Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

REPORTS TO: Major Capital Programme Locality Manager

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Providing leadership responsibility for a diverse and geographically dispersed team of professional, technical and administrative staff carrying out work across a range of major functions within the Infrastructure and Capital Development Division.

Responsibility for the management and delivery of Major Works Capital Projects, the delivery of data, telecom and power technologies for Major & Minor Capital Projects and all other capital and recurrent budget lines associated with this Service.

JOB PURPOSE

The overall purpose of the role is to manage and develop projects as part of the portfolio of services outlined below. As a member of the Major Capital Programme Delivery Service, the Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager is accountable for ensuring that service delivery is focused on meeting the needs of children and young people through provision of equal access to excellent services. The Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager will be part of transformational change and will implement developing structures, strategy, policy, procedures and processes for these services. The Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager will take part in the significant ongoing change and harmonisation process across Infrastructure Capital Development Division and the Major Capital Programme Delivery.

The Project Manager will be responsible for assisting with developing all aspects of major capital delivery across the EA, including major works in schools settings in both the controlled and non-controlled sectors as well as other earmarked and special initiatives. They will be accountable to the Major Capital Programme Delivery Manager for the effective management and delivery of all major capital works, with significant input across all education sectors.

This will require on-going liaison with the Department of Education (DE) to ensure planning and delivery of major capital projects is in line with policy and complies with DE capital standards. It also requires close liaison and negotiation with other sectorial bodies when delivering major capital works in non-controlled settings.

The Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager will advise and support the Locality and Programme Manager in the development of the strategic direction for these services and will work closely with other Managers, Heads of Service, Assistant Directors and the SMT within the EA to ensure that major capital development supports the area planning process and is in line with service requirements.

The Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager will be expected to provide strong leadership and direction to ensure the significant ongoing change and harmonisation process across the major capital delivery programme is successfully implemented. In acting as an integral member of the Infrastructure and Capital Development Division, the Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager is required to fully contribute to all major capital programme issues related to the corporate plan, operational business plan, Service development proposals, savings proposals and risk register to ensure that the Directorate operational plans support the overall strategic direction of the Authority and the achievement of its objectives in line with its vision, mission and values.

As part of DE’s Transformation of Education and the EA’s Transformation Programme, it is recognised that the Infrastructure and Capital Development Division and the services which it provides will play a key role both within both the Operations and Estates Directorate and the EA. Service reviews are required in specific areas and this work will be required to develop as part of the transformational change programme in future years. Future development of services will also be an important aspect of this work.

The Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager will assist and support as required the annual business planning process within the Infrastructure and Capital Development Division and thereby contribute to the achievement of the EA’s overall corporate objectives. The post-holder will be responsible for providing advice, support and guidance to the EA Board, its Committees and other relevant organisations as appropriate.

The Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager will work with the EA’s Performance and Planning Service in devising, developing and overseeing the implementation of a performance management culture within the Infrastructure and Capital Development Division. The Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager will also support the development and implementation of an Outcomes Based Accountability Framework within the Operations and Estates Directorate.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Management

• Assisting with the provision of cost control in connection with the Education Authority’s capital and revenue projects;
• Providing estimates and monitoring expenditure on the Education Authority’s programmes of work;
• Assisting with progressing contract and fee payments on a wide variety of projects.

Implementation of Projects

• Advising other units on contractual procedures to be followed and producing contract preliminaries for tender documents;
• Assisting with selecting contractors, scrutinising submitted tenders, assessing claims for payment and settling final accounts and claims;
• Assessing fee claims received from external consultants.
• Assisting with progressing and directing capital projects with other EA services, external agencies and utility providers.
• Assisting with reviewing and informing external consultants and contractors to ensure that data, communication and power network infrastructures are completed to the required standards, on time and within budget and in accordance with agreed terms.
• To provide advice and assistance when required on matters concerning building maintenance and technical standards.

