JOB DESCRIPTION
REPORTS TO: Workstream Lead
RESPONSIBLE FOR: The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for delivering large scale/ complex projects through the full project life cycle in accordance with the agreed budget.
They will be the contact point for all issues pertaining to the project(s) assigned to them, including liaison with the EdIS Team and stakeholders across the Education Authority, and external suppliers to ensure delivery is consistent with project plan.
This will involve working closely with team members and Workstream Lead to ensure that all project requirements, deadlines, budget restrictions and schedules are on track.
The Senior Project Managers will be responsible for managing and leading a team of employees within the service, this may include managing employees across all EA offices.
Background
The Education Authority (EA) is responsible to the Department of Education (DE) for ensuring that world-class education services are available to meet the needs of children and young people and for support for the provision of efficient and effective youth services.
Since its establishment, the Education Authority has delivered change at an incredible pace. As part of this change process, the EdIS Programme has been established and seeks to appoint a number of supporting roles to facilitate procurement and implementation of new services that are delivered as part of:
(i) the existing EN (NI) contract, that is coming to an end;
(ii) existing EA services that strategically align and compliment the services delivered by EN (NI); and,
(iii) Additional scope items to meet evolving requirements, such as child safeguarding and provision to nurseries.
The Education Directorate will be responsible for the leadership, management and development of all activity relating to the EdIS Programme.
The delivery of the EdIS Programme is a cross directorate deliverable, delivering Technology solutions to schools to support school improvement and educational outcomes for Children and Young People.
The EdIS Programme will work with relevant officials across the Department of Education to ensure management of the budget continues to reflect business case approvals and is delivered on time.
Future Challenges and Opportunities
The work we do impacts the lives of tens of thousands of children, young people and their families every day. The services we provide are essential in supporting, encouraging and facilitating learning within our communities to develop generations of young people who are equipped to succeed in life and work in the modern world. As a public sector organisation, we must continue to deliver these vital services in a challenging environment of increasing financial pressure and under intense public scrutiny.
The EA in all its activities will endeavour to support the Programme for Government to improve educational outcomes; reduce educational inequality; improve the quality of education and the skills profile of the population. The EA also recognises the fundamental role it has in other NI Executive priorities such as the economy and the wider success of Northern Ireland.
These are exciting and challenging times for EA as we continue the process of transformation and seek fundamentally to transform education administration for the benefit of future generations of children and young people.
As a result, The Education Directorate seek to recruit a number of key Programme roles to support procurement and delivery of the EdIS Programme.
JOB PURPOSE
Job Purpose
Through the delivery of comprehensive project management, the SPMs for the EdIS Programme will support the Workstream Lead and relevant Business Leaders to ensure the effective and efficient development and delivery of EdIS Projects, in order to meet the Authority’s strategic objectives.
The SPS for EdIS Projects will work with colleagues across EA Services, and other Directorates across the Authority; to ensure that technology solutions and good project governance (as set by the Project Management Office), are delivered to enhance the operations of the Authority; and ultimately contribute to supporting improved outcomes for children and young people. They will also play a key role in realising the transformation objectives within the service and across other Directorates.
They will ensure that regular status reporting on projects is provided to the Workstream Lead and where required appropriate Programme Board and PMO, ensuring any issues are quickly escalated to the appropriate level. They will manage the risk profile of the project and provide early warning on all assurance matters. Be responsible for the planning and overall management of a work programme that may include several projects, or work streams within large scale programme or portfolio and the management of teams engaged in the development of systems or services.
Service-specific responsibilities
Senior Project Managers will lead the procurement, design and implementation of the following Services:
The overall responsibility for the successful procurement, initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure of projects or workstreams allocated to them.
To work closely with Team members to ensure that all project requirements, deadlines, and schedules are on track. Responsibilities include submitting project deliverables, preparing status reports, and establishing effective project communication plans as well as the proper execution of plans.
To be responsible for managing and delivering a project work programme that may contain several strands within a project, programme or portfolio structure.
To make sure that the scope and direction of each project is on schedule, in line with agreed parameter’s/budgts set by the Head of Service/Programme Director.
