Principal Programme Officer

Greater London Authority (GLA)
The post holder will lead on the development and delivery of projects and programmes managed by the Programme Delivery and Portfolio Management Office (PMO) teams in order to achieve desired outputs and outcomes within agreed timeframes, within budget, to specification and operational standards. The post holder will work closely with Skills & Employment Strategy, Policy & Relationships team and Delivery teams to develop new projects and programmes to ensure successful transition from inception to delivery. Projects and programmes will focus on delivering skills and employability support to Londoners and London’s SMEs, including delivering the Adult Education Budget (AEB) and Mayoral Manifesto Commitments.

Working closely with the Skills Senior Leadership Team, delivery programme leads, and other colleagues across the winder GLA Group (including Legal, Finance, Governance and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime), the post holder will be responsible for:

• Leading the performance and budget management of the Skills Manifesto and Good Work for All mission programmes and manage corporate processes including MQTs, FOIs, HR and WriteOns to ensure targets are achieved and that Skills & Employment Unit decision making is enhanced and appropriate.
• Managing the development and implementation of performance indicators as well as internal monitoring processes and associated budgets for programmes which support the Mayor’s Skills & Employment strategy.

Principal accountabilities

• Oversee the development and delivery of a portfolio of skills and employment projects and programmes (including the AEB) from business case, through contracting and delivery, to completion, evaluation and closure, using the GLA’s project management methodology in conjunction with any relevant funding requirements.
• Develop funding applications and business cases based on robust data, research and analysis; and secure all necessary and relevant support and approvals for new initiatives in accordance with GLA procedures and guidelines.
• Source, select and appoint delivery partners, consultants and contractors to carry out relevant work; manage negotiations with delivery partners, consultants and contractors; manage the preparation and issuing of accurate and compliant contracts and grant agreements; all in accordance with relevant public and GLA procurement procedures and specific funders’ requirements including AEB. For all projects and programmes in own portfolio, undertake ongoing and proactive management, monitoring, verification, recording, analysis and reporting of:
  • Financial, outputs and outcomes performance, to ensure achievement of target outputs and outcomes and programme objectives within budget and while maintaining overall value for money;
  • Quality assurance and compliance, including through regular monitoring and audit of the activities and supporting evidence of delivery partners and their sub-contractors; The validity, accuracy and eligibility of claims, including ensuring external funding bodies’ management information and monitoring requirements are met; Progress against milestones, and financial and outputs and outcome targets, ensuring delivery and quality concerns are raised and tackled promptly; Risks and issues, to ensure awareness and understanding of these and implementation of appropriate and timely mitigations; and Liaise with key GLA stakeholders including, Legal, Finance, Governance and Human Resources)
• Develop, produce, distribute, implement and maintain project and programme documentation, systems and processes such as guidance notes, risk logs, issue logs, action lists, requirements logs, project plans, programme prospectus and application forms, team plans and work packages, ensuring standardised approaches to support and maintain best project and programme management practice and ensuring effective delivery of targets to time, cost, quality and specification
• Hold budget accountability for all projects and programmes within own portfolio, including responsibility for accurate budgeting, forecasting and compliance with GLA approval processes and with all GLA and external funders’ financial, regulatory, audit and compliance requirements.
• Take ownership of the management and resolution of operational, contractual and performance issues arising on projects, including implementing follow up or remedial actions if required, in all cases complying with relevant GLA procedures and appropriately escalating issues to line and team manager(s) as necessary.
• Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with applicants, delivery and funding partners, contractors, boroughs and other stakeholders within and outside the Authority to ensure successful delivery of projects and programmes, uphold the reputation of the team and the GLA, and assist in delivery of the Mayor’s policies and programmes.
• Produce project and programme communications, sharing learning and celebrating successes, and represent the GLA, the team, our projects and programmes, to external audiences as required, ensuring a high level of visibility of our activities and of the outcomes and benefits from these for London and Londoners.
• Prepare accurate, good quality responses to project-related questions and correspondence to the Mayor and from Assembly members, Government departments and other organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors, to agreed deadlines.
• Work with the wider GLA Skills Policy and Strategy team and Skills Funding and Systems team to inform the development of initial priorities for a devolved Adult Education Budget, a draft Adult Education Budget Funding Statement and a draft Adult Education Budget commissioning strategy.
• Manage resources allocated to tasks in accordance with the GLA’s policies and code of Ethics and Standards. Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
• Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams as necessary and appropriate to ensure that opportunities for integration and inter-disciplinary working are realised.
• Effectively line manage, lead and develop a small team in order to deliver objectives of the Skills & Employment Unit’s Programmes, Governance & Compliance team, more specifically, the Skills & Employment Portfolio Management Office.

Person specification

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

• A degree or professional qualification in portfolio, programme or project management or in management of project/Programme management office (PMO) or related subjects preferably to post graduate level.
• Demonstrable experience of developing, managing and delivering large-scale high value projects and programmes in complex organisations, and a track record of successfully delivering results on target and within budget, ideally including skills and employment projects.
• A thorough knowledge of programme and project management and control techniques, including project planning and appraisal, financial and performance analysis and management, risk management, issue resolution and evaluation
• Evidence of well-developed IT skills, solid experience of using financial management systems and processes, and excellent report writing skills
• Demonstrable experience of using strategic research and analytical skills to support and enable project and programme development, delivery, and evaluation
• Experience of establishing and managing complex, and sometimes hostile, stakeholder relationships to achieve positive outcomes for the Authority
• An understanding of local and national skills and employment funding streams, associated reporting and the benefits of outcome-related funding models for both participants and funders.

Behavioural competencies

Managing And Developing Performance
is setting high standards for oneself and others, guiding, motivating and developing them, to achieve high performance and meet the GLA’s objectives and statutory obligations.

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Motivates and inspires others to perform to their best, recognising and valuing their work and encouraging them to learn and reflect
• Sets clear direction and expectations and enables others to interpret competing priorities
• Agrees and monitors challenging, achievable performance objectives in line with GLA priorities
• Manages performance issues effectively to avoid adverse impact on team morale and performance
• Promotes a positive team culture that respects diversity and deals with barriers to inclusion

Problem Solving

is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 2 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully
• Proposes options for solutions to presented problems
• Builds on the ideas of others to encourage creative problem solving
• Thinks laterally about own work, considering different ways to approach problems
• Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem solving

Planning and Organising

is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk . click apply for full job details