Job Description:

he post holder will have a significant opportunity to develop and implement changes in approach to our project delivery and portfolio management capabilities which will genuinely impact across the whole of Government by helping to make a better GLD.


The post holder will be expected to lead the development of a new approach to project delivery, and the capability across GLD, to support this. They will need to assess the existing change and transformation capacity and systems in the Department and develop the structure, capability – including any external support – governance, financial systems and culture needed in GLD to enable the successful delivery of an existing portfolio of change activity and future transformation and modernisation opportunities.


This portfolio includes digital and technology, cultural, locational, operational (particularly in the HR arena) and organisational design projects. It also includes a significant programme of business transformation which will modernise GLD’s structures, behaviours and governance systems and enhance the investment in, and experience of work for our people in GLD. The post holder will be expected to play a leading role, as programme director, in ensuring this programme has firm foundations to enable it to succeed and drive it forward.


The post holder will be the senior Project Delivery professional in GLD and as head of function will provide assurance to the Board about GLD’s existing portfolio of projects and programmes. They will also provide advice across GLD to project owners and sponsors about setting up and leading successful projects as well as playing a leading role in GLD’s Overall Plan Steering Group. This is a new group formed to provide the GLD Executive Committee and Board a full view of GLD’s portfolio of significant change and transformation activities. It has been established to enable greater visibility of the scope of project and change activities across GLD and provide clear advice to the Board on balance of investment, interdependency and resource allocation in the Department, and the readiness for change and modernisation activities.


The final organisational location, structure and governance of the portfolio office will be for the post holder to recommend.


GLD is, in line with the Government’s wider Places for Growth agenda, developing and implementing plans to move from being a predominantly London based organisation to one with a larger footprint across a wider series of offices including Leeds, Bristol and smaller footprints in Manchester and Croydon. The post holder will play a leading role in assuring and advising on the relocation programme and will themselves need to decide the optimum geographical location for the portfolio management office and how to develop the project delivery function in GLD to take into account of a more dispersed Departmental footprint.


The post holder will be expected to play a leading role in the Strategy, People and Culture Directorate and GLD’s Corporate Resources Group as a member of its senior management team. In what will be a highly visible and influential role across GLD the post holder will also have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills through a broad range of corporate opportunities in the Department. These include in relation to supporting and generating the diverse and inclusive environment, something which GLD is passionate about and which is of fundamental importance to the Department’s long-term success.


This is a role which offers the post holder significant scope to shape how they work, GLD’s programme and projects capability and drive long term systemic change across a Department. It has the potential for the right candidate to deliver value and impact which will have a material benefit right across Government through helping to enhance the quality and capacity of GLD’s corporate activities and make an essential contribution to the Department’s modernisation and professionalisation plans.

Responsibilities

• Provide Inspiring, Confident, and Empowering leadership of the Project Delivery Function in GLD including a current team of around 25 people made up of both Civil Servants and contractors and develop the optimum workforce and skills balance for GLD’s project delivery capability.

• Exercise strong financial stewardship and demonstrate value for money from an initial budget of £c3m per year to develop the capacity and capability to achieve the aims of this role. Further budget provision will be dependent on your plans for the function but GLD’s Board has committed to making the necessary investment in enhancing its project delivery system and capability. Additional funding for projects is currently held within budgets across GLD.

• The development and continuous improvement of the strategy and direction for the project delivery function and system in GLD, including a focus on individual and collective capacity and capability development so that it meets the professional standards expected across Government.

• The development and delivery of a revised approach to portfolio management and the corporate systems and capability to launch and sustain this, including helping to develop the Board and Executive Team’s adoption of new approaches to programme decision making in a more empowered environment.

• Codify GLD’s approach to the development, approval and assurance of programmes, building the next steps in the utility of GLD’s Overall Plan so that it can assist the Board in balance of investment and assurance of the Department’s portfolio.

• Introducing a new performance system to provide visibility of programmes and projects to the GLD Board and Executive Committee, enabling appropriate stewardship and oversight of delivery across the Department.

• Introduce a framework for the provision of mandates and skills development for relevant Senior Responsible Owners in GLD and nurture a collaborative community of practice and formal systems for learning and sharing programme and project lessons across GLD.

• Build the collaborative relationships required across GLD, and with the wider Project Delivery Profession to enable the success of a refreshed approach to project delivery and portfolio management.

• To lead, as Programme Director, GLD’s Business Transformation Programme setting a clear vision for the resources and capability needed to achieve its aims.

Essential Criteria


• Outstanding experience of developing and delivering programmes and projects with high customer and user satisfaction, and of portfolio management. Whilst not essential experience of senior programme or portfolio leadership in a specialist professional career context would be a benefit.

• A track record of delivering transformative outcomes aligned to organisational strategies and experience of balancing competing agendas and priorities through evidence-based decision-making.

• Excellent inter-personal skills and a track record in leading the development of strategies through periods of uncertainty and ambiguity, from vision to delivery and beyond.

• A track record of working across boundaries with complex customer and stakeholder environments, with an ability to establish effective relationships and credibility quickly and work collaboratively and influentially with stakeholders including up to Board level.

• A track record of providing visible, authentic and skilled leadership in a complex organisation with the proven ability to build high performing teams, delivering outstanding service, as well as a commitment to developing diversity and inclusivity.

• Hold relevant accreditations e.g. Project Leadership Programme, Managing Successful Programmes, Management of Portfolios or a higher qualification such as the Major Projects Leadership Academy. Alternatively, you will be able to demonstrate current proficiency in Project Delivery through being a Registered APM Project Professional.

Qualifications

Hold relevant accreditations e.g. Project Leadership Programme, Managing Successful Programmes, Management of Portfolios or a higher qualification such as the Major Projects Leadership Academy. Alternatively, you will be able to demonstrate current proficiency in Project Delivery through being a Registered APM Project Professional

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