Programme Director

Are you a Programme Director looking for the next step in your career?

Have you managed the profit, performance, productivity and well-being of a multi-million pound contract?

Do you have experience managing sub-contracted delivery by third parties?

If so, then consider the role of Programme Directorwith Reed In Partnership.

Reed in Partnership is a public service provider delivering a range of services that transform people and their communities. These services are delivered across our Assessment, Employability, Wellbeing, Citizen Services and Environment divisions.

Our Reed Assessment division, a national provider of trusted and secure testing and assessments, is planning for the significant expansion of its testing operations during 2024. We are currently bidding for the delivery, on behalf of the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), of Key Stage 1 & 2 testing to all Primary School students in England. Securing this multi-million pound contract would see Reed Assessment responsible, directly and through its supply chain partners, for the production, distribution, marking and moderating of all key stage tests across Primary Schools.

We are now looking to build an experienced implementation and delivery team ready to successfully mobilise this contract from April 2024.

Travel to the West Midlands region (Coventry) will be expected at key points of the implementation cycle, the frequency of which will vary. This role is due to start in April 2024.

What is the role about?

The Programme Director will have overall responsibility for managing the profit, performance, productivity and well-being of a multi-million pound, complex, for the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) Test Operations Service, including subcontracted delivery provided by third parties, across England. The role is expected to act as the leader of an operational management team and reports to the Division Director for Reed Assessment.

Just some of your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

Implementing Strategy

The Programme Director will be responsible for tactical deployment of resources within the contract portfolio, so as to maximise capacity to meet the company’s strategic objectives.

Business Performance Management incl. Outcome Measures, Service Delivery Quality and P&L

The Programme Director will have accountability, ownership and responsibility for delivery of all business objectives, profitability, quality standards and compliance in the contract portfolio. This will include:

Managing & Developing Staff

The Programme Director will have responsibility for creating a high-performance culture across the contract portfolio, with a workforce committed to improving business performance and customer service through accountability, personal growth and development.

Sub-Contractor Management

The Programme Director will have responsibility for overseeing and influencing delivery of business objectives, profitability, quality standard and compliance on some contracts, without having direct line management responsibilities.

What’s in it for you?

Alongside a generous base salary (pro-rata for part time), and great flexibility with your working schedule, we offer training, development and progression opportunities. You will have access to a wide range of Reed in Partnership benefits, which include:

• 25 days annual leave (pro-rata for part time) + Bank Holidays
• Reed Pension Scheme
• Award Winning Management & Leadership training
• Professional & Personal Development Funds
• Bi-annual pay reviews
• Plus much more that can be found Here

With the chance to dramatically make a difference to the local community, this role offers immense job satisfaction.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for someone with:

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience of working at a senior management level on the type of contracts within the portfolio for the Programme Director role in question.
• Significant experience of forming and leading effective operational management teams
• Demonstrable success in the operational management of fast-paced, P&L-driven, multi-site operations
• Demonstrable success in people development and performance management
• A sound understanding of financial, contractual and risk management methods.
• Demonstrable success in implementing cost control programmes and implementing rapid change in response to changes in market conditions and/or revised strategy.
• Evidence of developing and recommending effective business improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrable success in turning around previously underperforming teams or areas of business.
• Evidence of effectively contributing to the future shape of a business.
• Evidence of engaging with and influencing multiple stakeholders.
• Evidence of high levels of each of the Programme Director competencies
• A minimum of 2 A-Levels or an equivalent Level 3 Diploma.
• GCSE English Language at a minimum of a Grade B (or equivalent Level 2 qualification). OR achievement of a Level 2 in Literacy Assessment at interview stage.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working as a supplier on large-scale public-sector procurement programmes.
• Experience of working within the recruitment, training, employment services, welfare to work, business support services or retail sectors.
• Experience of working with disadvantaged groups through voluntary or paid work.

Diversity and Inclusion
We aim to ensure that no candidate or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity. We offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme