An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced SRO to lead a high-profile programme of work that will shape the country's welfare system: The Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) is accountable for ensuring the FED programme meets its objectives, delivers the required outcomes, and realises the required benefits. The SRO works alongside the Change Portfolio to ensure Programme capability and project delivery professionalisation is maintained. The SRO is a key member of the Change Portfolio Board accountable for and representing FED programme performance. As SRO, you are accountable for ensuring your change programmes meet the objectives and deliver the projected benefits and supports the Departmental priority in respect of reducing fraud and error and collecting debt. Providing proactive and visible leadership and direction throughout the life of the existing and upcoming programmes. You will be accountable for circa 200 employees across a number of multi-disciplinary teams with a budget of 200m and accountability for FED Bill measures and associated saving of over 600m. Please see the candidate pack attached to the advert for Key Responsibilities. Person specification The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their knowledge, experience and skills against the following essential criteria: Extensive understanding and experience of leading the delivery of user driven, evidenced based product development at scale and complexity, using different methodologies i.e. Waterfall and Agile Expert stakeholder management and influencing skills and an ability to use these skills to overcome resistance and challenge to achieve success A proven capability to understand and navigate complex cross-organisational systems and structures and devise strategies which cut through this complexity Proven people leadership skills, with a strong knowledge of and commitment to diversity and inclusion Extensive experience of building and leading high performing multi-disciplinary teams, in a fast paced and high-pressure environment, with competing stakeholder priorities. Desirable Qualifications A graduate of the Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA) or willing to provide commitment to securing this which will be required if applying for this post. Qualifications You must also hold one of the following qualifications and professional memberships: APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) APM Chartered Project Professional APMG Agile Project Management Practitioner Level 6 Project Management Degree Apprenticeship Management of Portfolios Practitioner Major Projects Leadership Academy Managing Successful Programmes Advanced Practitioner Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner P3O Practitioner PMI Project Management Professional PRINCE2 Practitioner Benefits Alongside your salary of 98,000, Department for Work and Pensions contributes 28,390 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes: Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing and compressed hours. Generous annual leave at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (prorata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave. Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme. Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly). Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 years continuous service. Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes. An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Womens Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more. Things you need to know Selection process details If you think you have the experience and energy to take on these stretching and demanding roles, we would be very keen to hear from you. To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process outlined below no later than 23:55pm on Monday 10th February 2025 A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years; A personal statement (maximum 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification. Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. For more information about the roles and the applications process, please see the candidate pack attached. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise. As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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) .