Benefits Support Manager

NHS Business Services Authority; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public health service provider in Newcastle upon Tyne seeks a Benefits Support Manager to enhance the benefits management framework. The role involves delivering timely reporting on portfolio benefits, facilitating workshops, and developing strong relationships with senior management. Ideal candidates will possess substantial experience in benefits management, excellent communication skills, and a recognized benefits qualification. A competitive salary and a flexible working pattern are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working hours

Professional development

Inclusive workplace culture

Qualifications

• Experience in benefits management and evaluation is required.
• Confident in developing relationships with senior management teams.
• Ability to deliver training and support on benefits related matters.

Responsibilities

• Deliver timely and accurate reporting of portfolio benefits and efficiencies.
• Support development of dashboards and reporting tools.
• Conduct benefits workshops and develop benefits profiles.

Skills

Knowledge of benefits management methodologies

Budgeting and costing techniques

Strong leadership skills

Excellent communication skills

Data analysis and presentation skills

Ability to manage senior stakeholders

Education

Degree level education

Recognised Benefits qualification (Practitioner Level)

Tools

MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Power BI

MIRO

Job description

As the Strategy, Performance, Business Development and Growth directorate matures and grows within the NHSBSA there is a need to further enhance our benefits management function with Benefits Support Managers to actively drive our Benefits Management Framework. Supporting all levels of benefits management, including the delivery of wider system efficiencies and benefits. This includes supporting development of business cases, delivering benefits workshops, monitoring, and reporting of project and programme benefits and providing advice and guidance to change delivery colleagues, project board members and SROs. As a team player, you will develop benefits profiles with active benefit management practices throughout the investment lifecycle for portfolio projects and programmes, as well as supporting a tailored approach for continuous improvement initiatives. The role has a dedicated focus on the review and evaluation benefits practice, coordinating this in line with HM Treasury guidance for post project evaluation. Also driving benefit management practices in continuous improvement throughout the NHSBSA, alongside senior management teams, as well as, supporting the Benefits Lead to ensure our framework is delivered consistently and in line with best practice. Furthermore, you will support the existing team work closely with Portfolio Management (PMD) colleagues, senior leaders across the organisation and attend governance boards.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a motivated, confident individual who has substantial experience in benefits management and evaluation. You will support colleagues' understanding of benefits, using various means such as online meetings, phone calls and face to face meetings, including the facilitation of benefits discovery workshops. Communicating effectively will be key, both verbally and in writing, to cascade complex benefits information and models with staff within and outside of the NHSBSA in relation to the provision of benefits services.

You should be flexible in your approach and have experience of developing and maintaining relationships with senior management teams, including members of PRBs and project boards, Portfolio Management Directorate and Finance colleagues and as well as external stakeholders.

Delivering timely and accurate reporting of portfolio and continuous improvement efficiencies for the NHSBSA and wider system, supporting monthly and quarterly benefits reporting at multiple levels. As well as supporting the Benefits Lead in the development and delivery of best practice and fit for purpose benefits management throughout the business, to ultimately lead to the optimisation of benefits realised for NHSBSA and the wider system.

You should be able to work independently with minimal supervision and collaborate closely with team members to contribute to overall team performance.

About us

Here at the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), what we do matters.

We manage the NHS Pension scheme, process prescription payments and much more. Our services are used by NHS organisations, contractors and the public: we're proud to be part of something meaningful, that touches millions of lives.

We design our services around customer needs and place people at the heart of our organisation. That's why when you join us, you'll be empowered and supported to help your career grow.

As one of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for, we're connected to our values: Collaborative, Adventurous, Reliable and Energetic. We care about our people, our purpose, and your progress.

We strive to offer a fantastic colleague experience, where every colleague is heard, supported and respected. Wellbeing, diversity and inclusion is at the centre of this, and you can join our Lived Experience Networks who help us bring our authentic selves to work.

We're committed to being a flexible employer and we try to offer a working pattern that suits you where possible, through hybrid working, flexible hours and more.

Alongside a competitive salary with pay progression, we offer a people-centric benefits package, connecting you to the rewards and benefits you value most!

Ready to join us in delivering business service excellence to the NHS, helping people live longer, healthier lives? Apply today and see where the NHSBSA can take you.

