Project and Programme

Roles at this level provide standard project management support, using basic project management techniques and processes to provide analysis, hold others to account and to aid project outcomes.

 

Scope of Work

Role holders at this level will carry out routine project support activities to a specific area of projects, usually of a less complex nature.

Role holders will work under direction of roles above and may operate with limited guidance and instructions so that initiative and judgement are required to determine how to address and resolve daily problems. There is discretion to determine short-term priorities for self (and maybe others).

The role holder will be expected to use understanding of how project processes operate so that they can work independently, ensuring that they keep on top of all related activities across the council.

Communication skills will be involved in giving procedural or technical advice or guidance within a specialised area, and liaising with a number of project stakeholders, in some cases, holding others to account on timelines and outcomes.

 

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Provide project support on the basis of previous experience and knowledge of relevant methods, processes, systems and facts to deliver specialised support to a particular project with defined outcomes.
• Perform straightforward analysis, manipulation and interpretation of data to support project outcomes, such as the drafting of progress reports or updating logs and registers.
• Provide standard project support to more senior project manager and programme managers, undertaking routine tasks in relation to specific specialist projects to support smooth running operations.
• Produce supporting documents such as risk logs, project initiation documents and work plans to support the accurate documentation and monitoring of a programme/project.
• Liaise with stakeholders and customers in order to exchange information, clarify facts, and resolve queries/problems or escalate more complex issues appropriately. This may also involve working with project team members to receive updates on work packages or arranging events/meetings and deadlines.
• Liaise with internal and external colleagues/contractor/suppliers/partners to contribute to project delivery.
• May monitor and process financial information and review financial data.
• Plans and prioritises own defined daily work activities related to the project in hand.

 

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Good level of education: GCSE, A-level or Vocational equivalent. Relevant vocational qualification or technical training. May be working towards a professional qualification.
• Clear understanding of the relevant work practices, processes and procedures relevant to the area.
• Demonstrates awareness of wider project and programme environment.
• Clear understanding of project techniques and tools, processes and procedures relevant to the project. This may include risk and change logs, or simple budget control sheets.
• Understands processes used in the management of contracts, and the procurement of services.
• Understanding of financial systems and processes, with the ability to use these to support project budgeting and reporting.
• Ability to work independently and within a team, using project process and systems.
• Able to plan own work over short timescales for routine or familiar tasks and processes.
• Good communication skills including the ability to liaise with others, within and potentially outside of the council to build working relationships.

Roles at this level takes on the more complex project support problems and provide specialist advice related to project and programme support, including identifying possible courses of action to resolve issues and the role guides less experienced colleagues.

 

Scope of Work

Role holders will be expected to provide specialised project support, using understanding of project management theory to aid the support of larger and more complex projects and programmes of work.

The role holder will be expected to manage and plan their own workload, whilst maintaining an awareness of the activities of others on the project team, and the impact across the council.

The role holder will be expected to resolve escalated queries from the more junior project support roles.

Communication skills will be involved in giving technical advice or guidance relating to the project, and supervising a team in some cases, holding others to account on the quality of work and on project outputs.

 

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Use understanding of project management processes and systems to prepare reports and presentations using standard and non-standard formats and software in order to support the particular project within the specialised field.
• Analyse and present information, in order to draw conclusions and identifying trends, in order to provide input into the wider project objectives.
• Deliver distinct elements or contribute to the delivery of the project complying with applicable quality procedures to ensure successful and compliant project execution for realisation of benefits.
• Respond to and resolve enquiries and problems, judging when to pass complex queries on to or involve others in order to resolve issues for the particular project or programme.

 

Supervisory

• May supervise more junior members of the project team, or administrative staff linked to specific project.
• May monitor and control financial information and review financial data to contribute to management of budgets.

 

Individual

• Applies detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures related to the project in order to analyse and interpret information and provide reasoned advice and guidance.

