About
The
Job.
Planning and Governance Services
Professional Services
Programme Manager
About
The
Job.
Pursue the extraordinary
Overview
About the Department
Planning & Governance Services (PGS) is a key professional service department of the
University developing and supporting the delivery of the University Strategy, acting as a
focal point within the University for governance advice, strategic planning, co-ordination of
business planning processes, performance monitoring and reporting. The team works in a
proactive and collaborative way with both academic and other professional service
departments to provide excellent and coordinated leadership and support to facilitate the
achievement of the University's strategic objectives.
The remit of PGS includes:

Maintaining a strategic overview of the University’s aims and objectives in the
context of HE policy developments, institutional research and competitor analysis.

Providing information, analysis and advice in support of policy development in the
University, including the modelling of policy and planning options.

Providing support, within a strategic framework, for corporate initiatives which
require
cross-functional
project
management
to
enhance
the
University’s
performance; and to evaluate and assess the impact of potential projects.

Providing high quality integrated support for the University Executive Board, UEB Sub
Group (Student Numbers and Fees), Senate Budget Committee and associated
groups.

Providing support for the Corporate Governance function, including major University
committees, such as the Council and the Senate, maintaining the corporate risk
register and reporting on key performance indicators.

Developing, coordinating and implementing the University’s corporate and
academic planning processes.

Engaging with the formulation of strategic objectives, translating these through
detailed planning to the operational stage and benefit realisation.

The team produces a number of regular reports, data returns and policy briefings.
PGS runs on the basis of flexible approaches to working and a strong collaborative team
ethos, including close partnerships with academic clients and their teams. Staff in PGS
engage in a breadth of activity and produce strategic, position and academic papers, the
latter often in conjunction with academic colleagues.
Job Role
The University Strategic Plan 2010 to 2015 sets out what the University wants to achieve,
how it will go about it and defines the key performance indicators to monitor progress.
Across the University a series of inter-related change initiatives and projects are being
initiated and led, each with sponsors and project management support, to deliver defined
outcomes. This role will:
1) Use programme management techniques to capture actions and owners; mapping,
monitoring and reporting on the strategic change and project activities, their
dependencies, risks and benefit capture.
2) Act as Project Manager for those initiatives being led from Planning and Governance
Services.
3) Maintain the framework of internal Strategy documents approved through the
governance structure, capturing their goals and timelines within the programme map
for alignment to the organisational goals.
Job Description
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Project Governance:

Report on progress of the strategic and change programme at regular intervals.

Ensure the programme structure, processes and procedures to coordinate the
programme and individual projects are adhered to and changes to performance
objectives go through change control.

Governance includes monitoring against a timeline and a set of metrics to indicate
the health and progress of the programme and whether it is on target to achieve the
strategic goals established.
Planning:
Work with the Director of Strategy, Planning and Change to develop the detailed plan;
bringing together the information on projects, resources, timescales, monitoring and
control.
Programme control and execution:
 Alignment
Ensure the programme and its projects have agreed project initiation documents and
associated deliverables which together meet the objective and support the higher
level strategy, what the measures of success are and project scope creep is avoided.
 Control
Monitor risks and issues, taking mitigating actions, to verify and validate the
programme, ensuring adherence to standards and alignment with the vision.
 Management and reporting
Ensure an environment where each project can be delivered successfully and that
there are regular reviews of each project, there is accountability, and that
management of projects, stakeholders and suppliers is in place.
 Integration
Ensure that component parts of each project fit together properly and manage the
links to achieve the intended programme in terms of objectives, cost, quality and time.
Optimise performance across the programme by co-coordinating and prioritising
resources.
 Finances
Track costs together with wider costs of administering the programme and monitor
the benefits including effectiveness and efficiency improvements.
 Infrastructure
Monitor
the
allocation
of
resources,
programme
office,
project
resources,
documentation, version and programme IT support.
 Communication
Produce a Programme level communication plan and ensure its delivery working
closely with Corporate Affairs.
Produce and implement the Programme stakeholder management plan and ensure
all key stakeholders are effectively involved in the change process.
Quality Assurance:

Quality assurance and overall integrity of the programme - focusing inwardly on the
internal consistency of the programme; and outwardly on its coherence with
infrastructure planning, interfaces with other programmes and corporate standards.

