Senior Technical Project Manager – 2 posts

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

• Hold a bachelor’s degree (QCF Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification in an ICT Related subject AND have three years’ demonstrable experience successfully leading large scale/complex* projects or programmes.
• OR have five years’ demonstrable experience successfully leading large scale/complex* projects or programmes.
• Demonstrable knowledge of Enterprise Technology, including Finance and HR solutions.
• The successful candidate will be required to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner.

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable knowledge of the current and anticipated challenges facing the education sector.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to lead delivery in a matrix environment, managing priorities, dependencies and cross-team collaboration.
• Ability to lead teams to achieve targets/objectives and to meet challenging deadlines.
• Ability to manage the implementation of a project adhering to project milestones, timelines and budget ensuring that effective governance and accountability processes are in place.
• Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values.

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

• Demonstrable experience of delivering complex projects and programmes within a public sector environment.
• Demonstrable experience of successfully delivering public sector service improvement projects.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage. Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

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The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Job Description

SERVICE AREA: EnAble Programme

REPORTS TO: Technical Workstream Lead

RESPONSIBLE FOR

The Senior Technical Project Manager will be responsible for delivering the EnAble Programme through the full programme life cycle in accordance with the agreed budget. They will be the Lead for all issues pertaining to the workstream assigned to them, including liaison with Senior Responsible Officers, stakeholders across the Education Authority, as well as external suppliers and stakeholders to ensure delivery is consistent with transformation objectives. This will involve working closely with team members and Programme Management to ensure that all project requirements, deadlines, budget restrictions and schedules are on track. The Senior Technical Project Manager will be responsible for managing and leading a team of employees within their workstream.

ENABLE PROGRAMME BACKGROUND

The Programme has been established to replace EA One, the Education Authority (EA)’s current Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and aims to deliver an integrated, efficient, scalable and data-driven platform to support the effective delivery of services to the NI Education Sector. EA One currently supports key services across finance, procurement, HR and payroll for approximately 44,000 non-teaching staff and 22,000 teaching staff. It also supports significant monthly transaction volumes, including payroll, invoices, procurement activity, leave, absence and expenses. The current platform is based on Oracle E-Business Suite, which is approaching end-of-life, with existing support and contractual arrangements reaching key expiry milestones over the coming years. The EnAble Programme has therefore been mobilised to deliver a replacement solution by March 2032. The EnAble Programme is a major strategic priority for the EA and will provide opportunities to modernise systems and processes, improve user experience, strengthen data and reporting, and increase resilience across core corporate services.

JOB PURPOSE

Through the delivery of comprehensive project management, the EnAble programme the Senior Technical Project Managers will support the Technical Workstream Lead and relevant Business Leaders to ensure the effective and efficient development and delivery of the EnAble Programme, in order to meet the Education Authority (EA)’s strategic objectives. The post-holder will work with colleagues across the EnAble Programme team, and other Directorates across the EA; to ensure that technology solutions and good project governance (as set by the Project Management Office), are delivered to enhance the operations of the EA; and ultimately contribute to improved outcomes for children and young people. They will also play a key role in realizing the transformation objectives within the EnAble Programme and across other Directorates. They will ensure that regular status reporting on workstreams is provided to the EnAble Programme Board, PMO and CLT, ensuring any issues are quickly escalated to the appropriate level. They will manage the risk profile of the EnAble Programme and provide early warning on all assurance matters. Be responsible for the planning and overall management of a work program that may include several projects, or work streams within the EnAble Programme or portfolio and the management of teams engaged in the development of the system or services.

Service-specific Responsibilities

• The overall responsibility for the successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure of projects or workstreams allocated to them.
• To work closely with EnAble Programme Team members to ensure that all project requirements, deadlines, and schedules are on track. Responsibilities include submitting project deliverables, preparing status reports, and establishing effective project communication plans as well as the proper execution of plans.
• To be responsible for managing and delivering a project work program that may contain several strands within a project, program or portfolio structure.
• To act as the EnAble Programme Business Partner when engaging with other Directorates and Services, providing project management advice and enabling the provision of services required for transformation.
• To make sure that the scope and direction of each project is on schedule, in line with agreed parameters/budgets set by the EnAble Programme Director.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES APPLICABLE TO THE ROLE OF SENIOR TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER

LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT

The Post-holder Will Be Expected To:

• Line Manage employees aligned to the EnAble Programme;
• Provide non-managerial support, information and training as required for other employees within the EnAble Programme.

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY INFLUENCE

The Post-holder Will Be Expected To:

• Work with the Technical Workstream Lead to establish, maintain and communicate a clear and compelling strategic direction for the EnAble Programme.
• Contribute to the management of the Directorate, attending Executive Team and Board meetings as required by the Technical Workstream Lead.

CORPORATE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

The Post-holder Will Be Expected To:

• Contribute to the strategic planning, implementation, and on-going monitoring of the EnAble Programme.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and statutory frameworks.

SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

The Post-holder Will Be Expected To:

• Assist the Technical Workstream Lead in the development of policies and plans in line with overall strategic policy and objectives.
• Ensure effective and rigorous quality assurance systems are in place to maintain high standards.

MANAGING FINANCIAL RESOURCES

The Post-holder Will Be Expected To:

• Follow robust corporate governance procedures and financial control frameworks for effective management of the budget for the EnAble programme and monitor expenditure ensuring propriety, regularity and value for money within the allocated budget.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

The Post-holder Will Be Expected To:

• Enhance the development of the EnAble Programme by building on effective partnerships.
• Develop links across the EA’s Directorates as necessary.

Comply with EA policies and procedures in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the post. Any such other duties that the EA may from time to time require. This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

Summary of terms and conditions for this post