AMS PSR

On behalf of Defra, we are looking for a Portfolio Assurance Analyst (Inside IR35) for a 6 month contract which is a hybrid role that requires 3 days a week in the nearest Defra hub with Peterborough as a preferred location

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.

To ensure Defra's compliance with embedding the Government Green book guidance for project delivery and Defra's Integrated Assurance and Approval Strategy (IAAS) about business case assurance.

As a Portfolio Assurance Analyst, your main responsibilities will be:

• Leading on the role out of a new business case assurance process for DDTS to ensure compliance with the Core Defra standard.
• Liaison with stakeholders to ensure their requirements are met via the new framework preparing papers on recommendations for leadership consideration preparing guidance/desk instructions
• Providing comms and show and tell sessions to the project management community Supporting the development of consistent document storage and associated reporting Support the newly embedded process and manage continuous improvement
• Support the existing BAU processes and provide backfill cover when the current staff are best placed to lead on the role out of the above process
• Undertake independent assurance of Defra's Business Cases for projects that will deliver IT products/services
• Support the management of Assurance Stage Gates to ensure that projects are on track to deliver successfully
• Support the management Service Assessments to ensure that services meet the high Government standards expected
• Support the management of Defra's spending control process to ensure compliance with Cabinet Office standards.

Essential Skills

• Digital Project Delivery – experience of working in a digital, agile project delivery environment with a broad knowledge of Government digital service standards and how they are implemented
• Business case development and/or business case assurance experience
• Experience in the Implementation of a new process either change or delivery
• Governance working knowledge –a good understanding of this competence and has applied it on medium to high complexity project
• Stakeholder management working knowledge - Working knowledge and practical experience, a good understanding of this area
• Planning & scheduling working knowledge - a good understanding of the organisation’s planning & scheduling approach
• Frameworks, Methodologies & Tools working knowledge - a good understanding of this competence and has applied it on medium complexity projects

Desirable Skills

• Experience of managing or supporting stage gates, digital service assessments and government IT spending controls would also be highly beneficial

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".