Ensuring that the delivery of new structures and services from the projects are to the
appropriate levels of quality, on time and within budget, in accordance with the
programme plan and programme governance arrangements.

Continuously
monitoring
and
improving
the
programme
quality
assurance
procedures.

Conducting post project evaluations to assess how well the projects met critical
success factors.
Person Specification
Applicants should provide evidence in their applications that they meet the following
criteria. We will use a range of selection methods to measure candidates’ abilities in these
areas including reviewing your on-line application, seeking references, inviting shortlisted
candidates to interview and other forms of assessment action relevant to the post.
Criteria
Essential Desirable
Qualifications and experience
1.
A degree in a relevant area (or have equivalent experience).
X
2.
A high level of literacy and numeracy.
X
3.
PRINCE2 Practitioner or similar Project Management
X
methodology, MSP Practitioner or similar Programme
Management methodology.
4.
Previous experience in Project Management, including
X
experience of managing a large scale programme with
significant business change element.
5.
Possess a relevant postgraduate qualification (or have equivalent
X
experience).
Communication skills
6.
Have a high level of written and oral communication skills
X
including the ability to present complex information in a concise
user friendly way.
7.
Strong interpersonal skills including diplomacy and negotiation
X
skills.
Team working
8.
The ability to work with a wide range of colleagues and build
X
good relationships across the organisation.
9.
Ability to plan own work as well as work within a project team
X
structure.
Problem solving and decision making
10.
Computer literate and competent in Microsoft Project Office
X
applications.
11.
Ability to clearly identify Programme requirements and apply a
X
methodical approach to meeting them.
12.
Creative approach to problem solving.
13.
Knowledge of the University’s financial, HR and planning
X
X
procedures.
14.
Knowledge of the UK Higher Education system and policies.
X
Personal effectiveness
15.
The ability to work to deadlines, manage several projects at one
X
time and work accurately under pressure.
16.
A flexible approach to work including managing change.
X
17.
Customer focussed and able to prioritise tasks and client
X
requirements.
18.
Confidence to challenge existing work practices and offer
X
alternative solutions.
19.
Extensive experience of coordinating/collaborating with cross
functional business teams.
Further Information
This post is open ended.
X
This post is full-time:
This role has been identified as a full-time post, but we are committed to exploring flexible
working opportunities with our staff which benefit both the individual and the University.
Therefore, we would consider flexible delivery of the role subject to meeting the business
needs of the post. See www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/wellbeing/info/wlb.html for more
information.
Benefits
Terms and conditions of employment: Will be those for Grade 7 staff.
Salary for this grade: £28,401 - £35,938 per annum, with the expectation of annual
incremental progression.
More details on salaries, terms and conditions and our wide range of benefits for staff are
available at www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/reward/structures
Closing date: 27 July 2012.
Informal enquiries:
For all on-line application system queries and support, contact:
e-Recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk .
For informal enquiries about this job and department, contact:
Selection-Next Step
Following the closing date, you will be informed by email whether or not you have been
shortlisted to be invited to participate in the next stage of the selection process. Please note
that due to the large number of applications that we receive, it may take up to two working
weeks following the closing date before the recruiting department will be able to contact
you.
It is anticipated that interviews and other selection action will be held on XXX. Full details
will be provided to invited candidates.
The University of Sheffield is committed to achieving excellence through inclusion.
The University of Sheffield is proud to be a Two Ticks employer
www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/equality/support/twoticks/
Professional Services have achieved the Investors in People Standard