Venesky-Brown's client, a public sector organisation in Belfast, is currently looking to recruit a Business & Project Support Officer for an up to 6 months contract with possible extension on a rate of £20.44/hour.
Responsibilities:
* Deliver a structured approach to prioritising and planning of all Asset and Services projects to be delivered within each Financial Year and across multi-year cycles e.g. 5 years/10 years, working with key stakeholders and senior management to ensure alignment with the Corporate and Financial Plans.
* Liaise with the Economic Advisor to ensure strategic alignment of business cases with those from across other parts of the Organisation.
* Deliver business case project priorities aligned to the agreed prioritisation and planning based on available budget and corporate outcomes.
* Ensure all relevant internal and external stakeholders are kept updated on priority projects being delivered within the Financial Year; working with the relevant Departments and stakeholders to develop and scope projects.
* Assign and manage resource and stakeholders for the projects to be delivered within each Financial Year including all scheduling for projects to be delivered using project management methodologies such as creating and maintaining action logs, project risk and issue logs when applicable.
* Deliver project research support and carry out the relevant background knowledge research and benchmarking required for future Assets and Services to be delivered.
* Develop and agree individual Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) for project to be delivered within the Financial Year including a full project brief.
* Develop and agree individual Terms of Reference (ToR) for each project to be brought through the planned Business Case Delivery stages by developing a range of roles/responsibilities for the entire project and each individual member of the project team.
* Carry out critical evaluation of all projects using the Post Project Evaluations (PPEs) process aligned to business case approvals, ensuring any learning is incorporated into new projects.
* Develop and deliver in house guidance and local induction on the development of business cases to relevant staff both internal and external to the Service Support Centre, ensuring consistency and corporate alignment across all documents.
* Lead all project working groups; responsible for initiating, agreeing and obtaining the approvals for the PID and Terms of Reference and managing the working group through to final version business case sign off.
* Provide expert advice and guidance to the working group(s) on how the business case should be developed in adherence to the Five Case Model from the HM Treasury Business Case Guidance and its adoption as the NI Better Business Case from the Department of Finance (DoF).
* Lead on delivery of alternative options using challenge techniques to encourage open, respectful debate within all working groups, ensuring that all members views' and perspectives are considered in reaching consensus and translating that consensus into a suitable narrative for the business case.
* Responsible for ensuring each business case provides a sound basis to support accurate decision-making through effective information management; including the use of historical/current delivery plans, previous business cases, proposed procurement and delivery timelines, detailed finance/budgetary information & recommendations and project & contract management planning.
* Responsible for ensuring each business case developed fully supports the identified need, detailing why the project(s) is required; how it meets corporate strategy, objectives, values and policy; why there is a business need; how it meets legislative and value for money requirements; how it improves the wider Northern Ireland public.
* Provide full costing information and discounted cash flow / net present value calculations and affordability analysis for inclusion in option appraisals within all business case(s) and executive summaries.
* Act as the liaison and support for Economic Advisory and Finance teams to determine whole life costs with associated discounted cash flow / net present value calculations and affordability analysis for inclusion in option appraisals within the business case(s).
* Manage the transition from a new project to in-life operational asset and services delivery using recognised project management methodology.
* Ensure appropriate budget is aligned to individual business cases in collaboration with Senior Management and the Head of Department and that all spend is profiled effectively over the period of any contract. Using the Asset and Services Management Information System to monitor all project spend, produce stakeholder(s) reports and complete ongoing governance review vs project plan delivery until project completion.
* Facilitate regular meetings with relevant stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery; proactively identify manage & resolve project issues/risks and monitor all projects being delivered, escalating delays and slippage to the relevant Stakeholders and senior management when applicable.
* Provide expert advice and guidance to peers and senior management on all post-project evaluations (PPE's) in line with financial regulations, policies and procedures within relevant timescales, including managing their preparation.
* Ensure management of the governance life-cycle, ensuring full and proper closure of all business cases and projects when delivery has been completed.
* Actively participate in the Central Adjudication Group (CAG) provision to ensure Commercial Case approaches are effectively assessed and the correct procurement processes are delivered in line with Business Case requirements.
* Responsible for ensuring the completion of a Full Business Case or addendum to support any deviations from approvals as a result of the procurement exercise and managing subsequent queries through to approval.
* To ensure the effective maintenance of an assurance & accountability framework for projects and business cases, utilising SharePoint as an information recording, and management system.
* Advise management, as required, on applicable legislation, guidance, policies and processes.
* Responsibility for handling sensitive personal data and ensuring that the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are met.
* Maintaining the records management framework of Service Support Centre records including electronic and manual retention and disposal in line with GDPR and Record Retention Policies.
* Ensure the accurate and timely provision of relevant information for external release, as requested under Freedom of Information, Assembly Questions and by Legal Representatives and Statutory Bodies.
* Support the work of internal and external audit, ensuring the accurate and timely provision of information as requested.
* To lead and assist with the implementation of internal and external audit recommendations.
* Recording and reporting of fraud or potential fraud in line with Policy to ensure compliance with National Fraud Initiative.
* To maintain and enhance corporate governance, by ensuring high standards of administration, probity and control.
* Assist the Service Support Centre Business Manager and wider Service Support Centre in the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidance and the delivery of Service Support Centre business plans.
* Assist in the management of the Sharepoint site, ensure it is functioning correctly and where necessary identify issues and liaise internally or externally as required to resolve.
Essential Skills:
* Possess a degree or equivalent qualification* in a relevant discipline e.g. business management, improvement, business studies, finance AND
* Have a minimum 2 years relevant experience of the development of business cases through their lifecycle, within or supporting a large organisation.
OR
* Possess at least a HND or equivalent qualification* in a relevant discipline e.g. business management, improvement, business studies, finance AND
* Have a minimum 3 years relevant experience of the development of business cases through their lifecycle, within or supporting a large organisation.
* Applicants must have a valid driving licence and a car available for official business use, or access to a form of personal transport that will enable you to meet the requirements of the post in full.
If you would like to hear more about this opportunity please get in touch.