Location
Travel to London and to our other offices will be required as part of the role.
Job summary
We are seeking a Grade 6 Head of Programme Management Office (PMO) to lead delivery across the Water System Reform Programme. This is a senior leadership role responsible for establishing and running an effective PMO for a high‑profile, complex, and ambitious programme delivering once‑in‑a‑generation reform of the water system. The role will provide leaders and ministers with assurance, insight, and confidence that the programme will deliver intended outcomes, benefits, and value for money.
Job details
Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink. In terms of programme and project delivery, Defra has one of the largest and most complicated portfolios in Government.
Water is vital for life - clean, freshwater for drinking and sanitation, providing for farms and industry, creating and sustaining the ecosystems on which all life depends. Yet water is a finite natural resource, facing increasing pressures from climate change and population growth. Never before has political, media and public attention been focused on water as it is now. The Independent Water Commission made recommendations for reform of the system. The White Paper sets out the actions now needed to fix the system. This brings a great opportunity, and we have been given a mandate to make some once in a generation changes.
We are seeking a Head of PMO to join the Water System Reform Programme. The programme will deliver White Paper commitments to reform the water system, including an integrated and empowered regulator resetting regulation for the water system, and reforming the water system planning. This is ambitious reform across a complex landscape of regulators, industry and consumer, where the programme will need to achieve cross-sector coordination and build public trust. The postholder will have the opportunity to shape and develop the programme set up, including establishing an effective PMO function and team.
The Head of PMO is a key leadership role for the Water System Reform Programme. The postholder will be an integral member of divisional SLT and directorate wide people, inclusion and wellbeing groups.
The team is part of the Water Reform directorate and works closely with policy, strategy and group corporate services teams leading work across the programme. The PMO and programme team are responsible for:
- Establishing and operating programme management standards, controls and ways of working across all projects and workstreams, ensuring coherence across projects to deliver the ambition of the reforms.
- Developing and maintaining integrated programme plans, managing programme-level reporting, providing assurance and quality oversight across the programme and producing briefings and decision papers to support informed decision-making by the SRO, programme director and senior stakeholders.
- Directing and supporting projects, including through targeted provision of project management support.
- Portfolio-level reporting on outcomes and targets across the Group.
As Head of PMO for the Water System Reform Programme you will be accountable for establishing and leading the PMO for this major, complex programme. You will define and maintain the standards for project and programme management to enable senior leaders to make informed decisions and the programme to deliver it’s intended outcomes, benefits and value for money. This includes ensuring robust governance, controls, planning, risk and benefits management, financial and delivery reporting, and assurance mechanisms are in place.
You will be responsible for implementation and sharing of best practice, and the development and application of project procedures, tools and techniques to standardise methodologies. You will provide expert guidance, support and insight on the programme which will be typically moderate to high in complexity and risk, and act as the source of all programme information and metrics.
You will lead a small team of project managers to provide targeted, expert support to project teams in establishing, managing and delivering their required outcomes.
This role is aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF). Further information on the PDCF can be found on the gov.uk homepage (search "Project Delivery Capability Framework").
Responsibilities
- Lead the PMO in supporting the programme to deliver against this once in a generation reform of the water system, including ministerial visibility of progress and public accountability
- Lead the PMO to support the programme to deliver against the business case, championing the use of Defra best practice project management standards, frameworks, and processes and alignment with Government standards for project delivery.
- Develop and oversee the programme business case.
- Develop and agree budgets for the project and/or programme. Forecast and track costs against agreed budget.
- Oversee identification of project resources, recruitment, deployment, and reassignment of resources throughout the project lifecycle.
- Provide advice on tools and techniques for managing stakeholder relationships.
- Establish processes and standards for effectively managing risks and issues.
- Ensure appropriate governance is in place for the project.
Person specification
- Experience of leading a PMO team or managing complex projects or programmes with detailed knowledge and experience covering planning, scheduling, resource management, risk and issue management, change control, governance, and assurance.
- Working knowledge of financial management, business case development, change and implementation and benefits management in a project or programme environment.
- A visible leader with experience of promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting differences.
- Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, collaborating across boundaries.
- Ability to work well under pressure, motivating and supporting others to deliver under challenging timescales and competing priorities.
- Excellent presentation, briefing and drafting skills
- Knowledge and experience of Project Management methodology supported by professional qualifications such as: PRINCE2 Practitioner P3O Practitioner Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner Agile Project Management Practitioner APM Project Management Qualification APM Chartered Project Professional APM Project Leadership Programme APMG International Project Planning and Control Foundation Leading and Managing Project Workstreams
Information about the role will be provided via a candidate group information session to be held at 12:45 on 10th June: Info Session for Head of Programme Management Office, Floods & Water
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £67,730, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £19,621 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Additional benefits include:
- 25 days’ leave (rising to 30 days over 5 years) plus bank holidays.
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
- A day off per year for the King's birthday.
- Access to a range of retail discounts (these include supermarket, tech, gym, holiday, phone and more).
- Flexible working options such as condensed hours, part-time and flexi time.
- 3 paid volunteering days per year.
- Funding for professional membership of a recognised professional body.
- Learning and development tailored to your role and budget for training or qualifications.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Health cash plan to help you manage health costs for a reduced monthly fee.
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme open 24 hours, 7 days a week, that provides support to you during any times of stress or difficulty.
- Free access to Headspace for wellbeing.
- Season ticket loan for public transport.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 12th June 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours and after 2pm on the closing date of 23:55 on 12th June 2026.
While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.
It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.
Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits; for further information visit the Reasonable adjustments for online tests - a candidate guide
Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4 p.m. and Midnight on 31st May 2026 and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on 7th June 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.
If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a name-blind (anonymous) CV and a 750 word personal statement demonstrating what skills and experience you have that make you suitable for this role, as well as outlining your experience and knowledge of Project Management methodology.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using your personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to an interview.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you be assessed on the following behaviours. Leadership, Making Effective Decisions and Managing a Quality Service,
As part of the interview, we may ask for a presentation. If so, details of this will be provided in the interview invitation.
Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Additional Information
Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a civil servant at the point of starting in the relevant new post. If their contract ends (e.g. end of FTA contract or resignation) at any point during the recruitment/onboarding process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
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.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
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 appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to DEFRA 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
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 [email protected] 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.
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.
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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Higher Security Clearance
All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
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.
Feedback
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).
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).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here
