Programme Director

Methods Business and Digital Technology Limited

Methods is a £100M+ IT Services Consultancy who has partnered with a range of central government departments and agencies to transform the way the public sector operates in the UK. Established over 30 years ago and UK-based, we apply our skills in transformation, delivery, and collaboration from across the Methods Group, to create end-to-end business and technical solutions that are people-centred, safe, and designed for the future.

Our human touch sets us apart from other consultancies, system integrators and software houses – with people, technology, and data at the heart of who we are, we believe in creating value and sustainability through everything we do for our clients, staff, communities, and the planet.

We support our clients in the success of their projects while working collaboratively to share skill sets and solve problems. At Methods we have fun while working hard; we are not afraid of making mistakes and learning from them.

Predominantly focused on the public-sector, Methods is now building a significant private sector client portfolio.

Methods was acquired by the Alten Group in early 2022.

Requirements

The role

The Programme Director role has responsibilities for client delivery, business development and the development of approaches and standards, supporting the Change Delivery & Advisory Practice. The post-holder will be part of the growing Change Delivery and Advisory practice, reporting to the Head of Change Delivery and Advisory and will be expected to work across the Change & Innovation Portfolio.

The Change & Innovation Portfolio brings together the capabilities to analyse, design and develop innovative solutions and services, with the project and programme management expertise to deliver business change. We support our public sector clients to deliver sustainable change and innovation, using knowledge transfer and co-delivery to build their internal capabilities and create positive impact.

The Change Delivery & Advisory Practice's mission is to support our clients design and delivery successful change through quality P3M (Portfolio, Programme and Project Management) consultancy and knowledge transfer that builds sustainable capability across the public sector

They will be responsible for supporting clients to deliver change successfully, designing portfolio structures and programme strategies, initiating and directing programme delivery and providing proportionate assurance. They are responsible for helping clients define and direct programmes, understand the value of the different aspects of P3M, alongside developing our practice approaches and collateral so that knowledge is retained and reused.

The ideal candidate will have at least ten years' experience working in large scale transformation programme and portfolio environments and over five years' experience of working in technology and/or business change consultancy. They will have relevant programme and /or portfolio qualifications and applied practitioner expertise in the different aspects of PPM design and delivery. They will ideally have experience of successfully delivering complex change in central government departments or similarly sized complex organisations.

Although the below description is not exhaustive, the Programme Director responsibilities will include::

Client delivery

· Direct client assignments to budget, time and quality

· Provide programme leadership and direction, ensuring work is properly designed with sufficient client engagement.

· Manage and monitor programme performance, progress against milestones, and appropriateness and quality of work, and where necessary takes corrective action.

· Manage multiple assignments at once, prioritising to balance client needs and portfolio business requirements

· Direct programme teams, both employed Methods staff and other resources

· Design and plan assignments in support of client objectives across the change lifecycle

· Advise clients on the design and implementation of portfolio, programme and project management, including application of appropriate methodologies

· Design approaches, frameworks and strategies for client programmes, identifying risks, outcomes and benefits

· Provide assurance over multiple client assignments

Business development

· Support the Head of Change Delivery in developing major accounts and exploiting opportunities for growth

· Identifying opportunities for building partnerships with other suppliers and academic institutions

· Proactively identify new client prospects and work with the sales team to develop and convert active opportunities

· Lead on proposal development, working collaboratively with the bid team in preparing and reviewing proposals

· Provide suggestions on new pre-sales approaches and work collaboratively in preparing marketing materials

Practice development

· Support the Head of Change Delivery in designing and validating actions to grow the practice in a sustainable way

· Develop portfolio and programme management related service offerings, alongside client and colleague understanding of related approaches and value

· Lead the development of new products and services and evolve existing products and services in line with market knowledge and company capability

· Lead and support internal change projects

· Routinely contribute to portfolio and company knowledge base

· Keep up to date with national and local developments in specified markets/ service areas

· Publish thought leadership on specified market, product and service issues

· Actively participate in P3M events to gain and share industry knowledge

· Support other team members through knowledge sharing and mentoring where appropriate

· Maintain your own professional development

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

· A proven track record of using developed professional and specialist knowledge to deliver results

· Significant experience of directing large scale transformation within and across public sector organisations

· The ability to manage large and diverse stakeholder groups and to communicate and represent the voice of these groups at senior stakeholder levels.

