Programme Assurance Manager

A challenging new opportunity to work on a major Transformation. The PMO Assurance Manager will work closely with workstream delivery managers to help determine and drive out agreed corrective actions to address key issues and risks that may prevent/impact the delivery of the Programme and its objectives.

PURPOSE OF ROLE

The role of PMO Assurance Manager is to:

- Assure that the delivery of the Finance Transformation Programme is, and can reasonably be expected to remain, consistent with approved Business cases.
- Assure that the approach being taken to deliver the Programme's objectives is appropriate and can it be done.
- Conduct specific assurance reviews (snapshots) ahead of key checkpoints eg when moving into critical phases/activities and Implementations/Go-live.
- Ensure that the impact of any major risks or issues have been fully assessed and that appropriate action and resources are being applied to implement fit for purpose solutions. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Assuring that the overall programme delivers within approved budgets (costs/benefits) and timeline, and that any further opportunities are captured.
- That programme scope is consistent with approved business cases, requirements, design, solutions delivered. Where alterations to scope have been made that the appropriate change controls have been raised and fully-approved in the relevant governance forum.
- Assuring all programme workstream plans. Ensuring they are fit-for-purpose', baselined, and Embedded  into the workstream delivery teams.
- Ensuring dependencies and interfaces are considered as part of the programme end-to-end design, are sufficiently documented and represented in workstream plans.
- Ensuring all key issues and risks that may prevent/impact programme delivery have been registered and appropriate actions agreed, assigned and are being tracked to completion.
- Undertaking specific Snapshot reviews ahead of key checkpoints eg when moving into critical phases/activities and Implementations/Go-live.
- Building effective working relationship with, and gaining the confidence of workstream Change Managers and business representatives.
- Challenging Change Managers over the quality of key management products and deliverables.
- Providing an objective opinion as to the health of the Programme's workstreams.
- Ensuring that various members of the Programme (eg Finance, Resource Management, PMO team) are mobilised to address particular issues.

EXPERIENCE

- Demonstrable experience of driving change at a strategic level with tangible business results.
- Thorough working understanding of Programme Management and the ability to structure programmes and view constituent projects a in programme context.
- Leadership and management of Risk and Assurance.
- Providing assurance and direction on large business transformation programmes.
- Leading teams.
- Proven ability in influencing & stakeholder management at all levels in complex changing environments.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills and the ability to use information to generate creative solutions to benefit the business.

THE INDIVIDUAL

Ability to:

- review and re-schedule activities in-line with changing priorities and able to develop contingency plans so that problems or changes do not impact on project delivery.
- tailor approaches to persuade others to achieve a specific outcome.
- make decisions and judgements even though they may be difficult or unpopular or where there is uncertainty surrounding a situation and in complex situations. 
- gather relevant/sufficient information to provide a clearer understanding of complex issues and to enable structured decisions to be made.
- communicate concisely, effectively and confidently with Senior Management Teams and Directors
- present new information and ideas to an audience in a clear, concise and logical way.
- looks ahead in order to identify opportunities and/or resolve issues before they arise
- Seeks to secure achievement of goals through involving others and co-ordinating their activity.  Acts as a central point which others can refer to for help and guidance.  Prepared to challenge existing practices and procedures if they are a constraint to achieving better performance and demonstrate the ability to make things happen.
- Builds a team climate that encourages open discussion and develops inter-team working.  Ensures that conflicts and disagreements are brought into the open in order to identify mutually acceptable solutions.
- Building relationships with business and functional areas where appropriate to ensure correct levels of  support are provided to the Programme.

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE:

- Regarded as an expert in Programme Management, ensuring own knowledge is up to date and reflective of best practice.
- Expert knowledge of control processes and methodologies used in a project and programme management environment.
- Excellent IT skills including the use of appropriate MS tools and packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project).

When submitting your CV please provide a brief summary of your suitability and availability. Please note that due to the high level of applications we receive we are not able to provide individual responses. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.

Services advertised by Adams+Oliver are those of an employment agency and/or employment business.