 

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Recognised vocational qualification plus broad experience in area of expertise or degree qualified. May be working towards a professional qualification or be of graduate entry level with sound practical experience.
• Detailed knowledge of the practical application of specialised processes/procedures relevant to the role, typically gained through extensive practical experience.
• Relevant experience of project management.
• Ability to work independently and within a team, using specialised project frameworks and systems.
• High level of numeracy and understanding of budgeting techniques and process.
• Able to plan own work over short timescales for routine or familiar tasks and processes.
• Understanding of the organisation’s political environment.
• Able to work with a range of stakeholders to explain project objectives and processes.

Roles at this level may manage very small, low complex projects. The role may provide high level advice or diagnose complex problems and/or service in order to support the effective management and delivery of a specific project/programme/portfolio, within area of specialism.

 

Scope of Work

Role holders at this level will have substantial experience in project management support, as well as a good understanding of relevant methodology, providing specialist project services and advice internally and externally within own specialist, project area.

Role holders work within established project management frameworks and procedures but have freedom to interpret them to solve problems. Thinking is about selecting the most appropriate, predefined process to apply with the specialist area, rather than developing new ones. Support is available and proposed solutions can be readily checked.

The role holder will be expected to plan work in the short-term whilst maintaining a good understanding of the work of others on the project or programme of work. Good communication skills are required in order to provide team guidance or supervision or specialist support.

 

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• May manage the delivery of a very small and low complex projects or sub-project to support wider programme goals and realisation of benefits.
• Develop suggestions for process improvements for particular project or programme of work, inputting into improvements or performance and workflow.
• Plan and carry out regular programme / project quality reviews using standard methodologies in order to identify, assess and take action to mitigate risks to programme / project success.
• Coordinate data collation and undertake analysis to identify trends, patterns and opportunities for the particular project or programme, to support outcomes, both in the community and internally.
• Liaise with stakeholders, internally and externally, in order to exchange information, clarify facts and resolve queries, using specialised knowledge to guide decision making.

 

Managerial

• Provides team and professional guidance to colleagues working in a related project or provide technical advice to those who work outside the project.
• May monitor and control financial information and review financial data to contribute to financial planning.

 

Professional

• Role holders will undertake specified tasks of varying complexity to support the overarching project.

 

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Recognised vocational or professional qualification plus broad experience in area of expertise, and/or degree qualified. May be working towards a professional qualification or be of graduate entry level with sound practical experience.
• Detailed knowledge of own service area and relevant working systems, equipment and/or IT software, plus an awareness of council policies and services related to the role.
• Good understanding of project management methodologies.
• Practical experience of contributing to the successful delivery of programmes / projects.
• Good analytical skills with the ability to identify trends and patterns.
• High level of numeracy and understanding of budgeting techniques and process.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and, if required coordinate team activities.
• Organises own work, or plans ahead for others, taking account of priorities and the impact on other people.
• Understanding of the organisation’s political environment.
• Good communication skills including the ability to liaise with others and build relationships.

Roles at this level will lead on delivery of projects of smaller complexity providing specialist advice and/or service in order to deliver specific projects. Roles will likely support the objectives of broader work programmes, within a particular area of specialism.

 

Scope of Work

Role holders at this level will be professional/technical project managers, with in-depth experience in project management, holding specialist experience within the particular area that the project is aligned to.

Role holders work within established project management frameworks and procedures but will be expected to use analysis to interpret and evaluate each situation to deal with them in the best possible way. They will be expected to use judgement and specialist knowledge to resolve issues, with a requirement to define and develop new ways of working.

The role holder will resolve escalated queries in a particular area of specialism, and will need to deliver specific outputs. Planning workloads is required whilst linking in with other parts of the project to deliver a cohesive output. Good communication skills are drawn on in order to provide team guidance, supervision or specialist support.

