Programme Director

Description

Summary

Purpose: Accountable for scoping, mobilising, managing and delivering a range of strategic programmes (high value and significant importance) made up of a collection of interrelated projects and initiatives aimed at achieving a set of strategic objectives and outcomes.
Working with internal and external stakeholders and the executive leadership team to ensure delivery of the programmes meet overall time, cost and quality requirements, and contribute to strategic aims.
The role is needed to increase in-house senior programme delivery capacity and capability to meet the needs of current initiatives. Specifically:
•To provide clear guidance and direction to diverse project teams
•To effectively manage the interdependencies between programmes
•The programmes involve a significant level of investment, risk and complexity
•Support and represent the views of senior stakeholders
Based on forecasting future demand for the current initiatives and overlaying the current capacity, there is a long term (3 years) deficit of 16 resources within the team. The role will support delivery of several programmes: Culture, Customer, Artificial IntelligentJob title: Programme Director
Business Area: Business change hubs
Department: Project and Programme Management
Education Technology, On Screen Examinations, Turing, Associates, Numeracy, Assessment Quality.
, Scanning and Marking, Integrated
Purpose: Accountable for scoping, mobilising, managing and delivering a range of strategic programmes (high value and significant importance) made up of a collection of interrelated projects and initiatives aimed at achieving a set of strategic objectives and outcomes.
Working with internal and external stakeholders and the executive leadership team to ensure delivery of the programmes meet overall time, cost and quality requirements, and contribute to strategic aims.
The role is needed to increase in-house senior programme delivery capacity and capability to meet the needs of current initiatives. Specifically:
To provide clear guidance and direction to diverse project teams
To effectively manage the interdependencies between programmes
The programmes involve a significant level of investment, risk and complexity
Support and represent the views of senior stakeholders
Based on forecasting future demand for the current initiatives and overlaying the current capacity, there is a long term (3 years) deficit of 16 resources within the team. The role will support delivery of several programmes: Culture, Customer, Artificial Intelligent
Landscape:
The role sits in the Corporate Services Office, within the Programmes and Project Management department (Business Change Hubs)
Works with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. partner organisations, government bodies, third party suppliers) to set the overall strategic vision and objectives of the in scope programmes, aligned to the AQA’s organisational strategy. Effectively influences and builds relationships with a range of senior stakeholders, including executives and senior management, ensuring engagement, support, and buy-in across all aspects of programme delivery. 
Ensures programmes are delivered within agreed budgets. Collective budget of more than £5m. Demonstrates commercial flexibility, by undertaking other responsibilities as the business needs change, commensurate to their level.
Works with colleagues throughout AQA to ensure that programme plans are in line with wider capacity plans and resources are available to meet the individual projects and overall programme needs.
Ensures that the collective efforts of the projects within each programme align with AQA’s strategic objectives and outcomes.

Activities:
Works with senior executives to translate organisational/departmental strategy into a roadmap made up of component programmes (and associated blueprints) and projects.
Ensures that programmes objectives and outcomes are clearly articulated and that progress to their achievement is effectively monitored and managed, using AQA’s standard methodology and tools.
Produces core programme components as appropriate to the size of the programme, such as business cases, road maps, programme plans, programme definition documents, blueprints etc., in a way that facilitates understanding and strategic decision making. Develops supporting artefacts as required.
Undertakes strategic planning for the whole programme lifecycle from strategy formulation to ensuring that the outcomes are delivered and sustained.
Ensures a shared understanding of assumptions and constraints associated with each programme and ensure that these are effectively managed.
Proactively identifies overarching/strategic risks and issues that impact each programme, as early as possible, to take corrective action. When necessary escalate early, with recommended mitigation activity.
Proactively identifies and manages inter-dependencies between programmes and projects within the wider portfolios.
Manages and facilitates change at an organizational level, ensuring that the programme aligns with the AQA's strategic objectives and outcomes.
Encourages innovation within the programme to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Actively seek out seek opportunities for continuous improvement, learning from both successes and challenges to refine programme management processes.
Ensures AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements including but not limited to Health Safety and Environment, Equal Opportunities, and Information Security Management System.
Works with programme and project management to identify resource requirements 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 focuses on alignment with organizational objectives and that it contributes to the overall success of AQA. Manages these stakeholder relationships to ensure continued buy-in and commitment.
Shapes the culture of AQA by emphasizing alignment with strategic objectives and outcomes, fostering a collaborative environment across teams.
Develops leadership capabilities within the programme team (focusing on senior roles), fostering 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 working across the organisation, ensuring a ‘one team’ approach, with coherent and consistent aims, objectives and actions, and supporting initiatives, as required.
Produces high levels of performance from teams by modelling leadership behaviours with confidence, providing clarity, challenge, feedback, coaching and development in line with business objectives.

To be successful in this role, you will need to know:
The education system and AQA’s activities (broadly).
Programme and project methodologies and evidence effective use of these methodologies.
Process improvement methodologies (broadly).
Be educated to degree level or have extensive experience in a similar role.
Be Prince2 and MSP accredited, or have a similar relevant qualification (desirable).
Be able to establish and implement governance structures to ensure that projects within the programme adhere to AQA policies, standards, and guidelines.
Be able to proactively resolve problems and adapt to change.
Be able to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, with an emphasis on Executives.
Be able to proactively resolve problems and adapt to change. Solve problems and undertake analysis at different levels of abstraction.
Be able to identify and articulate programme activities, milestones, and a critical path.
Be able to translate a vision into achievable goals and programmes of work, and provide clear direction to achieve AQA’s strategic objectives.
Be able to communicate effectively, conveying complex information in a clear and concise manner. Able to effectively communicate progress, challenges, and contribution to AQA’s objectives to high level stakeholders and executives.
Be numerate to a high level to develop sound business cases and benefit plans.
Be able to allocate resources across multiple projects within the programme to optimise performance.
Be able to coordinate programmes and projects effectively to optimise delivery of outcomes.
Be able to address conflicts that may arise between projects or teams within the programme or between programmes, finding solutions that support overall programme success.
Be able to think strategically and translate a vision into achievable goals and provide clear direction to achieve programme outcomes.
Be able to inspire and motivate team members and other colleagues through effectively communicating the programme’s vision and benefits.
Be able to self-reflect and display personal awareness, to tailor working style to get the most from the team and key stakeholders.
Be able to lead by example, to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders, up to and including Executive Leadership Team level.
Be goal and outcome orientated – maintains focus on the business case objectives and outcomes.
Be able to to work flexibly to meet the needs of the programme.
Be able to regularly display courage and calmness under pressure.
Be able to evidence experience experience of leading large scale, high value, strategically important, complex programmes and projects to successful conclusion.
Be able to evidence experience of successfully developing teams to achieve business and professional development goals.

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