Job Specifications
Job Description
As Head of Programme, you will be working closely with the Head of Delivery, the Head of Content Programme Delivery, and Head of Policy and Strategy to establish and lead the programme function for the GOV.UK directorate.
As the Head of Programme Delivery you’ll be responsible for:
business operations - Have accountability for the day-to-day management of directorate-wide finance, procurement and workforce. Support the Director of GOV.UK to ensure that the directorate stays within its budget envelope Ensure compliance with government-wide spend controls Develop and maintain key relationships with DSIT and Product Group operations colleagues and agree formal and informal ways of working between GOV.UK and centralised functions to ensure strategic join-up Lead business planning, balancing BAU capacity with strategic investment
business case and assurance - Coordinate the production of investment approvals and business and benefits cases, ensuring appropriate specialist input and timely approval
governance and reporting - Working with the Head of Delivery, establish a clear governance process and reporting system, docking into Product Group and DSIT as necessary Coordinate directorate-wide, consolidated reporting and analysis for review by the Leadership Team or governance bodies Provide secretariat support for senior governance boards as needed
planning, scheduling and resourcing - Working with the Head of Delivery and the Head of Content Programme Delivery, maintain a directorate-wide strategic delivery plan Identify and track interdependencies across projects Recommend the allocation of resources across initiatives to optimise the organisation’s return on investment Develop a commercial and procurement pipeline Develop strategies to address resource gaps Align organisational purpose, focus and structure to support delivery of the strategy across BAU and strategic activity Own the 'front door' and triage of incoming requests for work to manage demand and dependencies across Product Group, DSIT and OGDs and coordinate prioritisation decisions with the GOV.UK Leadership Team
leadership - Reporting to the Deputy Director for Strategy and Programme, you are an integral member of the GOV.UK Leadership Team You will lead the programme team, providing coaching, mentoring, and support, and ensuring each member of the team has the necessary management, tools and training to deliver high quality work You will lead GOV.UK's private office
Person specification
We’re Interested In People Who Have
proven experience in financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting within a complex project, programme or portfolio, and working with senior leaders to ensure fiscal responsibility
procurement and commercial expertise, managing end-to-end processes, including complex and high-value procurements, and overseeing contracts to ensure value for money and compliance with government standards
proven experience in workforce planning at scale, forecasting supply and demand, analysing gaps, and developing solutions to meet directorate strategy
demonstrable expertise in planning and scheduling within complex project, programme, or portfolio settings, ensuring robust delivery and decision-making support You can shape and amend an established programme to deliver against a new strategic plan alongside significant current operational delivery Using systems thinking to take a holistic view and optimise for the whole
strong experience in compiling high-quality business cases, reports and performance analysis, with the ability to translate complex data into meaningful insights for senior stakeholders
excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to tailor content and delivery style to quickly establish credibility with different audiences, including senior leaders, technical teams and peers
an outcome- and delivery-focused approach Make processes work for the directorate, rather than seeing them as a blocker Eliminate waste, removing processes which consume resources but do not add value
proficiency in developing and implementing change strategies, engaging stakeholders, and fostering collaboration to ensure smooth transitions You use data-driven insights to monitor progress and adapt strategies for successful outcomes
experience in applying the above in a digital, agile, delivery context You have an understanding and experience of collaborating with the variety of disciplines involved in digital and agile programme delivery
Benefits
There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:
flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
an extra day off for the King’s birthday
an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
career progression and coaching, including a training bud
About the Company
Manchester Digital is a membership organisation, which works to support and develop Greater Manchester's tech and digital industry. Our community is made up of over 400 businesses, and we're dedicated to driving growth, increasing inclusivity and developing digital skills across the region.
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