Programme Manager

• NEC Software Solutions is headquartered in the UK and operates around the world.
• We employ more than 3,000 people in six countries, building software and services to get our customers better outcomes.
• We traded as Northgate Public Services until 1 July 2021 when we rebranded to align with our owners, NEC. Most of our subsidiary companies did too (APD Communications, i2N, EMIS Care and Charter Systems) but our service design agency still trades as Snook.
• We’ve been part of global tech company NEC Corporation since January 2018.

Find out more about our business on the Corporate Responsibility and Performance pages.

The Programme Manager will be responsible for the successful delivery of a significant CONNECT Programme's, managing and improving the P&L including change and ensuring the success of the Programme.

This will include the management and control of all activities within the Programme as follows:

• Core Development Plan,
• Improvement and Enhancement Plan,
• Innovation Sub-Programme,
• Force Implementation Plans,
• Service Improvement Plan
• Service Delivery
• The Programme Director has a senior leadership role within the Safety business.

• The reporting line will be to the Operations Director.

The Programme Manager will be responsible for the success of the Programme both internally, in terms of the highest level of profitability commensurate with optimal client satisfaction within the operating framework defined by the contract.  The main responsibilities of the role are as follows:

Stakeholder Management

Build strong relationships with:

Forces Senior Stakeholders

Internal resource line managers within the Safety business

Internal resource line managers within the central IR function

Internal commercial and finance resources as they apply to the client

P&L Management

Plan the budget and integrate this into CONNECT strategic planning process

Reforecast the programme revenue, COS, COD, Billing and Cash Collection in accordance with the NEC processes, seeking to meet or exceed the budget / forecast commitments

Ensure that Billing expectations and the forward schedule of payments are agreed with the appropriate AMO responsible staff and meet the forecast

Ensure that changes to billing and cash collection are managed internally and externally

Monitor the Change Control process, maximising the opportunities for P&L enhancement and improvements in the CONNECT product as well as customer satisfaction.

Contract Management

Manage, in conjunction with internal commercial and executive support, any contractual issues that arise, negotiating to minimise impact on the overall programme and to lead to improved relationships when possible, seeking to develop fair outcomes on a win-win basis.

Change Management

Seek and management control with the programme that are sympathetic to the CONNECT platform, Provide commercial and value based leadership in negotiating appropriate charges and commercial terms.

Protect NEC commercial position appropriately and ensure the right Governance processes are in place for review and sign off,

Programme Leadership

Lead the programme level oversight of the following programme components:
Create the NEC report to the monthly Management Board
Create the NEC Report to the monthly Business Design Authority
Approve the monthly Service Management Report
Co-ordinate the creation, with the support of other internal colleagues of the MPRB report and the individual project report packs
Create the report to the NEC Board in line with NEC processes

Co-ordinate the creation, with the support of other internal colleagues of the team brief report

Lead and support the governance of the progamme through:

Maintain awareness of software delivery issues in relation to roadmap items or change control and take any decisions needed to minimise the impact on the programme.

Lead the programme level oversight of service management, particularly Major Incident Management

Monitor service delivery activities to ensure that these are optimised for client and are being given appropriate priority

Maintain awareness of any issues that arise in terms of service delivery and act as a point of escalation in terms of both client communication and technical decision making.

Attend any Major Incident calls and ensure that all areas of diagnosis are being reviewed and assessed and take any technical decisions to restore service 

Alert and brief internally on any issues likely to be escalated to executive level by the client.

Approve all Major Incident Reports

Periodically review support backlogs (including both incident and problem backlogs) and ensure that these are being managed effectively

Periodically review all design and service management documentation processes and ensure that these are being updated and maintained.

Periodically review the monitoring and alerting strategy and processes and ensure that these are optimised.

Periodically review all BCDR processes to ensure that these are optimised

Provide leadership and advice to senior stakeholders in the AMO and Forces regarding force go live implementation timelines to optimise the success of the programme.

Ensure high visibility to the Force stakeholders during any critical deployment activities and particularly during cutover decision making activities and Hypercare periods related to force go lives.

Support the maintenance of morale in the virtual team through engagement with individuals and clear and frequent updates in relation to progress and prioritisation of tasks.

Support the Pre-sales activity for CONNECT through ensuring is the best possible reference and providing appropriate support to delivery, implementation and service management discussions with prospective clients.

Qualifications, work experience:

• Educated to degree level, preferably with Masters in Business Administration or IT related equivalent, or similar qualification or experience.
• At least 10 years’ experience in a complex IT service delivery environment
• Some experience of working in collaborative consortia
• Knowledge (Languages, IT skills etc.)
• IT related Professional qualification
• Experience of building relationships at senior executive or board level, preferably in consortia with low levels of cohesion and central control.  
• Experience of delivering to demanding P&L targets and driving profit growth in complex programmes 
• Experience of providing leadership to multidisciplinary virtual teams in complex programme management situations.
• Experience of relationship building with a wide range of key stakeholders internally with an distributed business.
• Experience of the management of major incidents to successful conclusions
• Experience of utilising Programme Management methodologies, tools and techniques to optimise the success of complex programmes
• An understanding of the methods of negotiation to drive consensus in complicated decision making with multiple conflicting priorities
• Good understanding of the financial aspects of complex programmes and how to optimise these.
• Broad experience of the methods and techniques for delivering effective and persuasive presentations at senior level.
   
• Personal Skills:
• Possess the appropriate gravitas, intellect and communication skills to persuade and influence senior leaders on the client side and internally.
• An ability to grasp and apply commercial practices and principles, whilst being an effective leader to drive positive outcomes.
• Sensitive to political issues and an ability to develop win-win options or protect the NEC position as the need arises.
• Understand ethical behaviour to ensure that one’s own behaviour and that of others is consistent and aligns with the values of the organisation.
• Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organisation.
• Possess excellent Client facing skills and be an excellent communicator at many levels.
• Speak, listen and write in a clear and concise manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external Clients to meet or exceed expectations within the organisational constraints.
• Establish, build and maintain positive, effective working relationships, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organisation.
• Possess a positive work ethic, working collaboratively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems and make decisions that enhance organisational effectiveness.
• Be creative and innovative by developing new and unique ways to improve the operations of the organisation and to create new opportunities.

Employees of NEC are entitled to the following Company funded benefits:

Single Private Medical Cover (with the option to select family cover at an additional cost)

25 days paid holiday (includes 3 company nominated days) with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days

4 x basic salary life assurance cover

A Group Pension Plan with fantastic employer contributions

A selection of tax efficient flexible benefits to suit your individual needs

The role offers a competitive salary.

OTHER INFORMATION

Candidates must be able to demonstrate a pre-existing right to work and travel within the UK. Documentary evidence will be required.

All offers are subject to satisfactory vetting and reference checks. Depending on the nature of the role a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check may also be required.

NEC is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from all communities.