 

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver on smaller complexity projects, ensuring that legislation, policy and frameworks are adhered to, ensuring successful and compliant project or programme execution.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of continuous improvements in area of specialism, defining and developing new ways of working, and on wider improvement initiatives to support the quality/performance of programme / project management and delivery of fit for purpose initiatives.
• Use established systems to track key programme / project metrics, benefits, budgets, risks and highlight variances/trends in order to manage and control programme / project progress and contribute to effective governance of the programme / project.
• Adapt project procedures in own area to support continued improvements, performance and efficiency.
• Plan and carry out regular project quality reviews in order to identify, assess and take action to mitigate risks to project success.
• Communicate and liaise with internal and external stakeholders/customers to help them understand project objectives and progress, and to deliver assigned part of programmes/projects and support effective collaboration.

 

Managerial

• Manage and oversee the work of a small team, or a number of contractors or stakeholders, who are undertaking similar types of activities; guides direct team members and colleagues in the functional area with technical advice.
• May support the control of budgets to deliver service priorities and to ensure appropriate resources are available.

 

Professional

• Role holders will be providing expert project management knowledge, working on a specific project output.

 

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Typically degree qualified (or equivalent) in relevant subject plus number of years’ experience in a similar role or significant vocational experience, demonstrating development through involvement in a series of progressively more demanding relevant roles. Formal professional qualification (where relevant).
• Up to date and thorough knowledge and understanding of the work practices, systems, processes and procedures relevant to the role, and a good understanding of the council policies and services related to the role.
• Practical experience of contributing to the successful delivery of programmes / projects.
• Knowledge of contract management and procurement principles and associated procedures and regulations, with the ability to agree and shape practices to a particular project environment.
• Ability to monitor and control an agreed budget within a defined area, producing reports and analysing and contributing to planning.
• Able to provide team leadership for small projects or contribute to a broader programme in area of specialism.
• Organises own work over weeks and months, or plans ahead for others, taking account of priorities and the impact on other people.
• Understanding of the organisation’s political environment and able to explain the formal political structures and decision making processes in the council.
• Able to use a range of non-standard and creative approaches to inform others, extending beyond logical argument to cause understanding in a way which is inclusive and engaging.

Roles at this level manage elements of larger medium to high complexity programmes/projects/portfolios, deliver complete solutions on medium to low complexity projects or support the delivery of programmes to contribute to the realisation of benefits.

or

Roles at this level provide advice and assurance to support the management of a medium to high complexity programme/project/ portfolio to ensure they can be delivered against plan and support wider programme benefits.

 

Scope of Work

Role holders will be expected to work on elements of complex, or broader projects or programmes of work.

Role holders answer questions about ‘what’ needs to be done and ‘how’ in specific local (business unit or function) situations and will be expected to identify immediate solutions to issues. There is a need to know the way around a wide range of procedures and use these to fit each local situation as they arise. Although project and programme procedures and processes exist, they will need to make proposals for changes be fully aware of wider implications. At this level they will not always follow established precedent and there will be some freedom in how to achieve end results.

Communication skills will be required to lead and manage streams of activities, to use expertise in project management to deliver outputs and to hold others to account, liaising with a number of stakeholders to deliver required outputs.

 

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Manage the delivery of elements of medium to high complexity programmes/projects/portfolios of medium to low complex projects, complying with relevant legislation, policies and frameworks.
• Decide and apply agreed standards to programme/project challenges and translate them into actionable solutions to support the realisation of benefits and project execution.
• Use established systems to track key programme / project metrics, benefits, budgets, risks and highlight variances/trends in order to manage and control programme / project progress and contribute to effective governance of the programme / project / portfolio.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of continuous improvements in area of specialism and on wider improvement initiatives to support the quality/performance of programme / project management and delivery of fit for purpose initiatives.
• Evaluate programme / project analytics and processes to identify risks or issues and recommend appropriate action.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders/customers to gain buy in and to deliver assigned part of programmes/projects and support effective collaboration.

 

Managerial

• Manage a medium sized team undertaking broadly similar types of activities.
• Manage allocated budgets and other resources (such as equipment or buildings) to deliver the agreed results.

 

Professional

• Guides project team and colleagues, providing technical advice and guidance within specialised field, expected to manage a number of activities which will run concurrently.

 

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Typically professionally qualified and/or relevant degree (or equivalent), plus substantial experience or substantial vocational experience demonstrating development through involvement in a series of progressively demanding roles. Formal professional qualification (where relevant).
• Up to date and authoritative knowledge of the work practices, systems, processes and procedures relevant to the role, and able to apply this knowledge in new and varied circumstances.
• Experience in delivering small projects or managing areas of projects within larger and more complex projects.
• Knowledge of contract management principles and associated procedures and regulations, with the ability to agree and shape standards to a particular project environment.
• Ability to monitor, plan and manage an agreed budget within a defined area, producing reports and analysing.
• Able to provide team leadership for small projects or contribute to a broader programme in area of specialism.
• Organises own work over weeks and months, or plans ahead for others, taking account of priorities and the impact on other people.
• Organisation and political awareness, and the ability to understand the political implications for certain decisions and provide advice and guidance for political representatives.
• Ability to influence and provide specialist guidance and advice to others, including the ability to motivate others.

Roles at this level take the lead on mid-complex programmes or complete complex projects (or equivalent) to ensure programmes/ projects can be executed to deliver their benefits.

or

Roles at this level contribute to the successful realisation of programmes, benefits through the provision of a specialist service or the management of a component of the overall programme/project/portfolio.

 

Scope of Work

Role holders lead on mid-complex projects and programmes of work, with a requirement to integrate activities to deliver on an agreed objective. The role holder will be expected to interpret policy and work out tactics for how to apply them in support of local needs. Thinking is focused on specific parts of the organisation rather than on Hertfordshire County Council as a whole.

Contributions to wider policy formulation take the form of feedback on how policies impact on the function or division. Developments are about better ways to do things using existing technology/resources. By definition, thinking takes place within a policy framework but these are guidelines rather than rules and leave scope for discriminating application.

Excellent communication skills are required to influence and guide a number of stakeholders at a range of levels as well as to lead and manage a team in most situations.

 

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Manage the delivery of elements of mid-complex programmes, complex projects or major elements of highly complex programmes/projects/ portfolios complying with relevant legislation, policies and frameworks.
• Provide specialist advice to senior management or senior programme/project leaders to support change through understanding and insight in order to have an impact on overall programme/project performance.
• Translate business objectives into clearly defined business cases and plans in order to support realisation of benefits and delivery of capabilities.
• Manage an effective governance and control environment to ensure the direction of travel in the programme / project / portfolio is aligned to the business case and corrective actions are implemented as appropriate.
• Review and interpret programme and project management related functional policies or processes, develop and recommend changes and provide advice to colleagues to ensure their effective implementation.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders/customers to gain buy in and to deliver assigned part of programmes/projects and support effective collaboration.

 

Managerial

• Lead and fully manage a medium sized team, with a number of activities overseen, and integrated.
• Motivate a diverse (matrix) team, coach more junior colleagues, set objectives and review performance to ensure staff have the necessary skills and understanding to deliver objective.
• Manage and control of budgets to deliver service priorities.

 

Professional

• Provide specialist advice and guidance within area of expertise on broad and complex programmes of work.

 

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Typically professionally qualified/relevant degree (or equivalent), plus substantial experience. Management qualification (if required).
• Up to date and authoritative knowledge of the work practices, systems, processes and procedures relevant to the role, and able to apply this knowledge in new and varied circumstances.
• Deep understanding of wider project and programme environment, including a general, broader understanding of the public sector and the issues that it faces.
• Experience of commissioning and managing services within a project, change and matrixed environment to deliver measurable and visible outcomes for Hertfordshire.
• Ability to manage a team.
• Financial and budgetary planning and management skills.
• Ability to develop and review the implementation of large and complex project plans taking account of business and customer requirements and reconciling competing demands.
• Organisational and political acumen and the ability to understand the political implications for certain decisions and provide advice and guidance for political representatives.
• Ability to build and maintain effective networks and relationships and influence others.

Roles at this level design and/or lead the delivery of complete major programmes, highly complex projects within a programme or a suite of diverse projects as part of a programme to ensure programmes/projects/portfolios can be executed against plan and deliver the required benefits to council.

or

Roles at this level contribute fundamentally to the successful realisation of programme benefits through the provision of a specialist service or the management of a component of the overall programme/project/portfolio.

 

Scope of Work

Role holders lead the design and implementation of large, complex programmes of work, and will be expected to translate policies and overarching objectives into ways of operating for their functions or departments, contributing to policy development based on local/functional understanding. Thinking is essentially concerned with the year ahead, in the context of an understanding of likely longer-term developments.

Plans that the role will be building will be constructive and developmental, but solutions have to fit with existing internal/external objectives. Solutions must represent improvements on current practice, which will involve the freedom to make changes to ways of working where necessary and appropriate.

 

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Deliver oversight and direction of large, complex programmes of work, providing expertise and guidance as well as ensuring that deliverables are met in line with budgetary constraints and overarching objectives.
• Work with relevant stakeholders across the organisations that stages of work are scoped, the required resources identified and approved and the timescales for delivery calculated and understood and risks identified so that everything can be communicated effectively and the work delivered to plan and budget.
• Provide professional recommendations across the organisation in the field of programme/project management, ensuring that large pieces of work are planned effectively to deliver the required objectives to the council.
• Identify new ways of working, within the field of programme/project management, using best practice from the marketplace, and bringing this internally to ensure that Hertfordshire can demonstrate and employ continuous improvement in managing projects.
• Establish and manage an effective governance and control environment to ensure the direction of travel in the programme / project / portfolio is aligned to the strategic direction of Hertfordshire and corrective actions are implemented as appropriate.
• Lead the overall financial management (e.g. cost, business case) for programmes / projects / portfolios to ensure objectives are achieved in line with Hertfordshire financial plans / budgets and strategy.
• Influence senior internal and external stakeholders/customers such as managers, interest groups, and elected members to ensure alignment around delivering programmes / projects / portfolios to support strategic objectives.

 

Managerial

• Oversight and management of a team of professionals with a degree of diversity of activity, and an expectation to integrate across these activities.
• Motivate a diverse (matrix) team, coach more junior colleagues, set objectives and review performance to ensure staff have the necessary skills and understanding to deliver objectives.
• Manage the control of budgets to deliver service priorities. Roles at this level provide standard project management support, using basic project management techniques and processes to provide analysis, hold others to account and to aid project outcomes.

 

Professional

• Role provides high level, professional level expertise to stakeholders both internally and externally, inputting into policy and strategy.

 

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Typically professionally qualified/relevant degree (or equivalent), plus substantial experience. Management qualification (if required).
• Highly developed knowledge of the principles, theory and practice of specialist area
• Experience of designing, commissioning, and managing services within a project, change and matrixed environment to deliver measurable and visible outcomes for Hertfordshire.
• Broad relevant experience gained through complex programme or project management acquired through undertaking a similar role.
• Proven ability to manage and coach a diverse team, including advanced leadership training.
• Financial and budgetary planning and management skills. Ability to agree resources for a defined area as part of forward planning, monitoring progress and adjusting resources or priorities to meet goals.
• Ability to develop and review the implementation of large and complex project plans taking account of business and customer requirements and reconciling competing demands.
• Strong organisational and political acumen, combined with understanding of context and the politics present within the council, and with partners and providers.
• Experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders such as communities, contractors, and elected members, and working with them to sell a vision or case for project outcomes.
• Ability to develop long term relationships and networks external to the council, to influence and change behaviour.