ROLE PROFILE
Title: Programme Head – Externally Funded
Programmes
Directorate: Chief Operating Officer – Programmes
Level: 5
ROLE PURPOSE:
 Develop and be accountable for the successful delivery of the Programmes
funded work (a portfolio of funded programmes);
 Provide operational supplier performance management and a lead role in the
operational delivery and monitoring of contracts and supplier performance.
ROLE CONTEXT AND SCOPE:
Reporting to the Programme Director/s, the post holder applies expert programme
and project management skills to ensure the successful delivery of Funded
Programmes. The Programme Head will continue to develop and demonstrate
expertise across relevant Programmes areas to inform the Commission's approach
to policy issues. The post holder works autonomously to deliver quality work under
the supervision of a senior manager. Analysing complex data, scoring and
assessing bids and information and drafting concise and readable documents based
on strong evidence are key aspects to the role. The post holder will be required to
develop external stakeholder networks to support the delivery of allocated work and
enhance the Commission's reputation.
TYPICAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: (inc. approx. % of time on each)
 Leads on the delivery of the Funded Programme work and associated complex
projects with accountability for the project planning, resource use, timely delivery
and quality assurance of the Programme and project and deliverables (30%);
 Develops and implements the Commission’s supplier performance and contract
management strategy, anticipates internal requirements and works
collaboratively with the Procurement and other teams to ensure fit for purpose
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contracts are handed over for management (20%);
 To work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the
strategy is understood and delivered through effective supplier and contract
management, ensuring that all internal and external customer needs/requests are
met, and that responses are appropriate and delivered through the provision of
specialist knowledge and advice (10%);
 Drive the delivery of high performance and high quality outputs from Programmes
Teams and networks of internal or external partners over whom no direct control
can be exercised (15%);
 Represents the Commission at a senior level at external events and
communicates corporate messages, establishing and developing strategic
stakeholder relationships relevant to work area and ensures that the Programmes
team works in partnership with range of stakeholders, identifying opportunities for
income generation to deliver shared goals and promotes a clear understanding of
the Commission’s role and position (10%);
 Contributes to business planning, and is responsible for drafting assignment
briefs along with financial and delivery progress reports, ensures the appropriate
and accurate analysis and interpretation of data to support work area and
development of Commission policy (10%);
 Ensures that draft documents are concise and readable, and use evidence in an
appropriate way for internal and/or external audiences and to support decision
making (5%);
 Adopts and promotes a flexible approach to work, undertaking other areas of
responsibility as required ensuring the overall business priorities of the
Commission are delivered.
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TYPICAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
 The Funded Programmes are delivered to agreed budget, time and quality
standards;
 Procurement and contract management procedures are carried out to high
standards, with risks and issues identified and mitigated and contingencies
provided where required, designing, developing, implementing and refining
contract and supplier performance frameworks and policies;
 Establishment and maintenance of appropriate and strategic stakeholder
relationships that develop the Commission's reputation;
 Management of Project Managers and / or Officers to ensure quality outputs, and
relevant and timely development of individuals;
 Effective contribution to strategic and project planning to ensure that
Programmes work is adequately represented;
 Continuing development of expertise across Programmes;
 Evidence of professional judgment about risk to contribute to the successful
completion of Programme deliverables;
 Delivery of written outputs of a high standard;
 Deliver objectives set by the Programmes Director/s ;
 Reporting to relevant Directors on contract risks, mitigations and project
milestones.
INDICATIVE DIMENSIONS:

Develop close working relationship with the Commission’s Corporate Legal
services regarding matters relating to contractual terms and conditions;

Support Programme Managers to establish key external relationships with
suppliers, potential future suppliers and other public and 3rd sector
organisations, where appropriate;

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Develop strong relationships with the Commission’s key supply partners and
seek to resolve any customer issues that prevent or adversely impact on
successful delivery;

Management and development of employees within Programme teams and
working collaboratively with Commission colleagues, contractors and partners
where appropriate ;

Responsibilities of Performance Development Management for Programme
Managers;

Provision of accurate data to inform management of large budgets and risks;

Provide a level of supply market knowledge for the assigned portfolio of
contracts, and participate in collaborative forums to share good practice,
knowledge and experience across the Commission;

Role holder has impact in short and medium term and on the Commission’s
external facing work;

Reports to a Programme Director;
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES:

To subscribe to the ethos, vision and mission of the organisation, taking
individual and collective professional responsibility for championing the
Commission’s diversity and human rights agenda and proactively implementing
initiatives which secure equality of access and outcomes;

To commit to continually developing personal understanding of diversity and
human rights;

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To work at all times with integrity and to the highest professional standards
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Proven experience of working successfully at a senior level within in a
programme/ project management environment and/or previous experience in
delivering contract management activities for public and/or private sector
organisations;
 Ability to acquire knowledge of new topics quickly and to work independently to
make decisions;
 Experience and/or knowledge of developing high quality service delivery
specifications as part of commissioning and procurement processes and ensuring
that all contract management activity meets legislative requirements through
professional knowledge;
 Experience of cross team working to determine best fit service provision through
market testing, mapping existing provision and benchmarking activities;
 Operational experience of monitoring and reporting on budgets and of using
organisational financial and procurement processes appropriately;
 Able to network with other similar organisations to explore current best
procurement practice;
 Experience of managing staff and encouraging staff career development.
COMPETENCIES: Please refer to the Commission’s Competency Framework

Communication – Band D;

Using and managing resources – Band D;

Programme and project management – Band D;

People Management – Band D.
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