RAF Digital Programme Support Officer at Ministry of Defence in United Kingdom

Job summary

We are delighted to advertise this role within RAF Digital. RAF Digital supports the delivery of enhanced freedom of action in the Air and Space domains through data exploitation and digital agility, supporting today’s RAF and driving the journey to the Next Generation RAF.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and organised individual to join RAF Digital at the centre of the RAF’s digital transformation activity. The role sits within the RAF Digital Portfolio Office and supports delivery of the Air & Space Digital Plan (ASDP), helping to maintain portfolio control, strengthen governance, improve management information and support senior decision-making.

We are delighted to advertise this role within RAF Digital. RAF Digital supports the delivery of enhanced freedom of action in the Air and Space domains through data exploitation and digital agility, supporting today’s RAF and driving the journey to the Next Generation RAF. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and organised individual to join the RAF Digital Portfolio Office and support delivery of the Air & Space Digital Plan (ASDP). The role will help maintain accurate portfolio information, support governance and reporting, improve data quality and provide reliable day-to-day support to portfolio management activity.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

You will play a key role in supporting the successful delivery of the Air & Space Digital Plan (ASDP), helping RAF Digital maintain oversight, control and assurance across a diverse portfolio of digital activity. Working at the heart of the RAF Digital Portfolio Office, you will provide critical support to governance, reporting, portfolio management and decision-making processes, ensuring senior leaders have the insight they need to deliver digital transformation effectively.

You will support the successful delivery of the ASDP, helping RAF Digital maintain accurate, timely and decision-ready portfolio information. Working within the RAF Digital Portfolio Office and under the direction of the Senior Programme Support Officer, you will support governance, reporting, portfolio controls and continuous improvement, ensuring teams and senior leaders receive reliable information to support delivery and decision-making.

This role offers the opportunity to work across a wide range of programmes, projects and stakeholders. You will develop practical experience in portfolio management, governance, digital tooling and management information while helping RAF Digital improve its ways of working.

• Support the Senior Programme Support Officer in maintaining a coherent, decision-ready portfolio view across ASDP Lines of Effort, ensuring plans, priorities, milestones and delivery pressures are accurately reflected in portfolio products.
• Maintain and quality assure portfolio data across risk management tool, the ASDP workbook, portfolio management tooling, dashboards and associated reporting products, ensuring information is accurate, current and suitable for decision-making.
• Collate and validate management information covering delivery confidence, performance, cost, schedule, risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies, decisions and benefits.
• Provide secretariat and coordination support to RAF Digital governance forums, including preparing agendas and packs, recording actions and decisions, tracking follow-up activity and maintaining appropriate records.
• Produce routine and ad hoc reports, dashboards and analysis using Microsoft 365, Excel, Power BI and other approved tools to support portfolio insight, governance and prioritisation.
• Engage with Lines of Effort, project and programme teams to improve data quality, PMCF maturity and consistency of portfolio reporting, escalating gaps or blockers through the Senior Programme Support Officer where required.
• Support portfolio processes including risk, issue and dependency tracking, benefits and outcomes reporting, demand management, prioritisation and maintenance of the ASDP delivery pipeline.
• Support RAF Digital-led Microsoft Copilot portfolio activity, including licence administration, demand tracking, onboarding coordination, usage reporting, adoption monitoring, communications and benefits evidence, under the direction of the Senior Programme Support Officer .
• Support continuous improvement across Portfolio Office processes, reporting, automation, guidance and digital tooling, capturing lessons and helping implement agreed improvements.

Person specification

Essential

• Experience of supporting administrative, project, programme, portfolio, governance or business management activity, or the ability to develop quickly in these areas.
• Ability to organise and prioritise a varied workload, completing tasks accurately and to agreed deadlines.
• Good communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships across teams.
• Confident use of Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint.
• Good analytical and organisational skills, including the ability to maintain accurate information, identify gaps and produce clear reports or management information.
• An understanding of risk, issue, dependency, benefits or performance reporting, or a willingness and ability to learn.
• Ability to work collaboratively, support colleagues and contribute to continuous improvement in a busy delivery environment.
• Equality & Diversity training, or willingness to complete all required mandatory training.

Desirable

• Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O) Foundation or equivalent project delivery knowledge, or willingness to complete the qualification within the first six months of appointment.
• Experience of a risk management tool or a similar project, programme or portfolio management information system.
• Experience of supporting governance meetings, maintaining action logs, preparing briefings, dashboards or reports.
• Awareness of benefits management, risk management, change management or management information reporting.
• Experience of Microsoft Copilot adoption, digital productivity, licence administration, user engagement or change activity.
• Power BI, advanced Excel or dashboard and reporting awareness.
• Understanding of RAF Digital, Air Command governance, ASDP, PMCF or wider Defence digital delivery activity.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes

£8,905 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

We are passionate about delivering great things for our customers. But we also know you will have a life outside of work; we respect your priorities, and our flexible working practices will give you freedom to balance work and life.

We employ dedicated people who challenge and guide each other. RAF Digital is a capable and supportive team that will help you develop your skills, knowledge and experience.

• Professional and personal development of skills
• Flexi-time scheme upon completion of six months’ service
• Alternative working patterns
• 25 days paid annual leave rising by one day per year to 30 days upon completion of five years’ service
• In addition to eight public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period for volunteer reserve commitments
• Special Paid Leave to volunteer up to six days per year
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Excellent travel links with free car parking, gym access and onsite coffee shop / café
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Please note:

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working

environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles at the EO level to assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and qualification details.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability (500 words) highlighting how your previous skills and experience match the requirements of this role and demonstrating your suitability for the position.

At sift, candidates will be assessed a gainst their CV and Statement of suitability and the following:

Behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

At interview, candidates will be assessed against their experience and the following:

Behaviour:

• Working Together

You will also be assessed against strengths.

Please note:

Sifting will take place after advert closure and interview dates will be confirmed shortly after. Interviews are expected to take place face to face, or remotely by exception v