Project Manager - EdIS

Education Authority; Belfast; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A public educational organization in Northern Ireland is seeking a Project Manager to lead the delivery of EdIS projects. The role includes managing a project team, ensuring projects meet deadlines and budget constraints, and liaising with various stakeholders. Candidates should hold a relevant degree and have experience in project management, particularly using PRINCE2 methodology. This position offers a chance to make a significant impact within the education sector.

Benefits

Great benefits of joining the organization

Equal Opportunities Employer

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience successfully leading complex projects.
• Knowledge of current challenges facing the Education Authority.
• Experience in making managerial and technical decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate project activities within time and budget.
• Manage the Project team and ensure successful implementation.
• Report project progress to the EdIS Programme Board and PMO.

Skills

Project management techniques

Strong communication skills

Collaboration

Customer-focused solutions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in ICT or equivalent

Tools

PRINCE2 methodology

MS Office applications (Excel, Databases)

Job description

Job Description

Reports to: Workstream Lead. The Project Manager will be responsible for delivery of EdIS SPSMS projects through the full project life cycle in accordance with the agreed budget.

The Project Manager will act as the contact point for all issues pertaining to the project(s) assigned to them, including liaison with Heads of Service and stakeholders across the Education Authority, and external suppliers to ensure delivery is consistent with project plan.

They will work closely with team members, Delivery Manager, Workstream Lead and the PMO to ensure that all project requirements, deadlines, budget restrictions and schedules are on track.

The Manager will be responsible for managing and leading a team of employees within the service; this may include managing employees across all EA offices.

Job Purpose

The postholder will:

• Lead and coordinate the activities of the project ensuring the achievement of the project’s overall objectives within specified time and budget constraints.
• Manage a Project team and be responsible for the successful implementation of multiple EdIS projects to support the core business areas of the Education Authority.
• Manage all RAID items relating to assigned projects and provide regular updates to EdiS Management.
• Liaise with EA Services to define project technical and business requirements.
• Liaise with DE in respect of the Business Case funding for projects over the delegated limit.
• Inform the EdIS Programme Board of project progress and provide EdIS PMO with regular status reports as defined within the reporting guidelines.

Scope and Context

(a) The postholder will lead and coordinate the procurement and implementation of several Business-Driven Technology projects across EA Services within the defined timescales, within agreed cost tolerances and to defined quality standards.

(b) The postholder will work with team members, Delivery manager, Work stream lead and PMO to report on progress against agreed timescales, costs etc., and will also take the lead in resolving any issues which may arise with the assigned contractors where applicable.

(c) Projects assigned to the Postholder within the EdIS Programme of Work must adhere to their project plans and approved requirements.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

EdIS Programme of Work

• Coordinate the preparation of business cases for projects aligned to the EdIS Programme of Work.
• Establish the documentation necessary including technical specifications for the relevant full business case.
• Work with the business and EdIS to update the full business cases throughout the assigned projects.
• Lead and coordinate the procurement of multiple projects within the Programme.
• Oversee the implementation of multiple projects across EA services within defined timescales and budget.
• Report to the EdIS Programme Board and PMO on the progress of the EdIS projects against agreed time and cost constraints.
• Act as key contact and work in partnership with the appointed contractor in terms of implementation and support issues throughout the project life cycle.

Project Management, including System Procurement, Implementation and Performance

• Project Planning, including test plans, cut-over plans, and training plans.
• Ensure all project milestones are properly identified for all phases of the project and that they are met through effective management of and communication with the project/implementation team.
• Adhere to the system of monitoring and reporting against project objectives and timescales.
• Manage the projects with defined environment including:
  • Detail planning
  • Monitoring of costs; and
  • Quality assurance
• Prepare project documentation for the EdIS Programme Board, attend as necessary and facilitate Project Board Meetings.

Staff Management, including Resource Requirements, Planning and Monitoring Progress

• Define detailed activities and project team accountabilities.
• Define project resource requirements to meet the projects’ objectives to ensure they are provided when required.
• Provide guidance and direction to members of the project team.
• Allocate work packages to the project team.

Management of Key Relationships to Ensure Effective Interaction between various partners.

• Liaise with appointed contractors as required and monitor the contractor’s performance against contracts and agreed timelines.
• Liaise with relevant officers within EA, DE, contractor, etc in relation to the successful development/implementation of the systems within the EdIS Programme of work.
• Ensure appropriate interface arrangements, where necessary, are designed between the new system and legacy systems.
• Undertake any other duties which from time to time may be required by the EdIS Programme Board.

Risk Management

• Identify and manage risks that may arise within their area of responsibility and develop controls to mitigate them, ensure any risks or issues are escalated appropriately before they develop into an issue.
• Report to EdIS Programme Board on risks and management thereof.

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.

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

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 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. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Hold a bachelor’s degree (QCF Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification in an ICT related subject and have two year’s demonstrable experience successfully leading complex projects; or have a minimum of five years’ demonstrable experience successfully leading complex projects.

Demonstrable experience of project management techniques and delivery including practical experience in the PRINCE2 methodology.

Have demonstrable experience of working to deadlines and controlling multiple projects, where you have made a significant impact within your role, making a substantial difference to the success of a company and the satisfaction of its employees.

Have demonstrable experience of Project Management including the ability to plan, prioritise, deliver high quality outcomes, and evaluate success.

Demonstrable advance knowledge of MS office, applications such as Excel, Databases and of capturing and preparing requirements for market, identifying any procurement experience.

Shortlisting by Application Form.

Additional Essential Criteria

Knowledge of the current and anticipated challenges facing the Education Authority. Knowledge of Project Management tools and associated Project documentation. Demonstrate experience of making managerial and technical decisions. Evidence of excellent communication skills, the ability to deliver high performance while working under pressure on multiple projects, strong collaborative skills and a customer focused passion for creating solutions with a positive attitude to implementing improvements/change.

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

Be PRINCE2 certified.

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.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.