Senior Project Manager  / Programme Manager – Technology & Change

This is a remote position.

20% contribution to pension and final salary pension!

29 days leave + bank holidays + shut down at Christmas (2 weeks) this year shut down from 23rd December to 4th January!

Remote working – circa 1-2 days per week on site (Greater Manchester)

Backgrounds – Police, Fire Service, PubSec, Higher Education / Large consultancies / very large organisations.

Our clients Strategic Change Office (SCO) works to plan and implement a range of strategic initiatives ensuring that the our client builds on its reputation as a world leading institution.

The role is responsible for the set up and delivery of project and programme management processes for key strategic initiatives, working with colleagues across the University to facilitate transformational change in the delivery of the  strategic plan. The initiatives by their nature will typically be large and complex, involving significant people, process and technology changes. Strong stakeholder management and the ability to demonstrate the value of utilising methodologies, without allowing programme and project management to become the project, will be key to keeping stakeholders engaged and supported.

The role will work with the SCO’s PMO to apply best practice project, programme and change management methodologies across the full lifecycle on multi-million pound initiatives and will be able to engage with a range of stakeholders across the institution. Responsible for managing a number of project managers and other PMO team members, supporting their development through coaching, mentoring and management of objectives.

The role will report to the Head of Project and Programme Delivery.

Requirements

JOB DESCRIPTION

As Senior Project and Programme Manager your main duties will include:

·      Lead on the implementation of all programme and project delivery processes for an integrated initiative, ensuring the  Executive Sponsor and Business/ Academic Lead are supported in owning the change and working closely with the other project stakeholders. Taking responsibility for the overall coordination, implementation, execution, control and transition of the initiative ensuring consistency with the strategy and change management approach;

·      Drawing on the support of the relevant Finance Manager, lead on the overall budget management activities for the initiative.

·      Formulate the procurement strategy for the initiative in conjunction with senior stakeholders. Leading on the appointment, induction and management of external and internal teams and other professional advisors in accordance with  procedures and utilising the Framework Agreement where appropriate;

·      Support, advise and challenge the Executive Sponsor and Lead on the best approach for delivery in order to achieve the desired outcomes (recognising the final decision making authority of the Executive Sponsor).

·      Provide assurance to the Executive Sponsor, the Lead and the appropriate governance bodies regarding the management of constraints, priorities and risks, to drive negotiations between parties to gain consensus where necessary and to deliver results accordingly;

·      Provide line management to Project Managers and Project Administrators;

·      Identify key intra-project and inter-project dependencies and manage them accordingly.

·      Identify and resolve issues before, or as, they arise either in agreement with the other project leads or through escalation to the Executive Sponsor and Lead.

·      Lead on the preparation and be responsible for maintaining all programme and project documentation to a high standard ensuring it is up to date and presented in the right format in a timely fashion. To produce standard and ad hoc reports as required to inform decision making.

·      Be responsible for maintaining programme and project plans and reporting within the project online environment to the defined project standards.

·      Lead on the co-ordination of the commissioning, handover and adoption of the initiative’s outputs, implementing the processes and new ways of working to ensure the realisation of benefits;

·      Support the Exec Sponsor and Lead in attending relevant governance meetings as required and to represent and to report on progress.

·      Act as a lead advisor to internal and external stakeholders and clients on all aspects of programme and project management matters;

·      Lead the shaping of the initiative with key internal and external partners, ensuring close strategic alignment through effectively consulting with key stakeholders.

·      Planning for and managing the human aspects of change ensuring clarity and engagement with those impacted, ensuring a smooth transition to business as usual and minimising disruption through effective and appropriate change readiness techniques; 

·      Lead on the preparation and dissemination of gateway reviews following consultation with project stakeholders;

·      Make recommendations based on lessons learnt for future developments, providing objective guidance and advice ensuring that key lessons learned are circulated to internal and external teams;

·      Share best practice, coaching and supporting of other colleagues across and seek opportunities to raise the profile and reputation of the team;

·      Demonstrating personal and role model leadership in terms of being focussed, flexible, professional, motivated and personally effective in order to deliver the agreed deliverables;

·      Developing and maintaining a high level of knowledge of the latest developments within the University and the HE sector, and best practice in programme, project and change management in order to provide advice and guidance on a range of issues 

·      Responsible for ensuring  policy across all project work, developing and promoting clear guidelines and liaising with relevant teams (e.g. Health & Safety, Equality, Diveristy & Inclusion and Information Governance Office) to ensure adherence.
 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

As Senior Project and Programme Manager you will have:

·      Significant experience of successfully managing major projects and programmes, in excess of £5M, from inception through to completion;

·      A degree or similar professional qualification -Prince2 Practitioner, Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner and be familiar with APM Body of Knowledge;

·      Strong IT skills with experience of using Microsoft Office, Teams and project planning software (e.g. MS Project)

·      The experience of leading and directing the work of other project managers, other staff and external consultants involved on projects, in applying good practice project and programme methodologies;

·      The ability to identify, document, analyse and manage project issues, risks, benefits and other project products;

·      The ability to work confidently and assertively with a range of executive and non executive senior stakeholders, using coaching, negotiating, communication and influencing skills to achieve successful outcomes;

·      Experience of appointment and management of external consultants and third parties via EU procurement process;

·      The ability to ensure delivery of real measurable benefits through strong organisation and prioritisation skills;

·      Experience of leading and managing project teams, achieving results through other people without necessarily using formal line management authority; 

·      Knowledge of policies and procedures such as Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, Information Governance and Data Protection

·      A good understanding of Higher Education combined with ability to challenge accepted norms;

·      Highly developed verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely to executive stakeholders;

·      Excellent skills in leading and facilitating workshops and events with senior internal and external stakeholders; providing structure to enable groups to function effectively;

Desirable

You may also have:

·      Experience of undertaking major initiatives in Higher Education or similar complex organisation;

·      Experience of Business Process Management, Lean and/or Agile methodologies.

·      Active membership of a professional project management body (APM) or other relevant professional organisation;