Job Details

Job Title: Technical Project Manager
Responsible to: Corporate Programmes Manager
Responsible for: Internal and external project team members, dependent on requirements of one or more projects at any time, for the duration of each project

Functional links with:

Regular

• Business Change Managers
• ICT Services Division colleagues
• Heads of Service
• Colleagues in other Directorates/Departments
• Suppliers and business partners

Occasional

• Directors
• Members
• Other LG Bodies
• Professional bodies
• Herefordshire Partnership

Job Description:

Main Purpose of job:

To provide a high-quality project management service to all Council and partnership customers through the implementation of complete solutions that improve the business performance of the organisation.

Main Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

The jobholder will be expected to complete the responsibilities / accountabilities effectively.

• Provision of Project Management skills to identify, manage and plan projects in accordance with Prince2 methodology including quality, issues and risks.
• Responsibility for the day-to-day control of project timescales, objectives and expenditure within the budget agreed and provided by the Project Sponsor.
• Awareness of appropriate ICT solutions in the marketplace that meet customer needs and comply with the Council’s ICT strategy and policies.
• Prepare recommendations for customers on appropriate business solutions
• Implement new business solutions and enhancements to existing ones
• Negotiation with internal and external suppliers
• Production of Project Documentation according to Herefordshire Council agreed minimum standards for Prince2 as appropriate for the project.
• Project Planning of both internal and external resources
• Monitoring of project plans and achievement of business improvements
• Provide advice and consultancy

Job Activities:

The jobholder will be expected to complete the responsibilities / accountabilities effectively.

• Use project management techniques and software tools to manage resources, risk, quality, business case, plans and budget in order to deliver a specified outcome : Daily
• Identify/evaluate appropriate solutions according to the needs of the customer in accordance with the business case: Daily
• Provide a recommendation, for approval by the customer, of the most appropriate course of action, with particular reference to strategies, policies, legislation and initiatives : Daily
• Liaise with external and internal suppliers, in order to achieve the most appropriate solution for the business processes : Daily
• Implement the selected solution, with relevant processes, documentation and training in accordance with the formal project management methodology, Prince2, as adopted by the organisation : As required
• Ensure that designated projects are managed to achieve their objectives, complete key deliverables on the dates specified and deliver key stages within agreed financial targets, using integrity and discretion with all parties : Daily
• Prepare all plans in accordance with Prince2, to include tasks, resources and timescales based on negotiation and agreement with the relevant parties : Daily
• Monitor progress against all plans, reporting at specified intervals to the Project Board, together with exception and risk mitigation plans : Daily
• Perform project completion procedures, to include support strategies and Service Level Agreements as appropriate : Daily
• Provide advice and consultancy on the appropriate use of technologies in accordance with the Council’s ICT strategy : As required
• Develop and review internal standard procedures and documentation as requested and agreed by Line manager : As required
• Actively promote personal and team development, encouraging independent and innovative thinking : As required

Skills:

Essential:

• Minimum 4 years experience of lead project management responsibility on a range of projects across an organisation.
• Minimum 5 years experience of sustained work on providing ICT solutions to customers.
• Minimum 4 years:
  • Ensuring successful project governance and sponsorship
  • Ensuring projects are aligned to business and ICT strategy and result in measurable performance improvement
  • Systems integration work, including in an advisory capacity
• Internal & external ICT consultancy role within a private or public sector environment
• Initiating, planning, and managing a number of ICT projects and their associated resources
• Business and computer systems implementation in a dynamic and commercial environment
• Financial and budgetary management at project level
• Proven experience of managing complex projects within the Prince 2 project management methodology over a minimum 4 year period

Desirable:

• Minimum 3 years recent experience of/in:
  • Business and ICT strategy generation and implementation
  • Client account management experience
  • Management of system implementation and support staff
  • Knowledge of market-leading business application products relevant to Local Government
• Experience of a range of development environment architectures (e.g. .Net, Oracle, Visual Basic, SQL and others)
• Strong evidence of:
  • Continuous professional development
  • Liaison with and management of external suppliers and business partners
  • Good understanding of the local government and legislative context in which the Council’s services operate

Qualifications and Training:

Essential:

• Minimum degree level education in an ICT or engineering related subjec
  • Formal project management qualification (e.g. Prince 2 Practitioner)
  • Professional Management qualification
  • Demonstrable knowledge of BS7799 and ISO 9001 standards
  • Formal training in staff recruitment, review and development
  • Membership of professional body such as SOCITM
  • MCP or MCSE
  • CNA or CNE
  • CCNA
  • Formal certification and experience in customer services
• Good understanding of the local government and legislative context in which services operate
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Qualifications:

• Essential:
  
  Minimum degree level education and qualification
• Formal programme and/or project management qualification (e.g. Prince2) to a minimum practitioner level
• Membership of Institute of Project Managers
• Demonstrable knowledge of BS7799 and ISO 9001 & 14001 quality standards
• Knowledge & experience of project management tools

Desirable

• Negotiation skills
• Presentation skills
• Business Analysis
• Risk Analysis

Skills and Attributes:

Essential:

• Effective leadership and diplomacy
• Highly organised
• Reliable
• Decision making
• Develop creative initiatives
• Demonstrate integrity and discretion in dealing with people at all levels
• Inspire confidence in customers
• Productive and participative team player
• Logical and organised method of working
• Self motivated
• Enthusiastic about ICT and its delivery
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Work successfully in both a team environment and independently

Desirable:

• Understanding of and commitment to both the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts

Other factors:

Essential:

• Able to demonstrate flexibility and willingness to work to the exceptional demands of the businesses supported
• Full driving license