Project Manager

Job summary

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is a new arm’s-length body set up, at unprecedented pace, to administer compensation to people whose lives have been impacted by the infected blood scandal.

IBCA will ensure payment is made in recognition of the wrongs experienced by those who have been infected by HIV, Hepatitis B or C, as well as those who love and care for them. They have been frustrated and distressed by the delays in achieving proper recognition, and we must help put this right.

We are committed to putting the infected and affected blood community at the centre of every decision we make and every step we take to build our organisation to deliver compensation payments.

IBCA employees will be public servants. If successful in this role you will be appointed directly into IBCA, on IBCA terms and conditions as a public servant.

Successful applicants will join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Please note that the mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be fully operational for a period of approximately up to 5 years, after which IBCA will become a smaller residual service. When IBCA’s work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arms Length Body (ALB), or an external employer.

Job description

The Project Manager will be a key member of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority’s (IBCA) Central Programme Management Office, focusing on delivering IBCA’s aims and objectives. This role requires strong project management capabilities, effective stakeholder engagement, and the ability to navigate complex challenges to ensure successful project outcomes.

Person specification

Project Delivery

Plan, execute, and deliver projects within agreed timelines, budget constraints, and quality standards, ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives of IBCA.

Develop project implementation plans that define deliverables, timelines, resource allocation, and key milestones required for successful project execution.

Project Management

Lead and coordinate all aspects of project management, including scope definition, planning, execution, and performance measurement.

Establish and maintain project schedules, ensuring timely completion of tasks and deliverables while proactively managing changes to the project scope.

Dependency Management

Proactively identify, manage and mitigate project dependencies, ensuring that all interrelated projects and activities are aligned to prevent conflicts and delays.

Foster collaboration among project teams to establish clear interdependencies and communication channels, ensuring alignment of goals and objectives across projects.

Risk and Issues Management

Implement robust risk management processes to identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle.

Actively manage and resolve project issues, employing problem-solving techniques to address obstacles that may impede project progress.

Facilitate regular issue resolution meetings to discuss challenges, collaborate on solutions, and ensure stakeholders are informed of developments and actions taken.

Quality Assurance

Develop and enforce quality management processes and standards to ensure deliverables meet specified requirements and stakeholder expectations.

Conduct regular quality checks and reviews of project outputs to ensure standards are adhered to.

Progress Reporting

Regularly report on project progress, challenges, and findings to senior governance boards using dashboards and performance metrics to highlight key risks and successes.

Provide insightful analysis of project status, ensuring that stakeholders are aware of potential impacts to timelines or outcomes.

Line Management

Provide line management for project team members, ensuring clarity in roles and responsibilities, and fostering an environment that encourages professional development.

Conduct performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and address any performance-related issues in alignment with departmental objectives.

Stakeholder Engagement

Engage effectively with key stakeholders, ensuring clear communication of project objectives, timelines, and project updates.

Manage stakeholder expectations, addressing concerns promptly and ensuring alignment with project goals.

Essential Criteria

• Proven track record of effective project management with experience in delivering high profile projects.
• Strong organisational and problem solving skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands in a challenging delivery environment while meeting tight timelines.
• Exceptional communication skills to convey project objectives and issues clearly to diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain excellent working relationships at a senior level.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in Digital/Systems implementations or transformation projects.
• Recognised Project Management qualification (e.g. Algile, APM).

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,912, Infected Blood Compensation Authority contributes

£14,169 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).

• Premium allowance paid monthly after probation
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%
• 32.5 days of paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• Family friendly policies to support you and your everyday responsibilities
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, up to 12 months shared parental leave

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

Application information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete an anonymised CV, which should include your career history, skills, experience and qualifications.

You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement, of no more than 1000 words, that demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills for the role.

At sift, you will be assessed on your CV & Personal Statement.

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an interview where you will be assessed on experience.

• Expected timeline (subject to change)
• Expected sift date – w/c 14 September 2026
• Expected interview date/s – w/c 21 September 2026

Interview location - Your interview will be conducted by video.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via IBCA.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Sponsorship

IBCA recruitment policy limits Skilled Worker visa sponsorship solely to roles designated as business-critical (internal role not prioritised as hard to fill). Because this position does not fall into that category, we will not be offering sponsorship. Therefore, to be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your right to work in the UK without requiring employer sponsorship.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to IBCA 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website .

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the IBCA if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

PLEASE NOTE: IBCA employees are public servants, therefore the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNR) do not apply. Candidates who do not meet the CSNR are welcome to apply and applications will not be rejected: successful candidates however will be subject to a Right to Work check to work within the UK.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

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-s