Job Description

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021-22 we reached 650 million people.

Job Title: Manager PMO

Purpose of job:

The PMO will support the Finance Programme Director and change manager in planning and delivery of implementation (including organisational design changes), to ensure achievement of the required impact/ value for money/ timelines objectives as agreed.

The PMO will be responsible for areas including project plans and documentation, monitoring, and escalating risks, managing stakeholders, project reporting and more. PMO will also be managing coordination of reporting with various Workstreams including Portfolio office and various Programme Boards.

Contract Type: FTC (12 Months).

Main opportunities/challenges for this role

Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties:

Project and Programme Management

• Leads on day-to-day project management of the implementation of Transformation, helping the Programme Director to keep the Programme on track with business case objectives and more widely support the overall integrity and coherence of the Programme.
• Participates in the continuous improvement of Programme and project management good practice (specifically governance, controls, reporting and other PMO related items).
• Manage the Programme budget, monitoring expenditure and costs against benefits as the Programme progresses, supporting the delivery of project deliverables within time, and quality measures of success.
• Work with business owners and Programme team(s) to establish the framework and processes for the effective planning, monitoring and delivery of the Programme.
• Support the Programme Director to establish and then implement the agreed risk & issue log and assist the workstream Programme and project team in monitoring dependencies, risks and opportunities across the programme, proactively suggesting and implementing improvements where appropriate.
• Support the Programme Director in maintaining an accurate record of corporate level risk on the JCAD enterprise risk management tool in line with the organisation\'s Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF) timetable.
• Maintain accurate Programme and project financial forecasts supported by a detailed and accurate cost model.

Relationship and stakeholder management

• Manage key stakeholders, keeping them up to date on project progress, risk, issues, and benefits tracking.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in SBUs, HR, Transformation and regionally to ensure effective and joined-up delivery of project goals and objectives.
• Developing and maintaining robust relationships with all parts of the business, as well as with other Programme teams (particularly PMOs), to understand what activities are planned, identify gaps in those initiatives and ensure that initiatives meet the requirements of Programme Board(s) and supporting the Programme Director in discharging their duties, as appropriate
• Maintain close relationships between other key Programmes (especially PMO Managers) underway, as well as other areas of the business, to ensure there are no overlaps in responsibilities.
• Analysis and reporting
• Ensure timely and accurate collation of management information, evaluation and major project reporting, to enable more effective and robust planning and decision-making.
• Review and monitor operational performance data to enable the identification of improved ways of working that enhance efficiency and effectiveness of delivery.
• Facilitate the creation and maintenance of Programme and project plans working with the Programme managers and team, in line with the standards in place.
• Provide regular updates to the Portfolio Office to ensure Programme activities included on the total investment plan reflect the status of the Programme.
• Identify, track and monitor cross project dependencies and ensure that intra-Programme and external dependencies are maintained on the central dependency log working closely with dependency owners.
• Facilitate the monitoring and tracking of the Programme benefits.
• Proactively monitor project progress and regular reporting to senior leadership, managing and resolving issues and initiating corrective action as they arise.

Identify, track and monitor cross project dependencies and ensure that intra-Programme and external dependencies are maintained on the central dependency log working closely with dependency owners.

Qualifications - Graduate

Role specific knowledge and experience

• Working experience in Programme Management Office
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Demonstrable experience managing end-to-end projects.
• Demonstrable experience of managing the delivery of a large project across a major part of an organisation and/or a significant geographical area
• Proven experience in managing or influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience of managing projects within charities, HM Government, or similar environments

Further Information

Pay Band - 7

Contract Type - FTC (till 30 Jun 25)

Department/Country- Transformation Programme/ India - Noida

Closing Date (Time) - 23 Feb 23 (IST -23:59)

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council\'s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email

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