Head Of Programme Management

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Do you enjoy working with a range of stakeholders?

Do you have project and Programme Management experience and expertise?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Programme Management to join our team at the Department for Transport (DfT), and we’d love to hear from you.

The Major Rail Projects Group (MRPG) within DfT brings together two of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country – High Speed 2 (HS2), and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).

This role sits in the central Programme & Benefits Division, part of the wider Portfolio Management Directorate. Our work, and that of the Directorate, includes many of those functions that support work across the programmes MRPG is responsible for and includes other work streams – such as analysis, funding, public affairs and managing the Group’s extensive financial liabilities around land and property.

We are seeking an experienced project delivery professional to lead the Group’s programme-management support team. This important role will provide key support to the Group’s Senior Leadership Team by providing project planning leadership, driving change planning, and leading our approach to risk, dependencies and lessons insights. The post-holder will support teams to use Group-wide Programme Management tools, processes and ways of working, working closely with stakeholders across MRPG and the wider Rail community to ensure a coordinated approach to Programme Management.

You will need to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues across MRPG and the Department that includes senior officials and requires you working closely with HS2 Ltd.

This is a fantastic chance to build upon your skills and experience and be involved on high, profile projects, having the freedom to lead on new ways of working on the delivery of two major rail programmes.

Responsibilities

These will include but not limited to:

• Leading, developing and managing change planning across all MRPG, as required to meet organisational and programmatic changes.
• Leading, adapting and ensuring the delivery of a high-quality Group Programme Board that meets the needs of the DG and the Senior Leadership Team.
• Lead the delivery of Programme Management support across the HSRG for integrated planning, risks/issue management, dependency management and lessons aspects.

Integrated planning

• Identifying and collating planning information to form a single shared view of key aspects of Programme delivery and programme change, as required to provide the Senior Leadership Team with a common agreed picture.

Risk/issue management

• Ensure that risk and issue management business is fit for purpose and approaches are adequately implemented with HSRG and virtual teams.

Dependency management

• Ensure that new approaches to dependency management are rolled out and are aligned with and supporting of dependency management activity across the wider Rail community.

Lessons management

• Create the conditions, approaches and tools for effective and sustainable lessons management and foster a learning environment within the MRPG, incorporating and aligning with relevant good Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) practice. Ensure alignment with Department wide effort to grow Learning from Experience good practice.

If you would like to find out more about what it's like to work at DfT Rail, please click here.