Strategic Programme Leader

3 weeks ago

Manchester, United Kingdom AQA Full time
Job Overview

Role Summary

Objective:

Responsible for defining, initiating, overseeing, and executing a variety of strategic programmes that encompass multiple interconnected projects and initiatives, all aimed at fulfilling specific strategic goals and outcomes.

Collaborating with both internal and external partners, as well as the executive leadership team, to ensure that programme delivery aligns with established timelines, budgetary constraints, and quality standards, while also supporting the overarching strategic vision.

This position is essential for enhancing the internal capacity and expertise in senior programme delivery to address the demands of ongoing initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide comprehensive guidance and leadership to diverse project teams
  • Effectively manage the interconnections between various programmes
  • Oversee programmes that involve considerable investment, risk, and complexity
  • Advocate for and represent the interests of senior stakeholders

Anticipating future demands for current initiatives and assessing existing capacity reveals a projected long-term (3 years) shortfall of 16 resources within the team.


This role will facilitate the delivery of several key programmes:
Culture, Customer Engagement, Artificial Intelligence

Operational Context:
This position is situated within the Corporate Services Office, part of the Programmes and Project Management department (Business Change Hubs).
Engages with both internal and external stakeholders (including partner organizations, governmental entities, and third-party suppliers) to establish the strategic vision and objectives for the programmes in scope, in alignment with AQA's organizational strategy.

Effectively influences and cultivates relationships with a variety of senior stakeholders, including executives and senior management, ensuring engagement, support, and commitment across all facets of programme delivery.

Ensures that programmes are executed within the allocated budgets, which collectively exceed £5 million. Demonstrates adaptability by taking on additional responsibilities as business needs evolve, commensurate with their role.

Collaborates with colleagues throughout AQA to ensure that programme plans align with broader capacity plans and that resources are available to meet the needs of individual projects and the overall programme.

Ensures that the collective efforts of the projects within each programme are in harmony with AQA's strategic objectives and desired outcomes.

Core Activities:

Works alongside senior executives to translate organizational and departmental strategies into a comprehensive roadmap consisting of component programmes and associated projects.

Ensures that programme objectives and outcomes are clearly defined and that progress towards their achievement is effectively monitored and managed, utilizing AQA's standard methodologies and tools.

Develops essential programme components as necessary, such as business cases, roadmaps, programme plans, and definition documents, in a manner that facilitates understanding and strategic decision-making.

Creates supporting documentation as required.

Engages in strategic planning for the entire programme lifecycle, from strategy formulation to ensuring that outcomes are delivered and sustained.

Ensures a mutual understanding of assumptions and constraints associated with each programme and manages these effectively.

Proactively identifies overarching strategic risks and issues that may impact each programme, taking corrective action as early as possible. When necessary, escalates issues promptly, along with recommended mitigation strategies.
Proactively identifies and manages interdependencies between programmes and projects within the broader portfolio.

Facilitates organizational change, ensuring that the programme aligns with AQA's strategic objectives and desired outcomes.

Encourages innovation within the programme to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Actively seeks opportunities for continuous improvement, learning from both successes and challenges to refine programme management processes.

Ensures compliance with AQA's policies and relevant legislative requirements, including but not limited to Health, Safety, and Environment, Equal Opportunities, and Information Security Management System.

Collaborates with programme and project management to identify resource needs and effectively allocates resources across multiple projects within the programme to optimize overall performance and achieve strategic objectives and outcomes.

Engages with high-level executives, senior management, and other strategic stakeholders to ensure that the programme remains aligned with organizational objectives and contributes to AQA's overall success.

Manages these stakeholder relationships to ensure ongoing support and commitment.

Shapes AQA's culture by emphasizing alignment with strategic objectives and fostering a collaborative environment across teams.

Develops leadership capabilities within the programme team, focusing on senior roles, and promotes a culture of collaboration and cross-functional expertise, including the development of programme and project managers.

In conjunction with management teams across AQA, drives effective and seamless collaboration throughout the organization, ensuring a unified approach with coherent and consistent aims, objectives, and actions, while supporting initiatives as needed.

Achieves high performance from teams by exemplifying leadership behaviors with confidence, providing clarity, challenge, feedback, coaching, and development in line with business objectives.


To excel in this role, candidates should possess:
A comprehensive understanding of the education system and AQA's activities (broadly).
Proficiency in programme and project methodologies, demonstrating effective application of these methodologies.
Familiarity with process improvement methodologies (broadly).
A degree-level education or extensive experience in a similar role.
Prince2 and MSP accreditation, or a similar relevant qualification (desirable).

The ability to establish and implement governance structures to ensure that projects within the programme adhere to AQA policies, standards, and guidelines.

A proactive approach to problem-solving and adaptability to change.
Strong influencing and collaboration skills with stakeholders at all levels, particularly with executives.
The capability to resolve problems and conduct analysis at various levels of abstraction.
The ability to identify and articulate programme activities, milestones, and critical paths.

The skill to translate a vision into achievable goals and programmes of work, providing clear direction to achieve AQA's strategic objectives.

Excellent communication skills, capable of conveying complex information clearly and concisely. Ability to effectively communicate progress, challenges, and contributions to AQA's objectives to high-level stakeholders and executives.
Strong numerical skills to develop sound business cases and benefit plans.
The ability to allocate resources across multiple projects within the programme to optimize performance.
Effective coordination of programmes and projects to maximize delivery of outcomes.

The capability to address conflicts that may arise between projects or teams within the programme or between programmes, finding solutions that support overall programme success.

Strategic thinking skills to translate a vision into achievable goals and provide clear direction to achieve programme outcomes.

The ability to inspire and motivate team members and colleagues by effectively communicating the programme's vision and benefits.

Self-reflective and personally aware, able to tailor working styles to maximize team and stakeholder engagement.

A leadership style that fosters effective working relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders, including the Executive Leadership Team.

Goal and outcome-oriented, maintaining focus on business case objectives and outcomes.
Flexibility to meet the needs of the programme.
The ability to demonstrate courage and composure under pressure.

Proven experience in leading large-scale, high-value, strategically significant, and complex programmes and projects to successful completion.

Evidence of successfully developing teams to achieve business and professional development goals.

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