Base location may be discussed and agreed with the Workstream Lead. As the role carries, regional responsibility travel across EANI sites will be required in order to attend meetings, participate in projects and fulfil full range of duties and responsibility and a percentage of Off-site working may be required.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES APPLICABLE TO THE ROLE OF SENIOR PROJECTS MANAGER
LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT
The post-holder will be expected to:
Line Manage employees aligned to project area;
Provide non-managerial support, information and training as required for other employees within EdIS;
Lead and support employees in the team in the effective and efficient operation of services;
Promote the corporate vision, values and culture of EA as a single regional organisation, in all processes linked to maintenance, development and implementation of Infrastructure architecture assignments;
Provide leadership to their service staff and ensure transformational changes and new structures, strategies, policies and processes for their system/service are implemented while maintaining the high standards of the Authority and any future challenges;
Ensure that employees within the Infrastructure Architect team are provided with clear structure, roles and responsibilities and are supported to work in an integrated way;
Work closely with Team members to ensure that all requirements, deadlines, and schedules are on track. Responsibilities include submitting agreed deliverables, preparing status reports, and establishing effective communication plans;
Foster a culture that supports achievement of the authority’s Strategic Plan by role modelling core values and leadership behaviors to staff; and,
Undertake such training as may be required for his/her own personal and professional development
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY INFLUENCE
The post-holder will be expected to:
Work with the Workstream Lead to establish, maintain and communicate a clear and compelling strategic direction for the service and Projects.
Contribute to the management of the Assistant Directorate, attending Executive Team and Board meetings as required by the Assistant Director and/or EdIS Programme Director.
Challenge conventional approaches, harness new approaches and technology and maximise efficiencies.
Contribute to the development of a comprehensive service development plan;
Work collaboratively with other Senior Officers and Heads of Service, to ensure that priorities are translated into manageable objectives and communicated to relevant teams within the Service as appropriate;
Work collaboratively with Senior Officers across directorates to devise and implement effective systems to monitor, measure, control and report on the work of relevant teams within service to take account of changes in the internal and external environments which may impact on and influence priorities and needs;
Provide reports that can inform policy and strategic direction using formative and summative information which will guide future models of service delivery in relation to the service area.
To establish effective, accountable and rigorous quality assurance systems to achieve highest possible standards of performance, with focuses on maintaining the needs of internal and external customers.
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
The post-holder will be expected to:
Contribute to the strategic planning, implementation, and on-going monitoring of the service area;
Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and statutory frameworks;
Establish, maintain, manage and review effective data systems;
Co-ordinate, deliver, or contribute to training and support with regards to specific service areas as required;
Facilitate the induction of new staff and ongoing professional development of all staff in relation to the core objectives, expected outputs and outcomes in relation to the service;
Prepare and deliver reports on behalf of the Authority as required;
Ensure that employees within the service have an awareness of the corporate culture, values and processes which underpin organisational development;
Delegate responsibilities and deploy staff in accordance with their skills and abilities, the needs of the EA and service specific priorities.
Ensure key principal risks are assessed and monitored, managed and controlled effectively aligned to the EA risk process.
SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
The post-holder will be expected to:
Assist the Authority in the development of policies and plans in line with overall strategic policy and objectives;
Ensure effective and rigorous quality assurance systems are in place to maintain high standards;
Ensure effective engagement, capacity building and monitoring arrangements with local teams;
Participate in review processes to enable the development, review and compliance of all quality assurance policies and procedures;
Foster and facilitate the development of staff skills in relation to negotiating and collaborating with parents and other professionals;
Liaise and work co-operatively with colleagues in other sections of the Authority to ensure consistent and coherent approaches towards training and services in relation to language and communication support;
Manage staff to perform to their potential, promote their professional development and give support when required;
MANAGING FINANCIAL RESOURCES
The post-holder will be expected to:
Follow robust corporate governance procedures and financial control frameworks for effective management of the budget for the service and monitor expenditure ensuring propriety, regularity and value for money within the allocated budget;
Facilitate reporting protocols that are required by the EA;
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
The post-holder will be expected to:
Enhance the development of the service by building on effective partnerships
Develop links across the Authority’s Directorates as necessary
Ensure effective systems are in place for communication and consultation with service users, both internally and externally;
Contribute to attendance at meetings both internally and with other stakeholders, in accordance with corporate goals, service targEdIS, multi-agency action plans and in line with EA and DE requirements.
OTHER DUTIES
This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.
