts of government associated with major projects. The postholder will also be accountable to Parliament and may be called to provide evidence on progress with delivery of the project.
Initially, the role will involve overseeing the appraisal of options for a replacement capability and building the business case which supports a preferred option. You will need to involve specialists from across Cefas and beyond to determine our future scientific needs and ensure we can develop the capability needed to meet them. You will also need to have a good understanding of the potential of new technologies to increase our ability to collect and analyse data as well as to help support the transition to net zero. Once a preferred option has been identified, you will be responsible for its delivery including managing delivery risks, overseeing complex and high value procurements and commercial decision making, reaching judgements on tenders, preferred suppliers and evaluating value for money.
Job description
The postholder will report to the Cefas Chief Executive. You will also be part of the broader senior leadership team in Cefas and be expected to fulfil other senior roles as required. The role is based in Lowestoft, Suffolk and we currently expect at least 60% of your working time to be spent at a Cefas site or in off site meetings with partners and customers.
More information on the responsibilities of SROs in government can be found in the Project Delivery Profession capability framework and in the supplementary document The role of the senior responsible owner (publishing.service.gov.uk).
As Senior Responsible Owner for the project key responsibilities include:
- Leadership – act as the champion for the project and take personal accountability for its delivery. Provide clear leadership and strategic direction to the Project Director, project team and Project Board throughout the life of the project. Delegate responsibilities and agrees clear limits and performance criteria. Is a visible, engaged, active leader who creates an open and honest culture.
- Stakeholder management – Influence and manages the operating environment into which the project outcomes will be delivered, including relationships with key stakeholders, business owners and other project sponsors. Builds effective relationships with key strategic stakeholders obtaining their commitment to the project objectives and benefits.
- Benefits management –responsible for ensuring the Project delivers the business case benefits and outcomes. Put plans and monitoring in place post-project to assure sustainability and to enable benefits realisation in the longer-term.
- Governance – Establish appropriate, robust and efficient governance to ensure the project is governed responsibly.
- Reviews and assurance – Ensure an appropriate level and frequency of assurance reviews are established and adhered to. Monitor and control progress of the project at a strategic level.
- Business change and implementation – Ensures the strategic direction of the project remains aligned with any changes in political or business priorities.
- Risk and issue management – accountable for the management of strategic risks and and ensures appropriate mitigation plans are developed and followed through.
- Budgeting and cost control – Responsible for securing budget against the business case throughout the life of the project.
Person specification
You must be able to demonstrate your skills and experience in the following areas:
- A senior project delivery professional, with experience of delivering complex operational delivery or infrastructure projects, preferably in the public sector.
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary project teams, including across organisational boundaries and involving contractors, to deliver on time and to budget
- Able to demonstrate a good understanding of the UK marine science landscape, including the role of scientific infrastructure in providing high quality and robust data and evidence.
- Awareness of the potential of innovative new technologies to improve scientific data collection at sea as well as support the transition to net zero
- Ability to work effectively with Ministers, senior officials and other government bodies, with a good understanding of UK government objectives and the management of government major projects.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, with the personal credibility to gain the trust of partners and stakeholders. This includes the ability to communicate complex information in a clear non-technical manner.
- A track record of working collaboratively and of building high performing, diverse and inclusive teams that are able to thrive under pressure and cope with uncertainty, including the continued professional development of colleagues.
- A graduate of the Major Projects Leadership Academy or a willingness to undertake the programme
Cefas is committed to fairness and the promotion of equity of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, backgrounds, and ways of working and thinking makes us a stronger organisation, better at reflecting the communities we serve. We embrace different views and value the fresh perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age, ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
- Generous annual leave entitlement – Cefas offers 25 days' annual leave on entry (rising to 30 days over first 5yrs) for full-time new entrants to the Civil Service. Employees receive 8 public holidays a year, plus an additional day to mark the King's birthday
- Access to learning and development tailored to your role
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- Eligible to join the Civil Service Pension scheme – more information can be found on the CSP website http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/
- Staff recognition vouchers
- In-year award scheme
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process you are asked to provide a CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, ensuring you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years and a maximum 1000-word Personal Statement using examples to explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
- For guidance on Civil Service Success Profiles, this video tells you what you’ll need to provide throughout the assessment process with supporting guidance on each step. Link – Success Profiles
- For guidance on how to construct your CV, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link - CV
- For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Statement
- For guidance on how to construct your lead behaviour statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Behaviours
Sift
The sift panel will use the information in your CV and Personal Statement to assess your experience and how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification section.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Full details of the assessment process, including potential request for a presentation or exercise to be completed will be made available to shortlisted candidates. You can expect to be assessed against the following behaviours at the interview stage:
- Leadership (lead behaviour)
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
Please be aware that at this time, interviews will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams or in-person at our site in Lowestoft.
If scores are equal following interview, an assessment of the lead behaviour – Leadership, will be used by the panel.
Location
Please be aware that this role will be contractually based at Lowestoft. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
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.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- 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
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
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.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SCS Candidate
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
