Project Manager - Change

Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support 
Salary: £44,100 per annum (plus generous benefits)
Grade: Professional II
Working Pattern: Full time, Part time, Job Share, Flexible Working
Contract Type: Permanent

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

DE&S has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies.  This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence. For further information about the NAD Group, please visit: National Armaments Director Group - GOV.UK

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Job description

The Joint Asset Management and Engineering Solutions (JAMES) is a mission-critical Defence information system supporting over 40,000 users and millions of equipment records across Defence. As a key enabler of Asset and Engineering Management, JAMES plays a vital role in supporting Whole Fleet Management across the Defence enterprise.

We are looking for a JAMES Project Manager - Change to plan, coordinate and deliver change activities that enable the successful adoption of new business, security, safety and regulatory changes within JAMES. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the evolution of a critical Defence capability, ensuring change is effectively governed, aligned to organisational objectives and delivers measurable benefits.

In this role, you will be responsible for managing complex information systems change, ensuring technology-enabled initiatives are successfully delivered whilst balancing stakeholder needs, risks and dependencies. You will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to understand requirements, coordinate change activity and specialise in project management supporting the implementation of change requests. Success in the role will depend on your ability to consider the impact of change across people, processes and technology, using data-driven insights to inform decision-making and ensure sustainable adoption.

Working in partnership with the Lead Engineer, you will ensure the JAMES Adaptive Change Programme remains current and continues to meet safety and legislative policy. You will play an important role in maintaining and enhancing the system's ability to support Asset and Engineering Management activities across Defence, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of Whole Fleet Management.

Please note that due to the nature of the role, regular attendance on site at Battlesbury Barracks, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 9DT will be required. You should expect to attend this duty station at a minimum of one to two days per week, with additional attendance expected based on project requirements.

What you’ll be doing

• Define and implement the JAMES change strategy aligned to business, security, safety and regulatory objectives, ensuring integration with wider delivery plans and benefits across the Logistics and Support portfolio.

• Establish and maintain change governance and control processes, ensuring all JAMES changes are managed, approved and compliant with policy and standards.

• Conduct detailed change impact assessments on JAMES systems, processes, data and users, identifying implications across cost, schedule, performance and service delivery.

• Develop and execute stakeholder engagement plans, managing relationships across business, technical teams, suppliers and end users.

• Design and deliver communication strategies that clearly articulate system changes, impacts and required behaviours to ensure adoption.

• Manage risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies and opportunities (RAIDO) associated with JAMES change, ensuring timely mitigation and escalation.

What you'll be doing

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Evidence of understanding of how systems, data and technology changes impact business operations and delivery.
• Ability to influence, negotiate and maintain effective relationships across diverse audiences.
• Strong understanding of governance frameworks, compliance and structured change processes.
• Evidence of identifying, assessing and managing risks and dependencies in complex environments.
• Experience of managing the relationships between programmes, schedules and technical components.
• Evidence of interpreting management information, assessing change effectiveness, challenging assumptions and embedding lessons learned into future delivery.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Making Effective Decisions – CSBC3 

• Core Behaviour 2: Changing and Improving – CSBC3 

• Technical Competence 1: Stakeholder Management – Supervised Practitioner

• Technical Competence 2: Controlling a Project – Practitioner 

Person specification

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days

• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Offered benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days

• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Selection Process Details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check your application to ensure that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.

2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• CV Review

• Core Behaviour 1

• Core Behaviour 2

• Technical Competencies

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:  

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1 
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2 
• 3rd: Technical Competencies 
• 4th: CV Review 

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criteria, and/or an additional assessment. Please note for this specific assessment, the Lead Criteria will be:

• Evidence of understanding of how systems, data and technology changes impact business operations and delivery.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.  

If you feel that 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 department via email (NAD-Recruitment-Complaints@mod.gov.uk.) If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission

Offering at a lower level

If you’re not successful at interview, we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.