Project Manager (Pensions, Public Sector)

Pensions Project Manager required by our public sector client based in Galashiels to work on a Pension and Payroll service transition project.

Our client currently administers pension and pension payroll for the 2 very large public sector pension schemes. They also have responsibility for developing the regulations covering these pension schemes along with regulations for local government, police and fire in Scotland; and for determining appeals made by members of these schemes.

*They require a delivery focused Project Manager to manage the smooth transfer of the current, pension administration, pension payroll and injury scheme administration function from Local Authorities to client as a Pension agency and to ensure that all 2015 schemes can be administered from 1 April 2015, working in partnership with the two employing organisations.
*This project is a critical part of the clients broader Programme, Business Transformation for 2013-18. For the purposes of reporting project risks, issues and progress against outcomes you will require to report into the Operations Director who is responsible for this Project.
*You will be expected to engage with the Director of the Business Change Programme, ensuring alignment with delivery of Programme Outcomes, Benefits, Governance, Risks and Assurance activities, and effective integration of the Programme level Stakeholder Engagement and Communications plans.
*You will have a dedicated team of 2 Project Team Leaders and 6 Project Team members. Across the organisation you will need to build relationships with other directorates who have work-stream responsibilities for this project.
*There are 4 representatives from pension scheme organisations for which good relationships will be an essential element of this role.
*You will be responsible for ensuring the operational team is resourced and ready to take on the new work transferred from the current administrators
*You will be responsible for the development and delivery of the project communications plan

Key Duties

Project Management
You will be expected to manage the implementation phase of the Project taking ownership of the Project Plan, managing milestone delivery, Risks and Issues and preparing relevant reports for Project Board and making recommendations on escalations to Programme Board.
Stakeholder Management & Communication
Ensuring Stakeholder expectations are managed and effective communication plans are developed and integrated to Programme plans are essential components of this role. You will be expected to build effective relationships with the 4 members of the employer organisations supporting the transition of services as well as with the clients IT supplier who are delivering key components of this project.
Leadership
With a team of -up to 14 staff dedicated to this project you will be asked to take a leadership role, providing advice, guidance and direction where required. Effective organisation and buy - in from workstream managers across other directorates will be vital in effecting the desired project outputs and spotting potential issues early.

Competencies, Skills and Knowledge

Essential
*Capable of implementing complex, challenging, high value/high risk projects
*Extensive experience of Project Management disciplines/techniques and exposure to Programme Management environments.
*A track record of delivering projects service in a public sector setting
*Is organised, controlled and gives appropriate direction to others
*Can work without close supervision and has a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Microsoft project
*Pensions knowledge
*Prince 2 Practitioner
*Basic Level of Disclosure with Disclosure Scotland
*Managing project budgets