Venesky Brown’s client, a public sector organisation in Edinburgh, is currently looking to recruit a Senior Project Manager for a contract up to 12 months, on a day rate of £500-£600 (inside IR35). This role will be a hybrid of working at home and in the office.
 
To develop and manage the programme management activity of a specific programme, including the leadership and operational management the resources aligned to the programme delivery. To provide focussed support to the programme sponsor and lead, enabling them to fulfil their responsibilities.
 
Responsibilities:
 
– To lead the management of a strategic programme in line with service capability frameworks. Ensure that programme and project deliverables are developed and delivered to the required standard of quality, within the constraints of time and cost as defined as part of programme and project initiation, and subsequent change control.
– To provide the operational delivery management of a programme team (including third parties and line management of specialist resource where applicable) ensuring resources are secured and utilised effectively to achieve the programme and project deliverables at the required standard of quality, within the constraints of time and cost as defined as part of programme and project initiation. Maintain a specific delivery focus on the achievement of planned outcomes and measurable benefits.
– Proactively identify, manage and escalate Programme delivery issues and risks to secure necessary support and ownership of corrective or preventative action or appropriate change control to ensure the programme remains within the agreed risk profile and constraint tolerances.
– Provide regular, standardised and accurate programme and project reporting. Providing overview reporting and management information for sponsors. senior management and relevant Boards.  Monitor and report progress against both budget and resource utilisation against deliverable completion and timescales.
 
Essential Skills:
 
– Degree or equivalent formal training, plus significant hands-on experience in a similar or related role(s), demonstrating development through involvement in progressively more demanding relevant work/roles;
– Practitioner qualification in APM, Prince 2 or equivalent
– Demonstrable knowledge and experience of programme and project management processes and techniques;
– Significant experience within Higher Education, Third or Public Sectors : managing and/or advising on the delivery of a significant change programme;
– Excellent interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills: demonstrable ability to positively influence and negotiate with colleagues at a senior level and to gather, analyse and present information, write reports and deliver presentations.  
– Experience of staff management, individuals and team building: demonstrable ability to empower and motivate staff, and to facilitate the implementation of lasting service improvement and coordination.
– Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of possible longer-term implications;
– Excellent organisation and time management skills to plan and organise programme activities of some complexity;
 
Desirable Skills:
 
– Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) or other relevant programme management qualification;
– Change Management qualification
– Knowledge of universities as organisations and of the political context in which they operate
– Knowledge of Change Management
 
If you would like to hear more about this opportunity please get in touch.