· The capability to define outcomes-based deliverables and deliver them in complex programme environments

· Strong and effective change management experience ensuring effective quality assurance and the overall integrity of the programme.

· Relevant experience in the priority domains, such as complex senior stakeholder management, digital transformation, business change and agile development programmes.

· The ability to deliver at pace and under pressure.

· Experience directing major change with experience designing and implementing a structured approach to delivery and take up of new ways of working that are underpinned by the introduction of new technology and associated business processes.

· Ability to inspire and lead teams, create an open and collaborative environment to work in, be flexible, adaptable

· Being an excellent communicator carrying influence and authority.

· In depth knowledge of programme, project management and business change methodologies

· Recognised programme and project qualifications

· Evidence of recent and on-going professional development

Desirable skills and experience:

· Previous experience directing large multi-disciplinary teams across disparate locations.

· Effective negotiation and resource planning.

· Experience of HMT business case lifecycle

· Significant experience of public sector programme management

· Programme management qualifications and experience e.g. MSP or equivalent

This role will require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.

Benefits

Benefits

Methods is passionate about its people; we want our colleagues to develop the things they are good at and enjoy.

By joining us you can expect:

• Autonomy to develop and grow your skills and experience
• Be part of exciting project work that is making a difference in society
• Strong, inspiring, and thought-provoking leadership
• A supportive and collaborative environment

As well as this we offer:

Development – access to LinkedIn Learning, a management development programme, and training

Wellness – 24/7 confidential employee assistance programme

Flexible Working – including home working and part time

Social – office parties, breakfast Tuesdays, monthly pizza Thursdays, Thirsty Thursdays, and commitment to charitable causes

Time Off – 25 days of annual leave a year, plus bank holidays, with the option to buy 5 extra days each year

Volunteering – 2 paid days per year to volunteer in our local communities or within a charity organisation

Pension – Salary Exchange Scheme with 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution

Discretionary Company Bonus – based on company and individual performance

Life Assurance – of 4 times base salary

Private Medical Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)

Worldwide Travel Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay

Travel – season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme

For a full list of benefits please visit our website (

Methods Business and Digital Technology Limited

Methods is a £100M+ IT Services Consultancy who has partnered with a range of central government departments and agencies to transform the way the public sector operates in the UK. Established over 30 years ago and UK-based, we apply our skills in transformation, delivery, and collaboration from across the Methods Group, to create end-to-end business and technical solutions that are people-centred, safe, and designed for the future.

Our human touch sets us apart from other consultancies, system integrators and software houses – with people, technology, and data at the heart of who we are, we believe in creating value and sustainability through everything we do for our clients, staff, communities, and the planet.

We support our clients in the success of their projects while working collaboratively to share skill sets and solve problems. At Methods we have fun while working hard; we are not afraid of making mistakes and learning from them.

Predominantly focused on the public-sector, Methods is now building a significant private sector client portfolio.

Methods was acquired by the Alten Group in early 2022.

Requirements

The role

The Programme Director role has responsibilities for client delivery, business development and the development of approaches and standards, supporting the Change Delivery & Advisory Practice. The post-holder will be part of the growing Change Delivery and Advisory practice, reporting to the Head of Change Delivery and Advisory and will be expected to work across the Change & Innovation Portfolio.

The Change & Innovation Portfolio brings together the capabilities to analyse, design and develop innovative solutions and services, with the project and programme management expertise to deliver business change. We support our public sector clients to deliver sustainable change and innovation, using knowledge transfer and co-delivery to build their internal capabilities and create positive impact.

The Change Delivery & Advisory Practice's mission is to support our clients design and delivery successful change through quality P3M (Portfolio, Programme and Project Management) consultancy and knowledge transfer that builds sustainable capability across the public sector

They will be responsible for supporting clients to deliver change successfully, designing portfolio structures and programme strategies, initiating and directing programme delivery and providing proportionate assurance. They are responsible for helping clients define and direct programmes, understand the value of the different aspects of P3M, alongside developing our practice approaches and collateral so that knowledge is retained and reused.

The ideal candidate will have at least ten years' experience working in large scale transformation programme and portfolio environments and over five years' experience of working in technology and/or business change consultancy. They will have relevant programme and /or portfolio qualifications and applied practitioner expertise in the different aspects of PPM design and delivery. They will ideally have experience of successfully delivering complex change in central government departments or similarly sized complex organisations.

