A Global Charity located in Reading is seeking a Programme & Delivery Manager for Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) to be part of their team on a permanent basis with hybrid working. Due to advances in technology, they are expanding their digital systems teams with this newly created role - DDaT Programme & Delivery Manager.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
They are an international not-for-profit organisation working to improve education outcomes around the world. They seek to improve education and transitions into work through expert research on what works. Their experts deliver highly contextualised programmes designed to transform education systems, schools and lives.
Their vision is a world in which all lives are transformed through excellent education. They strive to change education for good, grounding their work in research and evidence. They support leaders to raise standards, improve school performance, develop great teachers and open career pathways – transforming lives and futures in contexts as diverse as Brunei, Kenya, England, Rwanda and Dubai.
They combine global research and their longstanding expertise with regional knowledge to inform education policy and practice and deliver programmes around the world. Through their work and expertise – which spans from early years education right through to post-school careers – they seek to strengthen education systems, transform teaching and learning, ensure effective transitions into work, and contribute to sustainable global responses to key education challenges.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The post-holder will establish a new Programme and Delivery department containing the resources required to manage the delivery of new systems and system improvements for the organisation. The team will initially contain two Business Analysts, a Project Manager and potentially a Release and Testing Manager. This role is for a ‘do-er’, and in addition to overseeing the programme of works will be expected to manage projects too. Engagement is key to success in this role, and the successful candidate will build strong relationships with colleagues across the Digital, Data and Technology team.
Job Objectives:
Facilitate communication between project stakeholders and workstreams – including managing dependencies, monitoring progress, and chairing effective meetings.
Assist in the definition of project scope and objectives, involving all relevant stakeholders and ensuring technical feasibility.
Provide leadership to the project and workstream teams – including providing clarity of responsibilities, objectives & deliverables, maintaining focus according to the project vision, and providing the environment to enable project success.
Drive project planning and forecasting, and alignment with project timelines and constraints; working with a portfolio of stakeholders and Project Managers to ensure that milestone plans and resource plans are maintained and up to date.
Influence and manage stakeholder relationships, to ensure projects get delivered to time, cost and scope.
Maintain effective financial and project progress reporting, ensuring frequent revenue and cost tracking of customer requirements, with regular analysis as appropriate.
Supporting project governance – ensure that either personally or a Project Manager prepares all relevant documentation, ensuring that each project fulfils weekly and monthly reporting, decision logging, and budget tracking.
Quality assurance - ensure projects satisfy quality assurance controls and gateways, both internal and external.
Prepare and submit regular project progress reports, e.g., current project status, budget and resource tracking, to agreed governance forums.
Work with the Programme Management Office and business change colleagues to create and maintain management governance frameworks.
At project closure ensure that project documentation is complete, and that lessons learned can be applied to future projects.
Best practice: provide effective leadership using your expertise to support the continuing development of project management capabilities within the organisation, and apply relevant project management principles, standards and methodologies.
Provide coaching, mentoring and guidance to project team members and stakeholders adopting a knowledge transfer approach; and undertake line management of the Delivery Team.
Personally Manage projects as required by the needs of the project pipeline.
Person Specification:
Knowledge
Essential:
Good knowledge and understanding of industry best practice and relevant programme governance techniques and approaches to ensure successful delivery of large scale and/or complex projects and programmes
Accredited Project and/or Programme Management qualification e.g., Prince 2 or MSP certification
Understanding of waterfall and agile project management techniques
Understanding of relevant business processes that support delivery
Commercial knowledge and awareness including the operational and financial design of complex projects to support successful outcomes
Desirable:
Prince 2 or MSP certification
Experience
Essential:
Significant experience in Project and Programme management
Demonstrable experience in successfully working with Project Delivery teams to implement projects and programmes to time, cost and quality
Strong experience in developing business cases
Experience of working within a hybrid (in-house, third party, outsourced) technology environment
Substantial experience of managing and delivering technology related projects
Experience of acting as a senior team member, coaching and mentoring less experienced project managers
Desirable:
Experience of developing data-driven insights, analysis and strategic advice
Experience of developing portfolio plans, budgeting and investment cases, and value realisation activity
Experience in assisting an organisation on a change journey
Skills
Essential:
Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to relate to a wide range of stakeholders
Strong time management & organisational skills
Ability to work well under pressure
Ability to demonstrate leadership skills and inspire, motivate and encourage teamwork
Ability to work on own initiative and solve problems creatively
High level of organisational skills
Value diversity and take pride in building a team that brings together diversity of thought, perspectives and expression
Working Hours
35hrs per week, flexible between 7am-3pm, 8am-4pm, 9am-5pm, 10am-6pm, etc.
BENEFITS
30 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro rota)
6% matched pension scheme
Discounted gym memberships
Health care cash plan
Retail discounts
Cycle to work scheme
Wellbeing App
Death in service benefit