Departmental Senior Responsible Owner

On behalf of DEFRA, we are looking for a Departmental Senior Responsible Owner, Synergy Programme Inside IR35 for a 12 months contract based Hybrid with occasional travel to London, Bristol York Newcastle

In the Defra group, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people's lives. We are responsible for England's environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. We have developed a set of three strategic objectives covering our policy outcomes and corporate objectives. These objectives help us to deliver our ambitious vision to build our green and healthy future and provide a framework for all the important work we carry out.

Our objectives are:

• To pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future.
• To lead the world in food, farming, and fisheries with a sustainable model of food production.
• To be an outstanding organisation focused on making a difference, with world class delivery capability.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs [1]

25 Year Environment Plan - GOV.UK [2] [3] .

CTC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.

As a Departmental Senior Responsible Owner, Synergy Programme, your main responsibilities will be to:

• Lead the Defra programme through design, build, implementation and hyper care, working with and in support of the Synergy programme to implement a new Shared Service Centre that includes new Cloud enabling technology with a single business process service.
• Lead plan and deliver business change within Defra to realise benefits. The role will need to build strategic partnerships between the internal functions of Defra (Finance, HR, Commercial and DDAT) and the Synergy Programme, providing expert knowledge to Defra and into the Synergy programme on best practice to assure transformation is achieved
• Be a key leader and influencer into the strategic shape and approach of Synergy to ensure Defra's requirements are met. The role will need to build the strongest possible case for the Synergy programme and ensure that Defra's interests are represented. This role will report into Defra's Director General Delivery and Group Chief Operating Officer, with accountability to the Defra Synergy Programme Board and the Cluster Synergy Programme Board.
• Lead stakeholder engagement across Defra and it's ALB's and build effective senior delivery partnerships with the functional communities, other members of the cluster, HR, Finance, Commercial and Digital. There is a clear requirement to carry out horizon scanning to identify risks and issues that affect deliverability so the DSRO will need to to proactively build relationships and agree interventions to address emerging issues.
• Lead the financial management of the project, ensuring that funding where appropriate is bid for and budgets allocated either by Defra or Synergy are monitored as required
• Be accountable for project data. There is a requirement to use data insights for high level decision making ensuring risks, issues and opportunities are identified early and addressed strategically. The role requires a culture of data sharing to ensure that project teams utilise data and digital tools to track project progress and outcomes
• Lead the business change activities within Defra and work closely with the cluster to ensure business change experience is shared by cluster members. The role will also lead Defra representation in the Common Operating Model work. Aligning processes across the Departments and aligning Defra's operating model with those of the new Synergy Hub, which is being led by the DWP

Essential:

• Experience of leading Transformation Programmes, developing a clear vision and setting standards.
• Evidence of understanding the role of change management and culture plays in major transformation programmes and the importance for benefit realisation.
• Experience of implementing change within functional areas (e.g Finance or HR) with an impact on technology or implementing ERP technologies.
• Experience of successfully working with a broad range of senior stakeholders and external partners, demonstrating the communications skills, impact and gravitas to effectively challenge assumptions and influence direction in a complex environment.
• Able to build consensus across a large and diverse group of stakeholders.
• Strong people leadership skills, with a track record of developing, leading and motivating large teams and driving a diverse and inclusive working culture.
• The ability to work with ambiguity, to manage conflict resolution and be personally resilient
• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
• Managing Successful Programmes Advanced Practitioner,

Desirable:

• Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA) (willing to work towards)
• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
• Managing Successful Programmes Advanced Practitioner,
• APM Registered Project Professional
• PRINCE2 Practitioner

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, Defra guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

Defra guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".

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