Senior Project Manager - Community Accommodation Service Corporate Services, Temporary 18 monthsMinistry of Justice

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Probation Service Community Accommodation Services (CAS), supporting the Head of Corporate Services to deliver priorities across a diverse Corporate Services portfolio. The post has been established to strengthen leadership capacity, provide resilience across key workstreams and support the successful delivery of business priorities.

As Senior Project Manager - Corporate Services (CAS), you will provide leadership across a range of corporate functions, with particular responsibility for leading the CAS Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) Team and overseeing delivery of the CAS EDIB and Engaging People on Probation Plans. You will work closely with senior leaders, colleagues and stakeholders to promote inclusive practices, enhance staff engagement and support organisational culture and wellbeing.

Alongside this, you will support the Head of Corporate Services in areas including business planning, risk management, workforce planning, financial assurance and improvement activity. You will also support the coordination of Change, Corporate Services, and Business Manager activity across CAS, ensuring consistency in processes, governance arrangements, and reporting practices.

This is an excellent opportunity for a collaborative leader who can build strong relationships, drive continuous improvement and help shape the future direction of Corporate Services within CAS.

This is an 18-month temporary position, with the possibility of becoming permanent.

Overview of the job

You will work to the Head of Business Strategy and Change (BSC), as part of a multi-disciplinary team incorporating functional specialists and Programme Regional Implementation Leads. Supporting the development and stabilisation of the

Target Operating Model TOM of the new Probation Service within the newly created regions.

Provide management and leadership within the Probation Service (PS) Probation Reform and Recovery Programme.

Working with PRP and Workforce programmes, incorporate understanding of post Covid recovery impact on delivering ongoing change, working to TOM implementation

Representing the Region with external agencies/stakeholders and staff.

Summary

The job holder will be required to represent the interests of PS in this project/Programme and in doing so will be involved in activities including workforce strategy and planning, ICT, estates and facilities management, bringing a good understanding of the PS Region to all project activities.

You will have excellent project management skills an ability to work collaboratively with others with a focus on delivery and finding pragmatic solutions to solve problems as this essential by way of the demands of the role moving forward.

The role will involve providing formal reports to working with PRP and Workforce programmes, incorporate understanding of post Covid recovery impact on delivering ongoing change, working to TOM implementation

local governance structures, delivery of multimedia presentations to both internal and external audiences, facilitation of focus groups involving staff, People on Probation (PoP) and stakeholders and work collaboratively with our partners in achieving stabilisation of the new unified model.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

As a Senior Project Manager this is a senior role within each of the geographical Regions with the post being able to carry project/programme work, whilst carrying out senior management responsibilities and tasks associated within the Region.

Adding the required flexibility inherent in working within Business Strategy and Change

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

•    Regional lead on caseload issues.

•    Operational support to the Head of PDU if operating on the on-call rota within relevant Probation Instruction criteria and rules such as Recall, High Risk of Serious Harm Case Transfers, etc.

•    Ensure effective Regional staff transfer and induction arrangements are in place

•    Act as BSC lead for performance & quality in the programme and audits and inspections concerning the programme

•    Participate in the Regional governance structures along with other strategic partners

•    Senior Management responsibility for planning of estates, buildings and maintenance and stabilisation activities within the Region

•    Take the lead on specific Regional or cluster projects/portfolios including Equality and Diversity, Reward and Recognition, etc. completing reviews and delivery of action plans and ensuring compliance with Health and Safety legislation.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours

•    Communicating and Influencing

•    Leadership

•    Delivering at Pace

•    Changing and Improving

•    Working Together

Experience

Essential

•    Experience of monitoring performance in area of responsibility against predetermined targets, setting local targets and effecting necessary improvements

•    Experience of budgetary control to support local operational requirements,

participating in commissioning and procurement processes or contract management

•    Experience of effective planning and deployment of available resources and staff to meet operational demands

•    Experience of working with key local agencies and stakeholders to develop strong relationships

•    Experience of Health and Safety and Equalities management

•    Knowledge of the wider criminal justice system

Desirable

•    Experience of conducting employee relations investigations (e.g. disciplinary, capability, grievance etc)

•    Experience of leading the development and implementation of new and innovative ways of working to improve service delivery and policy

•    Experience of contributing to the development of strategic business plans to achieve improved service delivery

•    Manage people and projects (applying project management techniques) to implement significant change/practice improvements.

•    Experience of delivering presentations to multi-agency audiences and large groups

Technical Requirements    Probation Qualification Framework Graduate Diploma/ Honours Degree in Community Justice integrated with Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice. Or, a qualification which was recognised at the time of qualification by the Secretary of State for Justice as per Section 10 of the Offender Management Act 2007.

The following qualifications gained in England and Wales were previously recognised as providing such eligibility:

•    Diploma in Probation Studies,

•    Diploma in Social Work (with Probation Option)

CQSW (with Probation Option.)

or equivalent (Level 5) leadership or management qualification

Ability

•    Able to demonstrate well developed IT skills, including evidence of ability to interpret and apply performance reports

•    Evidence of ability to evaluate practice and provide a practice perspective on policy development