Although the below description is not exhaustive, the Programme Director responsibilities will include::

Client delivery

· Direct client assignments to budget, time and quality

· Provide programme leadership and direction, ensuring work is properly designed with sufficient client engagement.

· Manage and monitor programme performance, progress against milestones, and appropriateness and quality of work, and where necessary takes corrective action.

· Manage multiple assignments at once, prioritising to balance client needs and portfolio business requirements

· Direct programme teams, both employed Methods staff and other resources

· Design and plan assignments in support of client objectives across the change lifecycle

· Advise clients on the design and implementation of portfolio, programme and project management, including application of appropriate methodologies

· Design approaches, frameworks and strategies for client programmes, identifying risks, outcomes and benefits

· Provide assurance over multiple client assignments

Business development

· Support the Head of Change Delivery in developing major accounts and exploiting opportunities for growth

· Identifying opportunities for building partnerships with other suppliers and academic institutions

· Proactively identify new client prospects and work with the sales team to develop and convert active opportunities

· Lead on proposal development, working collaboratively with the bid team in preparing and reviewing proposals

· Provide suggestions on new pre-sales approaches and work collaboratively in preparing marketing materials

Practice development

· Support the Head of Change Delivery in designing and validating actions to grow the practice in a sustainable way

· Develop portfolio and programme management related service offerings, alongside client and colleague understanding of related approaches and value

· Lead the development of new products and services and evolve existing products and services in line with market knowledge and company capability

· Lead and support internal change projects

· Routinely contribute to portfolio and company knowledge base

· Keep up to date with national and local developments in specified markets/ service areas

· Publish thought leadership on specified market, product and service issues

· Actively participate in P3M events to gain and share industry knowledge

· Support other team members through knowledge sharing and mentoring where appropriate

· Maintain your own professional development

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

· A proven track record of using developed professional and specialist knowledge to deliver results

· Significant experience of directing large scale transformation within and across public sector organisations

· The ability to manage large and diverse stakeholder groups and to communicate and represent the voice of these groups at senior stakeholder levels.

· The capability to define outcomes-based deliverables and deliver them in complex programme environments

· Strong and effective change management experience ensuring effective quality assurance and the overall integrity of the programme.

· Relevant experience in the priority domains, such as complex senior stakeholder management, digital transformation, business change and agile development programmes.

· The ability to deliver at pace and under pressure.

· Experience directing major change with experience designing and implementing a structured approach to delivery and take up of new ways of working that are underpinned by the introduction of new technology and associated business processes.

· Ability to inspire and lead teams, create an open and collaborative environment to work in, be flexible, adaptable

· Being an excellent communicator carrying influence and authority.

· In depth knowledge of programme, project management and business change methodologies

· Recognised programme and project qualifications

· Evidence of recent and on-going professional development

Desirable skills and experience:

· Previous experience directing large multi-disciplinary teams across disparate locations.

· Effective negotiation and resource planning.

· Experience of HMT business case lifecycle

· Significant experience of public sector programme management

· Programme management qualifications and experience e.g. MSP or equivalent

This role will require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.

Benefits

Benefits

Methods is passionate about its people; we want our colleagues to develop the things they are good at and enjoy.

By joining us you can expect:

• Autonomy to develop and grow your skills and experience
• Be part of exciting project work that is making a difference in society
• Strong, inspiring, and thought-provoking leadership
• A supportive and collaborative environment

As well as this we offer:

Development – access to LinkedIn Learning, a management development programme, and training

Wellness – 24/7 confidential employee assistance programme

Flexible Working – including home working and part time

Social – office parties, breakfast Tuesdays, monthly pizza Thursdays, Thirsty Thursdays, and commitment to charitable causes

Time Off – 25 days of annual leave a year, plus bank holidays, with the option to buy 5 extra days each year

Volunteering – 2 paid days per year to volunteer in our local communities or within a charity organisation

Pension – Salary Exchange Scheme with 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution

Discretionary Company Bonus – based on company and individual performance

Life Assurance – of 4 times base salary

Private Medical Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)

Worldwide Travel Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay

Travel – season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme

For a full list of benefits please visit our website (