Program Director

NTT DATA Business Solutions
Program Director NTT DATA Business Solutions –

NTT DATA Business Solutions Group is part of the NTT DATA Corporate Group, a top 10 global IT services provider, headquartered in Tokyo, operating in more than 50 countries. We combine a global reach with local intimacy to provide premier professional SAP services from deep industry expertise consulting to applied innovations in digital, cloud, automation, and system development to business IT outsourcing.

As a global SAP Platinum Partner, NTT DATA Business Solutions Group leverages its global expertise to deliver quality outcomes whether you are a multi-national or operate in a single country. With over 15,000 SAP experts across 29 countries, we have the capability and reach to help you solve real problems and seize the next opportunity for growth around your SAP strategy and operations.

The Project/Programme Director defines an optimum project approach and takes overarching responsibility for the delivery and governance of large enterprise projects of over 4,000 person-days. He/She manages projects, directs programmes, and supports pre-sales activity by identifying, developing, and acting upon opportunities. A recognised leader, able to develop and mentor others and innovate NDBS propositions, as well as providing guidance to the business on successful project and programme leadership. The Project/Programme Director is also likely to lead a team within the Delivery Management Practice. They will lead and maximize the activity of the project team on assigned projects.

In addition, the Project/Programme Director is a named ambassador with a wide professional network, delivering service levels with clarity and confidence at CxO level to create successful business relationships, ensuring reference-able projects, supporting the growth of the business. They are focused on supporting the on-time and on-budget delivery of successful solutions and the achievement of team utilisation at >80% whilst maintaining a gross margin of >25%.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Client Ownership

• Creates, maintains, and develops relationships to sustain client interest and growth. Has the ability to meet the needs of each customer and successfully leads and influences team members in the delivery of the service. Operates with gravitas at Director Level.
• Contributes to technical discussions with integration know-how. Has a clear understanding of the overall processes in the project/programme and can give professional support in discussions and drive decisions.
• Ensures project/programme approach, timing, and impact are all properly aligned.
• Provides coaching, guidance, direction, and leadership to the project team and project manager in relation to various issues, risks, activities, general management, and project approach.
• Ensures business is properly contracted so that the client has absolute clarity over the level of service and NDBS makes revenue target and EBIT margin. Gross profit margin at >25%.
• Makes solid and reliable decisions in complex environments. Solves problems through a wide knowledge spectrum and experience.
• Has commercial awareness of and drives client opportunities. Builds for the future. Is a convincer and has the gravitas to influence at all levels.
• Provides strategic support to help clients with changes/transformation, identifies opportunities and solutions for NDBS within that opportunity. Understands complex client contracts and tracks content.
• Ensures changes to scope are controlled and agreed with the client through proper change management.
• Creates a broad atmosphere of trust even in complicated customer relationships and performs as a bridge to NDBS whilst building company reputation for reference-able excellence.

Project Delivery

• Defines the optimum project approach based on NDBS standards. Organises the project. Manages scope and expectations ensuring maintenance and development of NDBS engagement delivery guidelines and methodologies.
• Gives the project team clear input of the project/programme procedure and of the requirements. Is accountable for the project planning with respect to people, cost, and deadlines.
• Manages and delivers projects/programmes in accordance with defined guidelines leveraging agreed tools to support the process with consistent and uniform project reporting.
• Controls and delivers projects to budget, within timelines managed with the client, and to quality standards.
• Proactively identifies, manages, and shares risks and communicates progress.
• Maintains strict change control which balances commercial sensitivity with customer satisfaction.
• Reports project progress and RAID status to the Executive team and manages similar activity for direct reports.
• Establishes and maintains quality standards. Has the ability to draft concepts of risk assessment, use applicable tools respectively, and actively draws up measures for reducing or minimizing risks.

People Management and Development

• Continually develops own technical and soft skills to ensure skills are developed to meet requirements of the role and remain a respected and trusted advisor within a competitive market.
• Proactively shares knowledge and skill base with the team, contributes to increasing skill base across the business.
• Mentors and supports project team members providing input into the Talent Management Programme. Contributes to the principle that all people have the opportunity to develop their professional potential.
• Assists with the onboarding and orientation of new employees actively supporting the team and its development.

Utilisation and Revenue

• Drives and delivers revenue in line with targets. Convinces and inspires by his/her personality and behaviour and communication style.
• Manages a portfolio of client projects/programmes and/or engagements to effectively manage the operational risk to NDBS e.g. resource deployment, financial dimensions, service delivery.
• Identifies, outlines, and delivers project resource plans to meet personal and company utilisation targets.
• Escalates and drives the conversation to maximize opportunities for NDBS and business revenue. Brings together the power of the NDBS UK business along with our parent and sister companies within NTT and our business partners.
• Minimises risk of FOC (free of charge) days.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Minimum 12 years’ overall experience, with 10 in relevant domain, industry and/or project/programme experience. Successful delivery and experience of all elements of a minimum of 10 full project lifecycles on large size projects of >3,000 person-days.
• Multiple full SAP project life cycles, end to end experience from project initiation through to go-live as well as experience of managing multiple medium to large projects £2M+ value.
• Actively searches for, controls quality improvements in the project, and independently takes measures for quality-ensuring actions. Steers and controls a project with respect to resources and time in connection with the overall customer situation.
• Prince 2 or equivalent project management certification and/or experience of Agile methodologies an advantage but not essential. Broad and deep understanding of Activate methodology preferably certified.
• Demonstrable experience of accurate and effective project/programme reporting, both internal and external.
• Experience in deploying SAP solutions 4+ preferred of the following industries: pharmaceuticals, discrete manufacturing, engineering, process manufacturing, wholesale, consumer products, food.
• Produces high-quality project and bid documentation plus quality assurance review of project documents.
• Drives results, effects, convinces and inspires by own personality, is a role model for the project team and manages unexpected situations successfully. Remains confident and cautious and does not lose track of the project goal. Moderates conflicts in projects, brings about compromises, and is assertive and convincing.
• Able to lead and co-ordinate integrated workshops with detail and complexity. Run director “C” level workshops and playback.
• Demonstrates a high level of commitment to the implementation of company strategy and vision. Supports team integration, especially with respect to tasks and interface work, is assertive and convincing, handles feedback positively and gives constructive feedback. Is increasingly perceived as a trustworthy contact person by the customer.
• Actively shares and transfers own expertise and operational knowledge in a structured method, thus making it useful and functional. Contributes expertise via special reports, magazines, or through presentations. Initiates the sharing and delivery of expertise and knowledge across the wide business network.
• A full UK driving licence and be willing to travel frequently to different UK customer sites including working away from home as required, the successful candidate will be home based.
• Professional, confident and trusted with the gravitas to succeed in any business environment and in the building of strong relationships at every level, both internal and external.

Note – this is a delivery-focused role, although some sales support and business development will be involved, this will be a relatively minor aspect.

Join our award-winning team at NTT DATA Business Solutions Group and be part of a thriving, innovative culture. With recognition such as the 2024 SAP Pinnacle Awards and the Top Employer Award 2024, we offer you the chance to make a significant impact while growing your career. Here . click apply for full job details