Major Project Centre of Excellence – Allocation/Funding - 35723

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Title

Major Project Centre of Excellence – Allocation/Funding – 35723

City/Town

Various

Region

National

Vacancies

Salary Minimum

£68,820 Pro-rata

Post Type

Fixed Term

Job ID

35723

Closing date

31 Aug 2026

Published date

02 Aug 2026

Grade

Staff Grade 7

Role type

Project Delivery

Post type

Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Compressed Hours

Security check

Basic Check

Attachments

Candidate Pack

Apply here

Job description

We value a diverse workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community wishing to join a workforce which embraces difference and welcomes everyone.We are seeking an experienced and credible project professional to join Project & Programme Delivery (PPD) as the Allocation/Funding, Cost Modelling and Benefits Evaluation Manager in the Major Project Centre of Excellence.This is a pivotal technical leadership role, providing expert support on Allocation/Funding (including Partnerships), Cost Modelling and Benefits Management/Evaluation to the Major Project delivery teams. The role will embed structured, data-driven cost forecasting and rigorous processes for managing and evaluating benefits, promoting consistent and coherent ways of working across major projects nationally.As a member of the Centre of Excellence Leadership Team, you'll contribute to collective leadership, help to shape strategy, embed transformation and drive continuous improvement. You will embed new ways of working introduced through the Aurora programme, supporting a more resilient, confident and high performing delivery system.Working closely with Project Directors, major project delivery teams and external partners, you will develop and champion best practice in effective use of funding streams, balancing allocation and partnership funding to achieve affordability. You will guide major projects to establish effective benefits management, adopting clear benefits structures and processes for evaluation that align with management of strategic and political risks. All of this will require you to play a key role in shaping a new culture and ways of working across major projects nationally.Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties when the need to respond arises Having an incident role is an essential part of working for the Environment Agency and an active way to support communities and prevent harm to the environment. Further information on incident response can be found within your candidate pack.

The Team:

The Major Projects Centre of Excellence is a new team being established under the Deputy Director for Major Projects. The team will support major project delivery teams to embed the requirements of the Teal Book. Drawing from experienced major project professionals the team ethos is ‘for major projects by major projects’, collectively working together as one team to improve delivery confidence and share best practice across the major project community.

Experience/Skills Required:

We are looking for someone who:• Has a strong track record of developing and implementing best practice in cost modelling with varied income streams• Has substantial practical experience managing partnership funding on Major Projects or Programmes• Has experience of establishing evaluation plans and embedding them in major projects• Is skilled at influencing at senior levels and building trusted relationships across diverse stakeholders• Brings strong professional judgement, strategic thinking and the ability to lead through ambiguity and transformation• Is motivated by public value, delivering meaningful outcomes and developing others

Contact and Additional Information:

Benefits include generous pension provision and leave entitlement. Our flexible working supports a healthy work/life balance and offers numerous choices to accommodate the demands that personal commitments may present. Excellent training and learning opportunities are available, including personal and professional developmentBase location can be flexible but with an expectation of co-locating in Hub or delivery partner offices occasionally.For further information please contact: Sonal Mitra ([email protected])Interviews due to take place w/c: 28th September 2026

Competence 1:

Programme and Project Management

Competence 1 Description:

Selects, plans and manages contractors, programmes or events to achieve a set of Environment Agency objectives cost-effectively

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.

CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.

Question:

Please tell us about a complex project that you have led on, describing how you managed the challenges of funding requirements, profiling different scenarios and securing maximum allocations for the projects from external stakeholders.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer to the question.

If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift using this lead capability may be conducted. Successful candidates will then proceed to a full sift or directly to assessment/interview.

Competence 2:

Shapes organisational approach & delivery

Competence 2 Description:

Informs Government Policy and / or designs, implements and supports an approach to translate it into cost-effective operational activity delivering outcomes for people and the environment

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.

CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.

Question:

Describe a time you took a strategic objective of a major project and turned it into a practical benefits delivery plan and developed an evaluation strategy.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer to the question.

Competence 3:

Delivers Results Through Others

Competence 3 Description:

Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.

CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.

Question:

Tell us about a time when you have demonstrated adaptive approaches in your leadership to deliver a task through others. What action did you take to make sure it stayed on track, how did you motivate people and what was the outcome?

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer to the question.

Competence 4:

Influences and Persuades Others

Competence 4 Description:

Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.

CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.

Question:

Describe a situation where you have been instrumental in persuading a critical stakeholder to pursue a specific challenging course of action, explaining the techniques you used to influence their decision.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer to the question.

Competence 5:

Builds and Sustains Relationships

Competence 5 Description:

Develops and maintains effective working relationships

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.

CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.

Question:

Please describe an example of how you have managed relationships with internal and external parties across a complex project in a commercial setting.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer to the question.

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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