We are people connected to care.

Job responsibilities

In this role, you are accountable for:

• Delivering timely and accurate reporting of portfolio benefits and wider system efficiencies for designated services to support monthly and quarterly benefits reporting at both directorate, portfolio and NHSBSA Board level. This includes reviewing and validating analysis supplied by the Benefits Analyst and following up on anomalies with service areas where necessary.
• Supporting and reviewing the development of dashboards and reporting tools as required to support benefits modelling and reporting, working with the Benefits Analyst to implement improvements in reporting, including automation, data analysis, insight and data presentation to meet business needs.
• Working closely with the Benefits Analyst, review the outputs of the benefits module of the portfolio management system to ensure that benefits records for designated services are accurate and up to date.
• Delivering benefits workshops and developing benefits profiles for projects and programmes.
• Reviewing project benefits reporting as part of project gateway review responsibilities.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with members of PRBs and projects boards, PMD and Finance colleagues and external.
• Attending PRBs and other project boards, actively supporting the review of project benefits, responding to queries, challenging assumptions and highlighting areas for discussion.
• The postholder will be confident in developing an appropriate style that supports colleagues understanding of benefits, using various means such as online meetings, phone calls and face to face meetings. It is essential that the postholder is capable of flexibility in their approach.
• Achieving team and personal objectives in accordance with the SPBDG business planning priorities.
• Communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing, complex benefits information and models with staff within and outside of the NHSBSA in relation to the provision of benefits services.
• Working independently with minimal supervision and collaborating closely with your team to contribute to overall team performance.
• Delivering training, support, advice and guidance to colleagues on benefits related matters.
• Deputising for other Benefits Support Managers when required.
• Supporting the Benefits Lead in the development of benefits guidance, products and services.
• Supporting the Benefits Lead by undertaking first stage review of business cases, highlighting areas which require additional review and further input from the business case author.
• Deputising for the Benefits Lead in non-staff matters such as attending Portfolio and Programme Assurance Group (PPAG).
• Delivering post project reviews to collate lessons learned in respect of benefits and to validate the benefits realisation is on track.
• Supporting the Benefits Lead in the development of wider system efficiency proposals for discussion with commissioners and sponsors.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualification / experience).
• Recognised Benefits qualification (Practitioner Level) and experience.
• Lean/agile

Personal Qualities, Knowledge & Skills

• Excellent knowledge of benefits management methodologies and frameworks.
• Budgeting and costing techniques.
• Complex benefits modelling.
• Strong leadership and motivational skills.
• Able to handle sensitive and contentious issues and information.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate with a variety of audiences.
• Personal management skills - self starter and able to work as a team.
• Ability to prioritise workload where resource / time is limited and meet deadlines
• Ability to assimilate facts quickly and develop a reasoned response
• Good persuasion and influencing skills
• Well- developed analytical skills
• Curious nature and effectively deep dives into material
• Accurate with attention to detail
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Make formal presentations to large groups.
• Process, analyse and present complex information to non-benefits colleagues
• Knowledge of HM Treasury business case guidance.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Detailed understanding of NHS and Central Government benefit models.
• Knowledge of IPA Benefits Management guidance
• Knowledge of public sector and commercial benefits models
• Ability to use best practice in all aspects of benefits management.
• Good understanding of NHSBSA services and systems.
• Evidence of continued personal development.

Experience

• Experience of providing relevant information in a concise format in order to establish good working relationship across the organisation.
• Demonstrable practical experience of developing and realising benefits in large scale / complex organisations, including leading concurrent pieces of work of varying degrees of complexity, size and duration
• Practical experience of utilising available evidence and developing benefits profiles to support business case approval.
• Proven ability and experience of managing senior stakeholders
• The assessment of likely benefits realisation
• Data analysis, interpretation and presentation skills
• Experience of work with MS Office tools (excel, word, powerpoint)
• Experience of using Power BI dashboards and reports
• Supporting the production of board level reports.
• Experience of facilitating workshops and events for a diverse range of stakeholder
• Operating and delivering projects in the public sector
• Experience of supporting the development of a benefits management service and delivering service improvements.
• Experience of using MIRO.
• Experience of using Portfolio and Programme management systems.