Project Manager (Strategy)

Our client Scottish Power are looking for a Project Manager (Strategy) to join their team in Glasgow (hybrid 3 days a week at the office).

It is an inside IR35 contract role approved for 12 months paying competitive rates.

The Architecture & Strategy Team within Business Transformation require a dedicated Project Manager to own, co-ordinate, and manage the portfolio of strategic projects within their area. This team currently have 20 in-flight projects and a backlog of 70 projects which need co-ordinated and managed to ensure that outcomes are achieved in line with the business’s strategic objectives for digitalisation.

The Strategy & Architecture Project Manager is a key role with accountability of defining and managing the portfolio of digital IT projects included in SPEN’s RIIO-2 business plans and interlocks across the SPEN Business, UKIT and CoE stakeholders to drive completion of assigned tasks and actions.

This will involve driving progress across the strategy project lifecycle in line with the business transformation vision and the business unit’s needs from defining and managing business strategic roadmaps, through to leading projects from the concept stage until they are fully scoped, architected and handed over to the relevant SPEN delivery team.

• Work with business leads, IT leads and system architects to prioritise projects on the SPEN digital roadmap to determine appropriate strategic approach to programme implementation by the delivery teams.
• Ensure strategic requirements are reflected in design and procurement of new IT solutions
• Manage a portfolio view of all projects within a defined area of the overall strategy & architecture roadmap, tracking and reporting on current status, planned next steps and prioritisation.
• Identify, plan, and manage the interdependencies between workstreams and other Transformation projects.
• Manage the cross-programme risks and put mitigating actions in place
• Coach, mentor, support and provide direction to members of the strategy team and relevant delivery leads.
• Ensure maintenance of a detailed programme plan and suitable reporting to ensure stakeholders are adequately informed of programme delivery status.
• Support the strategic & technical process manager in the development of strategic programmes and projects within the Business Transformation Directorate, ensuring alignment with the SP Energy Networks vision and objectives.
• Monitor and report on the programme performance, progress, and outcomes, using appropriate tools and techniques to provide accurate and timely information to the strategy & architecture lead and Business Transformation director.
• Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation within the programme and across the Business Transformation Directorate.
• Engage and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including senior management, business functions, customers, regulators, and suppliers, to ensure effective communication and stakeholder management.
• Organise and run workshops to identify and capture business requirements
• Work with IT leads and systems architects to review solution options, agree and document preferred solution and strategic alignment
• Work with IT leads to progress projects on the strategic roadmap through the internal governance and approval forums.
• Input progress of strategic projects into regular regulatory requirements including the Digital Strategy and Action Plan updates.

The post holder will be required to

• Manage multiple projects and programmes within the strategy & architecture portfolio, having responsibility for maintaining alignment with the overall business transformation vision and objectives.
• Lead and coordinate multiple business contacts, architects, and other stakeholders in agreeing preferred technical solutions to be implemented for items on the strategy & architecture roadmap, by providing guidance, support, and feedback.
• Communicate effectively with senior management, sponsors, customers, and other external parties, reporting on progress, issues, and achievements
• Contribute to the development and improvement of the strategy & architecture function, processes, and standards, ensuring best practices are adopted
• Grow and develop awareness of IT and organisational strategy at Global and local levels.
• Develop and nurture broad stakeholder relationships across UK IT, UK Business, and wider Iberdrola Group.
• Manage programme delivery risks and their mitigations.

Required:

• Complex Programme Management: experience managing large programmes of work spanning multiple business functions. Ability to manage many stakeholders, dynamic project components, critical path, driving resolution of open issues / risks, and addressing areas of contention / concern.
• Delivery Partnership: comfortable working together with external delivery partners and suppliers with a ‘one-team’ mindset.
• Communication: excellent communication and reporting skills up to Director level coupled with good influencing and negotiating skills.
• Collaboration: ability to influence and collaborate at an executive and senior management level across SPEN and other key external stakeholders.
• Leadership: experience of leading a multi-disciplined team, leveraging skills and experience to enable effective delivery of the overall programme.
• Behaviours: highly motivated and positive under pressure with the ability to support, motivate and direct the team.
• Technical: broad technical knowledge covering the main technologies included in the IT estate. Expert knowledge of IT systems delivery and the project life cycle and the ability to operate an IT portfolio.
• Customer focus: ability to balance technical / IT skills with service needs to define a good quality solution on time that meets all stakeholder needs and roadmap milestones
• Qualifications: PRINCE2, APM or equivalent qualifications desirable HND or Degree level qualification change management experience (Prosci ADKAR awareness preferable).
• Delivery Experience: Experience delivering across multiple teams in a multi-vendor environment.

Required:

• Ability to estimate and plan programme activities and recognise constraints, issues, inter-dependencies, and relative priorities within and outside of areas of control.
• Ability to organise and obtain business demand using appropriate influencing and negotiating skills to identify optimal outcomes.
• Recognise and manage expectations of stakeholder groups such as senior business management, internal IT and SPEN business groups to ensure efficient delivery of IT roadmap.
• Devise and present various options with the pros and cons of each one, to facilitate a decision by the business and best manage risks and delivery.
• Ability to manage and balance workload across the programme consisting of multiple workstreams.
• Decisive mindset when dealing with inter-project matters relating to progress, risks, and issues.
• Manage conflicting requirements between different workstreams within the programme.

Internal

• Take direction from and inform Business Sponsors, Business Transformation Director and Head of Strategy & Architecture to fulfil the demands of the role.
• Engage as required with management and staff within SPEN, UKIT and Corporate business units to drive overall programme delivery.
• Team player with excellent inter-personal and communicative skills.
• Develop trusted and valued enduring relationships with Stakeholders and Product Owners.
• Build strong relationships with closely linked departments who will work in collaboration to define solutions as part of the IT roadmap

External
• Engage with potential IT solution suppliers to understand suitability of products to meet business and strategic requirements linked to items on the strategy & architecture portfolio

Entry Qualification:
• Recognised Project/Programme Management qualification
• Recognised Change Management qualification

Entry Experience:
• Experience of IT systems portfolio management
• Extensive experience of IT systems, preferably in a utility environment.
• Ability to coordinate a wide range of business requirements into a technology plan.
• Strong knowledge of the energy sector and its challenges and opportunities
• Experience of managing and leading long and short term deliverables.
• Knowledge of the regulatory environment which SPEN operates in.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office applications and project management tools

Other:

Desirable behaviours:

• Willingness to travel to other SP sites