Head of Projects & Programmes

Job Description

It’s an exciting time to join the Information Services department at Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland’s #1 Modern University as our new Head of Projects and Programmes.Edinburgh Napier University is forward thinking, leading, modern university. We create and support personalised learning and research opportunities for students, staff and partners that nurture talent, create knowledge and shape communities around the world.The Information Services department is one of the largest professional services within the university responsible for the provision of technology, systems and library services. We are well regarded by both colleagues and students for the wide variety of services provided and, importantly, the collegiate and professional way they are delivered. The last year has demonstrated the resilience and dedication of the IS Team, a team that is greater than the sum of its parts.You would be joining us at an exciting time when we are reshaping the leadership team and building our capabilities to underpin all aspects of University operations and provide key enablers to deliver the ambitious University strategies for Learning & Teaching, Research & Innovation and Internationalisation. To do this, we must observe sector and technology trends, listen to our users’ needs, develop core, interoperable capabilities, designed in such a way that they can be re-used in multiple contexts, and ensure that these are expertly delivered based on business priority and at best value for money.In an ever-changing technological landscape and as a progressive institution, our leadership team combines strong sector knowledge with wider industry best practise and innovation. They are trusted advisors to the University Leadership Team, demonstrating their deep understanding of our strategy and empowering their teams to contribute to its realisation.The role Reporting to the Director, this is a key role in the transformation of digital services to colleagues and students alike. You will lead a step change improvement in the repeatable project management methodology across IS, designing policy, process and procedure that can be sized according to the cost, risk or impact of the initiative. You will embed the methodology and, thereafter, champion a culture of continuous improvement ensuring that the University adopts best practice from the sector and wider industry and provide effective leadership to a high functioning team, responsible for the successful delivery of all IS projects and business change. You will be a role model for team’s culture of openness and collaboration.You will be responsible for ensuring that all University-wide IS projects and programmes are delivered to cost, on time and of the highest quality and ensure all are consistent with policy, process and procedure. This includes responsibility for ensuring that the business process and cultural changes required to ensure adoption and benefits realisation are planned and delivered.As part of the IS Leadership Team, you will advise the University on the scale and pace of change through active participation at key forums and the IS Prioritisation Group, taking operational responsibility for the pipeline. You will work closely with senior managers across the organisation, foster a partnership approach to the planning and delivery of change to ensure that projects are focused on realising expected business outcomes.Who we are looking forYou should be educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, or hold equivalent relative experience and it would be desirable if you also held Prince 2, Agile or other project delivery certification.It is essential you are an effective and clear communicator, enabling engagement with people at all levels and allowing you to positively influence stakeholders or clients to executive level. In addition you will have a proven track record of building strong working partnerships with both colleagues and those who deliver change in an organisation.As an effective leader, you will have led a team of IS professionals that deliver projects which have a material impact on the profitability or risk profile of the parent organisation or its clients whilst ensuring that the needs of the organisation are met and team members are adding value to all assigned projects and programmes.We will look for you to evidence your expertise in delivering large scale IS projects to conclusion, including initiation, business case, implementation, business change and benefits realisation and tracking, all in accordance with a repeatable delivery methodology. It is desirable you will have implemented a project management tool or system to manage project artefacts, plans and resource utilisation, ideally across a suite of projects.What you can expectWe have flexible working available to ensure our staff are supported to succeed in their roles whilst maintaining a good home/work-life balance. We fully understand, in the current climate, that for some colleagues, other responsibilities require a shift in working hours.Edinburgh Napier University is committed to inclusion, and encourages applications from minority and underrepresented groups.If this opportunity sounds of interest, please visit Edinburgh Napiers Job pages to view the recrutment pack and job description.Benefits we offerIn return, we offer a great working environment where we support ambition, recognise achievement and offer an attractive benefits package. This includes a minimum of 36 days annual leave (includes bank holidays), a generous Employer contribution pension scheme (20.4%) Required skills

Digital Services

Methodology

Partnerships

Professional Services

Project Delivery

Keyskills :
Methodology Professional Services