The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, designs, trademarks, and copyright. We operate and maintain a clear and accessible IP system in the UK, which encourages innovation and helps the economy and society to benefit from knowledge and ideas. We help people get the right type of protection for their creation or invention. Delivering the best IP services to our customers is central to the IPO strategy and we are building on our strengths in rights granting and related services to improve our digital service offering and data.
The role sits in the Portfolio Management Office (PMO) within the Strategy directorate. The post holder will be part of a team of project professionals responsible for delivering the Portfolio to support the IPO Strategy and corporate priorities. This will consist of a variety of IT and Business change initiatives across the IPO.
Working Style
This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our NewportOffice.
The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role so we would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office.
Job description
Main duties consist of but are not limited to:
As a Project Manager, you will be responsible for:
Deliver end-to-end IT projects, ensuring outcomes are achieved within agreed time, cost, quality, and aligned to the organisations System/Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
Maintain and assure detailed project plans using MS Project, Azure DevOps, or similar toolsets, running planning sessions with technical teams to sequence work, identify dependencies, and keep plans accurate and up to date.
Manage technical risks and issues, proactively identifying technology-related impacts and ensuring effective tracking, escalation, and mitigation.
Provide clear leadership to multidisciplinary technical teams, maintaining delivery direction, scope, and alignment with the business case.
Produce concise and accurate delivery reports, including progress summaries, performance metrics, and time and cost forecasts for governance purposes.
Work with resource owners and technical leads to manage forward demand, secure required skills, and ensure capacity for key delivery milestones.
Person specification
Essential criteria
Proven experience delivering complex IT projects using Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid methodologies within structured governance frameworks, with strong knowledge of project management principles and proficiency in digital delivery toolsets such as MS Project, Azure DevOps, and related technologies. This includes ensuring alignment with an organisations System/Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Demonstrable experience across all levels of testing, from unit and integration testing through to system testing and UAT, with the ability to develop comprehensive test plans aligned to organisational testing strategies.
Extensive experience working with technical teams including developers, engineers, testers, and architects with the ability to interpret technical information and manage complex technical dependencies effectively.
Demonstrable ability to manage technical risks and issues, including identifying emerging technology related risks, assessing impact, securing appropriate technical ownership, and producing and maintaining high quality delivery artefacts (such as PIDs, Gantt charts, POAPs, Level 0 plans, milestone trackers and technical delivery roadmaps) to support governance and assurance.
Skilled in technical dependency management, with sufficient understanding of architecture and system design to identify, validate, and coordinate interdependencies across multiple teams, services, or platforms.
Must hold a recognised project management qualification, such as PRINCE2 Practitioner, APMQ, Agile Practitioner, or equivalent.
How to Apply
Click the 'Apply now' button and complete the application form by providing the following:
750-word Personal Statement
Use this to explainwhy you're suitable for the role.
Structure your statement around the essential criteria in the Person Specification.
Make sure to provide clear examples to show how you meet each requirement.
Behaviours
Provide one 250-word example for each of the following Behaviour headings;
Communicating and influencing
Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner - choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact
Ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account peoples individual needs
AI Usage
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 ourcandidate guidancefor more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
At interview you will be assessed on technical criteria
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £47,766, Intellectual Property Office contributes £13,837 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
A flexible working scheme with excellent development opportunities
25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave
Family friendly policies that support modern working families and individuals with caring responsibilities
A variety of support functions; Staff Counselling Service, Peer to Peer Support Group
Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments
The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups, find out more by looking atIntellectual Property Office (IPO)
A range of wellbeing initiatives; Onsite Gym (Newport office), Eye Care Scheme, Volunteering Programme, Cycling facilities
Free car parking is available on site at our Newport office
On-site shop, restaurant and coffee shop at our Newport office
Please note that benefits may be subject to change.
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