The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Do you enjoy leading teams, driving operational excellence, and making a real impact in a fast-moving, international environment? Would you consider a career where your project management expertise shapes the future of UK-German trade relations? If so, we want to hear from you!
We are now recruiting for the Team Lead of the Project Management Office (PMO) at the UK’s Department for Business & Trade (DBT) in Berlin.
Who are we?
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is a ministerial department of the UK Government, with its number one objective to promote growth. The DBT Germany team is one of the largest in the DBT Europe Region (around 200 staff), working closely with colleagues across departments to accelerate economic growth by improving market access for business and boosting exports and investment. In Germany, DBT is made up of sector-focused teams, with cross-cutting support from the PMO, the Strategic Communications Team, and the Trade Policy and Market Access team.
The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality, and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Main purpose of role:
As Team Lead of the PMO, you will lead the development and delivery of our Project Management Office to ensure robust governance, streamlined processes, and effective oversight across all projects. You will embed best practice in planning, resource allocation, and performance monitoring, enabling greater transparency, faster decision-making, and improved delivery outcomes aligned with DBT’s strategic objectives.
What You’ll do:
- First priority will be as the Personal Assistant to the DBT Country Director, ensuring the smooth running of the diary and all other operations associated with this senior position.
- Lead a small team (up to 3 staff), fostering high performance and collaboration.
- Lead the delivery and continuous improvement of the Project Management Office (PMO), ensuring robust governance and alignment with DBT’s strategic objectives.
- Implement standardized project management frameworks, processes, and tools to drive consistency, transparency, and efficiency across all projects.
- Oversee portfolio management, ensuring prioritization of projects based on strategic impact, resource availability, and risk considerations.
- Monitor and report on project performance, providing senior leadership with actionable insights and recommendations for improved delivery outcomes.
- Champion best practice in project management, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and capability development across teams.
- Engage and influence senior stakeholders, ensuring alignment and buy-in for PMO initiatives across the organization.
- Lead and mentor the PMO team, building a high-performing unit that delivers measurable impact and supports DBT’s mission globally.
- Oversee procurement and budget management, ensuring compliance and value for money.
What You’ll Love About This Role:
- The chance to make a tangible difference to the UK’s economic success in Germany.
- The opportunity to shape and lead a high-performing PMO, driving innovation and efficiency.
- A collaborative, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
- The ability to develop your career within the UK Civil Service, with exposure to senior stakeholders and high-profile projects.
Why Join Us?
- Be at the heart of UK-German trade relations, supporting projects that matter on a national and international scale.
- Work in a diverse, supportive, and high-performing team at the British Embassy in Berlin.
- Enjoy excellent opportunities for personal and professional development, including mentoring, coaching, job shadowing, and secondments.
- Benefit from a strong learning and development offer, dedicated L&D days, and a healthy work-life balance.
- Flexible working arrangements and entitlement to time-off-in-lieu for extra hours worked.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!
Our Ideal Candidate shows:
- Proficiency in English and German (both written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
- Extensive senior-level experience in establishing and leading Project Management Offices or similar governance functions, with a proven track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects successfully;
- Strong expertise in project governance, portfolio management, and resource planning, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and objectives;
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement standardized processes, tools, and reporting frameworks that drive efficiency and transparency;
- Proven leadership capabilities, with meaningful experience managing, developing, and mentoring high-performing teams;
- Exceptional interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders and drive consensus across diverse functions;
- Strong understanding and proven experience of budgeting, forecasting and budget monitoring, including procurement processes.
Nice to have:
- Prior experience working in international or government environments, ideally within trade, investment, or economic development contexts;
- Demonstrated success in delivering measurable improvements in project delivery performance, cost efficiency, and risk management.
For further details on this vacancy and information on how to apply, please follow the link.