Overview

Do you bring experience in delivering projects or programmes where strategic oversight and collaboration are key? Are you highly organised and confident managing multiple workstreams? If so, we have an exciting opportunity to join our team at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The G7 Corporate PMO Lead plays a central role in ensuring effective delivery across the DG Corporate portfolio, which includes Finance, Digital, AI, Commercial, Analysis and People, Capability and Change. Working within the DG Corporate PMO, you will be responsible for planning, reporting and governance that underpin strategic delivery and operational effectiveness. Reporting to the G6 Head of PMO and working closely with the G7 Head of Private Office, you will bring structure, pace, and visibility to a complex portfolio of work. You'll coordinate programme boards, manage reporting cycles, track risks and dependencies, support onboarding and change processes, and provide senior leaders with the information they need to drive delivery. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong delivery discipline, attention to detail, and a collaborative mindset to work at the heart of a high-profile corporate function.

Responsibilities

• PMO and Delivery Coordination: Lead the development and maintenance of portfolio and programme plans, tracking milestones, risks, dependencies and deliverables across DG Corporate.
• Provide strategic advice and constructive challenge to senior leaders on delivery performance, risks, and interdependencies.
• Combine strategic "big picture" thinking with practical delivery oversight, helping the group identify issues early and drive solutions.
• Maintain and quality assure weekly and monthly reporting packs for senior stakeholders, including the DG, Executive Team, and central governance forums.
• Coordinate governance meetings (e.g. programme boards and steering groups), ensuring agendas are agreed, papers are produced to a high standard, and actions are followed up.
• Facilitate workstream-level progress meetings and reporting routines, collating inputs from leads to produce timely and accurate updates.
• Contribute to wider stretch across the Corporate Group, and participate in corporate projects and cross-group strategy initiatives.

Portfolio Management and Assurance

• Oversee portfolio management arrangements across the group, working with portfolio teams to strengthen project management capability. Manage oversight of the department's PMO capability, maintaining high standards of planning, assurance, and reporting.
• Record and follow up risks, issues, actions, decisions and dependencies using RAID tracking tools.
• Track key programme deliverables, project documentation and contract milestones, escalating slippage or risks as appropriate.
• Lead coordination of business planning, workforce and resource tracking, and data returns to central teams (e.g. finance, performance, planning).
• Lead tracking of budgets and programme expenditure, including Service Integrator or contractor time-recording where required.

Operational Support and Process Improvement

• Lead the identification and implementation of PMO process improvements, tools and systems, ensuring that delivery teams are supported and enabled to perform at their best.
• Work with the Assistant Private Secretary and Diary Manager to ensure the DG is well briefed and supported for key meetings and decision points.
• Lead onboarding for new team members across the portfolio, ensuring access, induction, training, and introductions are completed in line with best practice.
• Monitor and maintain change request trackers and mailbox, facilitating periodic technical or delivery-related review meetings.

Requirements

• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to see the big picture and align business planning with group priorities.
• Proven experience of programme or portfolio management, surfacing risks and interdependencies and providing constructive delivery challenge. Understands delivery disciplines and frameworks (e.g. Agile, Prince2, MSP) and how to apply them pragmatically in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to confidently manage planning, risk, reporting and governance processes with attention to detail and strong follow-through. Understanding of governance and assurance processes, e.g. experience operating or improving planning, reporting, or oversight mechanisms.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, e.g. confidence engaging and briefing senior officials. Ability to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries.
• Highly organized, able to manage competing priorities, deliver at pace, and adapt flexibly to changing demands.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in or with central government or a large public sector delivery organisation.
• Understanding of corporate functions such as finance, digital, HR or commercial operations.
• Experience working in or alongside transformation programmes or ERP (e.g. SAP S4HANA).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £54,531, MHCLG contributes £15,797 towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Benefits include:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Flexible working options
• Culture promoting inclusion and diversity
• Civil Service pension with employer contribution of 28.97%

Location

Location options include Darlington, Bristol, Manchester, and Wolverhampton. The Darlington Economic Campus is a cross-government hub with career opportunities and is described in the attached DEC candidate pack. A minimum of 60% of working time will be in your contracted office location; travel/attendance at other locations will be counted toward this. You will express a location preference during the application process.

Application and Other Information

• Sift and interview dates: Sifting in W/C 13/10; interviews remote via videocall.
• Reserve list may be used for up to 6 months; some roles may be offered at a lower grade.
• Security Clearance: SC required; check can take up to 8 weeks. UK residency for past 5 years.
• Nationality: See Candidate Pack for eligibility; Civil Service code and equal opportunity statements apply.
• Direct CV applications are not considered; apply via Civil Service Jobs.

For further information about the role, contact the vacancy manager. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. See the attached Candidate Pack for full details.