At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the planning for a major public sector transformation project.
- Company: Join GFSL, a key player in public sector operations.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, competitive salary, and various employee perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical projects that support justice and rehabilitation.
- Qualifications: Experience in programme planning and strong organisational skills required.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for professional growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 62000 £ per year.
Salary: £55,158.73 per annum
Location: Hybrid - based, with travel expected to Head Office in Westminster and sites across the South of England
Contract: Temporary | Fixed Term 18 Months | Full time
We are seeking a highly capable Programme Planner to play a central role in supporting GFSL's largescale Transition and Demobilisation Programme. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a high-profile public sector transformation, shaping the planning framework that will guide GFSL's transition activities over the coming years.
Responsibilities
- Lead on building the Transition Programme Plan, support project managers in constructing detailed and realistic project plans, and ensure that programme milestones, interdependencies and resource needs are mapped out accurately.
- Lead development of the Transition Programme Plan and support project‑level planning.
- Challenge planning assumptions, define deliverables and quality criteria, and ensure timelines remain realistic.
- Support resource smoothing/levelling and maintain planning tools, templates and documentation.
- Present plans at senior governance boards for approval.
- Support risk and issue management, including analysis, mitigation and contingency planning, and ensure robust logs across all projects.
- Identify resource requirements and contribute to programme‑wide resourcing plans.
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and ensure their needs are reflected in plans.
- Use digital tools and data analysis to validate plans, forecast timelines and highlight risks, opportunities and impacts.
Qualifications & Experience
- Experience as a Programme or Project Planner
- Proficiency in Microsoft Project
- Strong organisational skills and effective stakeholder engagement
- High attention to detail and accuracy
- Experience working in structured programme/project environments
- An understanding of project and programme management methodologies
- Public‑sector or government‑programme experience (advantageous)
- Critical Path Analysis (CPA) experience
- Experience supporting organisational transitions or service demobilisation
- MSP, PRINCE2 Practitioner or APM PMQ qualification
- APMG Project Planning & Control Practitioner (advantageous)
Why Join GFSL?
At GFSL, you'll work on meaningful, high impact projects that support critical projects that support Ministry of Justice and HMPPS operations. You'll find an inclusive, supportive environment with opportunities to develop professionally and contribute to a major organisational transformation.
Holidays are 25 days per year plus Bank Holidays, and a range of non-contractual benefits are provided. These range from Death in Service at 4x salary, to access to private GP consultations and an Employee Assistance Programme that offers counselling and information services for preventative care and to help employees in a crisis. There are also a range of financial reward mechanisms and access to retailer discounts.
You will find a strong focus on safety, a supportive, inclusive workplace, a competitive benefits package, and real opportunity to build your skills and progress.
Our Values
Pride In People. We're passionate about promoting greater diversity and creating a workplace and culture where all our employees have a voice that is heard, feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to be their true selves. We recognise the value that every single employee brings to the organisation. Everyone's needs at work are different and we are committed to doing our best to satisfy these differences whilst ensuring consistency and fairness for all. We promise to champion diversity and inclusion with ongoing learning and training, as well as career progression opportunities for everyone.
Future Plans. GFSL has been notified by its shareholder (MOJ) that the provision of FM Services will in future be delivered by the private sector. This means that following a successful procurement process, GFSL's services will complete transfer to a private sector provider/providers no sooner than August 2027.
Pride in People - Do the Right thing - One Team
An ISO 9001 Certified Company
Transition & Demobilisation Programme Planner employer: Gov Facility Services Limited
Contact Detail:
Gov Facility Services Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Transition & Demobilisation Programme Planner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at GFSL or similar organisations. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just help you land that Programme Planner role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to programme planning and stakeholder engagement. We recommend using the STAR method to structure your answers – it’s a great way to showcase your experience and skills!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your digital skills! Since the role involves using digital tools and data analysis, be ready to discuss your experience with these. Bring examples of how you've used technology to improve planning processes in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Transition & Demobilisation Programme Planner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience as a Programme Planner. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your qualifications; demonstrate how your skills in Microsoft Project and stakeholder engagement have made a difference in your previous roles. We want to see real examples!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to read and free of jargon. This will help us see your potential right away.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets into the right hands and helps us keep track of all applications efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at Gov Facility Services Limited
✨Know Your Programme Planning Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your programme planning skills, especially with Microsoft Project. Be ready to discuss how you've built and managed project plans in the past, and think about specific examples where you've challenged assumptions or defined deliverables.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills
Since building strong relationships with senior stakeholders is key, prepare to share experiences where you've successfully engaged with different parties. Think about how you’ve ensured their needs were reflected in your plans and how you navigated any challenges.
✨Be Ready for Risk Management Questions
Expect questions around risk and issue management. Prepare to discuss how you've identified risks in previous projects, your approach to mitigation, and how you maintained robust logs. Use real-life examples to illustrate your points.
✨Demonstrate Your Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is crucial for this role. Bring along examples of your work that highlight your accuracy and thoroughness. You might even want to mention any tools or templates you’ve used to maintain high standards in your planning documentation.