Negotiations with DE

• Lead the development of Information Technology Infrastructure specifications and requirements for all schools and programmes, through the Department of Education approvals system.
• To represent the Education Authority in the development of Information Technology Infrastructure specifications and requirements for all schools and other buildings and to assist the Department of Education or other organisation in the development or revision of the Building Handbook or other guidance documentation as may be necessary to ensure the delivery of suitable Information Technology Infrastructure to all schools or buildings with which the EA is involved.
• Develop holistic school Information Technology Infrastructure requirements, for each project, incorporating futureproofing and parity of service provision across all sectors and negotiate with the Department of Education on Information Technology Infrastructure packages tailored to individual school curriculum needs.
• Assisting with progressing capital projects through the Department of Education financial approvals system and negotiating with the Department of Education on cost allowances for each project.

Development Works

• Assisting with identifying options to be included in economic appraisals and forecasting revenue and life cycle costs for all options; preparing and completing economic appraisals;
• Assisting with preparing post project evaluation reports on completed major contracts;
• Assist with the Education Authority’s five year property strategy.
• Development and implementation of new technologies in Schools.
• To carry out such other duties relevant to the post as may be directed by the Assistant Director Infrastructure Capital Development, Head of Major Capital Programme Delivery and/or Major Capital Programme Delivery Locality Manager.
• In accordance with the business needs of the Infrastructure and Capital Development Division the Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager may be required to assist in the delivery of Minor Capital Programme Delivery.

Procurement of External Consulting Services and Utility Providers

• Lead the directing of Utility providers to ensure that the Board’s standards are met on a wide range of service requirements for capital and revenue projects;
• Assisting with directing external professional consultants to ensure that the Board’s standards are met on a wide range of capital and revenue projects;
• Assisting with the payment of external consultants in accordance with agreed terms.

Asset Management

• Assisting with the Education Authority’s property condition surveys and updating information as required.

Supervisory Responsibility

The post holder will be responsible for supervising a large number of highly qualified external consultants and utility providers from within the construction industry i.e. Architects, Mechanical, Electrical and Structural Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and Planning Supervisors, Telecommunications companies. This supervision will not be shared but the post holder will report to his/her Line Manager, he/she will also be expected to deputise for his/her Line Manager as and when required. The post holder may supervise Administrative Staff.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage.

Hold either (A) or (B) or (C)

(A) Hold a Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) in electrical data communication networking in a Construction related discipline and one years’ demonstrable experience in construction related management of electrical services for infrastructure projects in Education and large scale commercial projects;

OR

(B) Hold an HND in electrical data communication networking and three years’ demonstrable experience in construction related management of electrical services for infrastructure projects in Education and large scale commercial projects;

OR

(C) Hold an OND in electrical data communication networking and five years’ demonstrable experience in construction related management of electrical services for infrastructure projects in Education and large scale commercial projects.

Demonstrable experience of making managerial and technical decisions.

Demonstrable experience and qualification of IEE Electrical Regulations.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge of the current IEE Electrical Regulations.

Knowledge of technical standards.

Shortlisting by Application Form

The successful candidate will be required:

to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion;

OR

be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

Knowledge of the requirements of an Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager

Knowledge of the functions of the Education Authority

Knowledge of EA policies and procedures

Interview/Presentation

In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model, we will look for evidence of:

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to talk and present to a range of audiences, acting as a translator between parties

The ability to deliver high performance whilst working under pressure on multiple projects within project timeframes

Strong collaborative skills to build genuine and productive relationships with internal & external stakeholders

A customer focused passion for creating solutions with a positive attitude to implementing improvements/change

Excellent proven analytical & creative thinking and an informed evidence-based approach to decision-making

Interview

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.

Interview

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Demonstrable experience in the NEC 3 Suite of Contracts

Demonstrable experience of working as an Information Technology Infrastructure Project Manager in the education sector or other large scale commercial project

Shortlisting by Application Form

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed on www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/accessni-criminal-record-checks or www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/about-accessni.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.