The Head of Project Delivery is responsible for shaping and delivering strategic projects and programmes across the organisation to support business growth and operational efficiency.
The successful candidate will have the ability to work in a highly collaborative manner, frequently liaising with and influencing other parts of the business. The Head of Project Delivery will be pivotal to helping establish a centre of excellence for change delivery to support integrated business planning, the realisation of the Firm's strategy, operational improvements.
An extensive programme of transformation is underway at the Firm and this role will allow an experienced and highly skilled individual to help the Firm fulfil its ambitions.
The remit extends to both the delivery of projects that are critically important to the realisation of the Firm's strategy, as well as leading and delivering more typical projects that focus on continued evolution of core business improvements. The successful candidate should be talented in drawing together each strategic strand and coordinating effort for multiple projects, across multiple offices and multiple functions.
It is anticipated that this role will spend 50% of their time delivering projects, and the balance on team leadership and evolving the function. This role will be supported by a team of project managers and a Business Analyst.
Roles and Responsibilities
* Reporting to the Director of Strategy, Transformation and Project Delivery to deliver strategic projects, within the overall firmwide strategy as a coordinated programme of work.
* Build a collaborative relationship with the IT Technical Portfolio Manager, to ensure a joined up approach to Project Management across the firm
* Accountable for the content and smooth running of the monthly Projects Board. This will include reporting on project progress towards delivery of strategic goals & projects.
* In conjunction with the Projects Board, lead the Firm's project management governance process and manage the project pipeline, assisting with the preparation of project proposals, business cases and post-project reviews
* Driving forward our strategic projects, liaising with relevant resources and teams from across the Firm, whilst ensuring that others are building their project management skills to facilitate a cultural change across the Firm.
* As part of the governance, Comply with all relevant legal and regulatory obligations including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations, and Principles.
* Establishing a centre of excellence for change delivery that produces a step-change in the performance of projects and programmes to achieve their target outcomes. This includes educating and supporting the wider business to improve overall change maturity.
* Defining and maintaining an optimised portfolio of change initiatives and plans that aligns with the Firm's strategic objectives, maximise benefits, and are achievable.
* Leading and inspiring the Project Delivery Team, ensuring a clear purpose, direction, objectives, priorities, and performance expectations. Assisting project managers with the creation of project plans and managing the portfolio of projects, ensuring that interdependencies, resource contention and key project risks are sensibly addressed and/or mitigated. Managing the Project Delivery budget; partnering with Finance to ensure the change portfolio stays within their defined financial tolerances and that benefits are clearly articulated.
* Ensuring stakeholders are fully engaged and informed through proactive, forward-looking communication.
* Safeguarding the impacts of changes on business functions are considered and understood, through strong business ownership of changes.
* Ensuring effective controls to maintain the integrity of the change delivery portfolio design and delivery momentum. This includes conducting impact assessments of change, as well as monitoring risks, issues, and dependencies.
* Reporting on project progress towards delivery of strategic goals and projects regularly.
Skills and Experience
* A proven track record of directing the delivery of a complex change portfolio, with experience in both business and technical change.
* Significant experience of delivering and leading, complex projects with multi-function teams across multiple jurisdictions.
* Experience of building successful programme delivery teams to deliver complex strategic initiatives.
* PMP / PRINCE2 qualifications are desirable.
* Experience of leading a PMO function and been successful at delivering projects, where the function is establishing itself.
* Evidence of building organisational change capability and maturity, having developed, coached, and mentored executives and change delivery teams.
* Experience operating in matrix environments, across multiple jurisdictions (preferably within Professional Services).
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.
Person Specification
* Creative approach to problem-solving with the ability to focus on details while maintaining the "big picture" view.
* Strong interpersonal skills including mentoring, coaching, collaborating.
* Strong analytical, planning, time management and organisational skills with an ability to manage competing demands.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* In-depth knowledge and understanding of business needs with the ability to establish/maintain high level of trust and confidence.
* Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
* Project Management within a Professional Services environment would be beneficial.
Competencies
* Working together
* Integrity and respect
* Inclusive
* Personal impact and growth
* Driving high standards
* Commercial mindset
* Client - centric
* Responsible Business
Hybrid working
We adopt a hybrid and flexible working approach, dependent on the requirements of the role and subject to manager approval.
For a detailed specification please download the job description in the documents section of this page.
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