Project Management

?Purpose of role

The Project Manager has the authority to run the project on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the Project Board within the constraints laid down by the board. The Project Manager`s prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the required products, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost. The Project Manager is also responsible for the project producing a result that is capable of achieving the benefits defined in the Business Case.

As a Project Manager you will be heading up the team, working closely with clients and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to translate client needs into projects which deliver solutions.

Alternatively, you will head up a work stream within a larger or complex Programme, helping to develop Business Case, Project Plans, manage Risks and Issues, manage Benefits, or identify Business Requirements, depending on the client`s needs.

The projects we support typically include both operational and technical transformation, so the successful candidate will need to demonstrate experience of working as part of a wider business transformation project. We also often work in complex, multi-agency environments, so experience of working effectively with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver a project is highly desirable.

In addition to client facing work, we also expect our consultants to play an active role in developingpractice through participation in internal projects.

Key Accountabilities

Planning and Delivery:
– Delivery of client-facing project management assignments according to the role to which you are appointed, (May also perform Team Manager and Project Support roles).
– Direct and motivate the project team
– Plan and monitor the project
– Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning
– and control of the project
– Agree any delegation and use of Project Assurance roles required by the Project Board
– Agree technical and quality strategy with appropriate members of the Project Board
– Produce the Project Initiation Document
– Prepare Project, Stage and, if necessary, Exception Plans in conjunction with Team Managers and appointed Project Assurance roles and agree them with the Project Board
– Take responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiate corrective action where necessary
– Liaise with any suppliers or account managers
– Be responsible for project administration
– Manage the risks, including the development of contingency plans
– Liaise with programme management if the project is part of a programme to ensure that work is neither overlooked nor duplicated
– Be responsible for change control and any required configuration management
– Liaise with the Project Board or its appointed Project Assurance roles to assure the overall direction and integrity of the project

Reporting:
– Prepare and report to the Project Board through Highlight Reports and End Stage Reports
– Prepare the Lessons Learned Report and any Follow-on Action Recommendations required
– Prepare the End Project Report
– Develop thought leadership in specialist fields
– Identification of new sales opportunities and contribution to bids

Skills and Experience
–
Understands the key stages of a project management methodology and the role of the Project Manager within the overall Governance framework –
Ability to apply appropriate project and programme management frameworks to suit client needs –
Has experience in taking on the role of Project Manager in large and complex projects either singularly or as part of a larger programme, or the role of Programme Manager in smaller or simpler assignments –
Proactive in the development of quality plans and individual work packages –
Ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels of an organisation –
Can resolve problems and issues and only escalates significant risks and issues to the project or programme board –
Understands the concept and process of Requirements Management –
Understands the concept and process of Benefits Management –
Can identify and defines major products, activities and dependencies, timescales, resources and costs required to deliver the project or programme –
Uses an approved approach/methodology and tool to develop a Project Plan. –
Can communicate the plan clearly, allocate responsibilities and outline details how progress will be monitored and controlled –
Uses change control process, methods and approval to agree changes to scope, deliverables, resources costs and timescales on the project plan –
Is proactive in the identification and management of Risk and Issues –
Uses an approved Risk and Issue management methodology and is able to tailor to the clients internal reporting where applicable –
Ability to demonstrate resilience in challenging situations –
Has the skills and experience to develop and undertake options appraisals (including understanding the need for a baseline `Do Nothing` option) –
Proven ability to present complex information in an easily understandable way; communicating in plain English and avoiding unnecessary jargon –
Demonstrable understanding of the project and programme lifecycle –
Ability to develop, use and understand MS Project plans –
Experience of managing junior staff and small teams –
Good MS Excel / PowerPoint / Visio skills –
Has the skills and experience necessary to write and/or understand a Full Business Case, blending industry standard frameworks with client templates

Academic and Professional Qualifications
– Degree (2:1 or higher) or equivalent qualification
– Holds PRINCE2® practitioner qualification
– Holds, or is working toward, MSP® practitioner or another specialist PPM qualification (such as, but not exclusively, MoR®, P3O®, ITIL®)
– Holds, or is working toward, full membership of APM
– Other industry recognised qualifications (desirable)