JOB SUMMARY

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted virtually by Jon Martin, and will take place on:

• Wednesday 10th September, 11:00

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department.
It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about the application, and the interview and assessment process.
Please register your interest by filling out this form and you will be sent an invitation.
This will take place virtually, via Google Meets.
Please note that the session will not be recorded.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The post holder will be responsible for senior leadership and delivery of the Bedford Visitor Attraction Programme. This role will report directly into the Senior Responsible Owners (SCS2) and will manage a team of c.11 members of staff, task managing a further 7 functional specialists.

Job Responsibilities include:

• Strategic Leadership: Provide a clear vision and strategic direction for the programme, aligning it with departmental and ministerial priorities. Inspire, motivate, and develop a high-performing programme team.
• Programme Delivery & Governance: Assume ultimate accountability for the successful delivery of the programme’s scope, outcomes, and benefits. Establish and maintain robust governance and assurance frameworks in line with the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of senior stakeholders, including Ministers, other government departments, very senior industry partners, and the public. Expertly navigate the landscape to unblock issues and maintain programme momentum.
• Risk & Opportunity Management: Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate programme risks and issues. Champion a forward-looking approach to identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and enhanced benefit delivery.
• Team & Capability Building: Lead and manage a significant team of civil servants and contractors. Champion professional development and build programme and project management (PPM) capability within the team and the wider department.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Experience of leading a major project. This role requires the occupant to have completed the Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA). If you have not already completed the MPLA, you will be supported to achieve this in role.
• An understanding of the visitor economy landscape.

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)
• 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

Job Responsibilities include:

• Strategic Leadership: Provide a clear vision and strategic direction for the programme, aligning it with departmental and ministerial priorities. Inspire, motivate, and develop a high-performing programme team.
• Programme Delivery & Governance: Assume ultimate accountability for the successful delivery of the programme’s scope, outcomes, and benefits. Establish and maintain robust governance and assurance frameworks in line with the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of senior stakeholders, including Ministers, other government departments, very senior industry partners, and the public. Expertly navigate the landscape to unblock issues and maintain programme momentum.
• Risk & Opportunity Management: Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate programme risks and issues. Champion a forward-looking approach to identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and enhanced benefit delivery.
• Team & Capability Building: Lead and manage a significant team of civil servants and contractors. Champion professional development and build programme and project management (PPM) capability within the team and the wider department

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will assessed against the essential requirements for the role:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the “Job History” section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted