Head of Project Services

We are currently recruiting for an Acting Head of Project Services. This role is responsible for managing the IT portfolio, you will deliver value by supporting and enabling the delivery of products, projects and programmes. You will ensure an effective framework and governance to successfully deliver the outcomes and goals.

The Head of Project Services will also own the Enterprise Architecture and Project Delivery process to maximise business value whilst ensuring that the teams have the skills, tools, and processes to effectively manage the IT portfolio. This role is initially going to be a 12 month fixed term contract as cover for a secondment. This role can be done on a remote or hybrid basis (our Head Office is in Letchworth Garden City) but please be aware that occasional travel to the Head Office or other Willmott Dixon offices may be required dependent upon business needs.

Within this role you will:

• Successfully deliver and control projects to agreed time, budget, and quality specifications.
• Lead and manage a team of project managers dedicated to the successful delivery of IT projects across Willmott Dixon
• Provide coaching and development opportunities to Enterprise Architect team.
• Manage the demand of work at feasibility stage working collaboratively with the Enterprise Architects on priorities.
• Support with reviewing and improving the architecture framework with Enterprise Architect team.
• Prepare and provide PMO reporting and quality metrics to relevant stakeholders.
• Manage escalations for projects within the portfolio and minimise uncontrolled escalations to Head of IT
• Manage the budget for the running of PMO function.
• Defining project budgets and ensuring that they are well controlled and managed for the accountable budget holder.

• Ensure the IT Portfolio is managed to meet agreed business needs in terms of priority, demand, and scope.

• Manage portfolio-wide risks, issues dependencies and escalations.
• Ensure adequate resourcing and funding processes are maintained for all PMO undertakings.

• Ensure that there is controlled closure, sign-off and authorisation for implemented projects and that they are handed over to the business owner on completion.
• Ensure that relevant PMO stage gates, controls and authorisations are implemented and enforced.
• Be responsible for maintaining an oversight of all projects being managed across the organisation providing status updates to the Group as appropriate.

• Maintain and improve the PMO assurance frameworks and to research and remain up to date on developments in project management methodologies and technologies.

Essential

• Team leader (or similar) management experience
• Prince 2 certification
• Experience in managing projects/ programmes, within a relevant fast paced and challenging environment.
• Experience in assisting project managers and the IT Team in problem resolution and managing PMO service delivery and performance.
• Proactive approach with the energy and vision to drive the PMO team.
• Experience of facilitating team capacity through robust resource planning and scheduling
• Strong reporting skills

Desirable

• ITIL certification
• MSP certification

• Experience in running a corporate / IT PMO function.

• Understanding of portfolio management
• Budget management

Personal Qualities

Personal effectiveness

• Objective and proactive in providing timely solutions to problems.
• Recognise my own strengths and limitations, play to my strengths and use strategies to minimise the impact of my limitations.
• Communicate effectively, take the time to listen and have the courage to tackle difficult conversations at the right time.
• Adaptable when dealing with people and managing relationships.
• Seeing the bigger picture and planning ahead.
• Identify performance management and manage business expectations.
• Working as part of a team.
• A good forward planner and excellent motivator.
• Enjoying the challenge of achieving a common goal.
• Identify and manage risk and opportunity.
• Actively embodies our IT Behaviours and is professional.
• A key decision-maker.
• Willingness to continually develop personal and technical effectiveness.
• Meet deadlines without the need for prompting.

Leadership

• Effective leader and ensure my team comply with all our processes and procedures.
• Recognise when there are conflicts, acknowledge the feelings and views of all parties, and redirect people's energy towards a common goal.
• Set demanding but achievable objectives for yourself and others.
• Show integrity, fairness, and consistency in decision-making.
• Monitor the quality of work and take appropriate action where necessary.

Attributes

• Strong communication, interpersonal skills, and stakeholder / customer relationship management expertise

• Confident and self-motivated with the ability to engage and influence effectively at senior management / director level.
• Strong oral and written communication, showing diligence with technical deliverables; able to provide clear explanations to non- IT specialists.
• Strong team leadership skills
• Excellent relationship and stakeholder management skills
• Good listener
• Resilient