Overview:
At RM, we are focused on delivering technology and resources to the education sector, supporting schools, teachers and earners, enabling the improvement of education outcomes worldwide. We work across the industry from pre-school to higher education and professional qualifications, our customers include schools, examination boards, central governments and other professional institutions. We have a clear purpose to enrich the lives of learners worldwide.
The position of Head of Project Management is central to the company’s continued success, it is a high profile leadership role and the job holder will need a strong background in delivering complex IT solutions and services in a regulated market to major customers. The job holder will need to lead a team in on boarding new customers from preferred bidder to managed service and the delivery of new products from proof of concept to saleable product.
A large part of the role will be to define the strategy and direction of the project management function in line with the business strategy and objectives and build and develop a highly effective, motivated team to ensure successful delivery of the portfolio. The job holder will need to have a high degree of commercial and financial acumen, as well as the ability to manage senior stakeholders, both internal and external, and be able to lead, manage, coach & support the team to be effective in these competencies, as well as being used to and comfortable working in a matrix managed environment.
Responsibilities:
Leadership
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Member of the Assessment Operations Senior Leadership Team helping to shape and implement the Operations Strategy
Project Delivery
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Ensure project portfolio delivery is aligned to the strategic direction of the organisation.
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Provide senior level updates to give accurate, timely and insightful analysis of portfolio delivery and risk.
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Provide updates on portfolio forecasts in terms of financial position, quality, and both delivery and financial risk.
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Provide regular updates to senior stakeholders on key commercial and/or delivery issues with a view on preferred options based on fact based scenario modelling.
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Accountable for ensure strong relationships are maintained between the team, external and internal stakeholders, on-shore and off-shore.
Team Leadership
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Create and develop a high performing team, aligned to organisational objectives.
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Support team members in navigating cross business dimensions and challenges, including any points of conflict.
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Coach and mentor the team in all aspects of project management and the delivery strategy to ensure the team are a high performing team.
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Actively manage talent and development, through the use of succession planning, personal and career development plans, and assignment to challenging projects and responsibilities.
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Understand and shape the role and responsibilities of team members.
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Work within a matrix model, aligning objectives for project team with Business Unit Directors and/or Account Directors.
Process Controls & Governance
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Create, implement and embed processes, controls and governance around project delivery, giving a focus to ensuring delivery meets financial commitments, and effectively manages quality, project P&Ls, and ensure committed delivery is achieved or exceeded.
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Ensure appropriate reporting of portfolio performance and risk metrics to senior sponsors.
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Drive continuous improvement of project processes, controls and governance, including implementation of appropriate best practice.
Experience:
- Proven experience in successfully delivering large multi-million £ IT software focused portfolio of programmes delivered to major customers.
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Strong proven leadership skills, able to set functional strategy in line with account and business strategies and execute strategy.
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Strong domain expertise and knowledge of the project delivery practices
- Ability to develop business relationships at all levels of the organisation to avoid SILO mentality, share ideas and get the job done with the support of the business.
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Robust interpersonal skills with proven ability of organisational planning, resource mobilisation and problem solving
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Strong track record of on boarding new customers into a managed service and delivery of IT software and services programme delivery in a global, regional and local structure
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Experience with organisational integration and restructuring
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Experience with operating in a regulatory environment
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Experience of working at a senior level within a matrixed organisation
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Ability to work effectively under pressure with competing and rapidly changing priorities
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Ability to bring analytical rigour and structure and effective solutions to problems
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Strong communication skills – applicable through multiple channels (written, spoken, workshops, presentations)
What’s in it for you?
As well as a competitive salary, you could earn a performance related bonus and you would receive our core benefits package which includes private medical healthcare, life assurance and a Group Personal Pension Plan with higher contribution levels available.
There are lots of voluntary benefits too. You could buy additional annual leave, join our dental plan, sign for a health assessment or take part in our cycle to work scheme. You could even earn yourself an extra bonus for successfully recommending a friend or family member for a position within RM.
At RM we are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the customers and communities we serve, and to creating an inclusive and flexible workplace where all our colleagues can be themselves and succeed on merit.
At RM we recently introduced My Work Blend @RM which provides office based colleagues with multi location and hybrid working. As well as your office base you can spend a proportion of your time working at other locations that suit your role and your life, including home, other offices, customer sites, distribution centres or on the move. We encourage you to discuss arrangements for this role with your potential line manager during the recruitment process. We expect how we make best use of hybrid working may continue to adapt as we adjust to our new ways of working.