At a Glance
- Tasks: Coordinate and support a major Oracle ERP implementation programme for Dorset Council.
- Company: Join Connect2Dorset, a trusted partner of Dorset Council, focused on ethical recruitment.
- Benefits: Earn £500 a day with a hybrid work model and immediate start.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic and supportive environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a pivotal transformation project that makes a real difference in local governance.
- Qualifications: Experience in project coordination and strong organisational skills are essential.
6-Month Fixed-Term Contract / Interim Assignment
Reporting to: Transformation Manager
Service: Transformation Management Office
Hybrid 2 days in Dorchester
Outside IR35 £500 a day
Immediate start
Full Time
About Connect2Dorset
Connect2Dorset is the managed service recruitment partner to Dorset Council, providing temporary, contract, and interim opportunities across the organisation. Built on values of being ethical, trustworthy, and caring, our profits are reinvested back into our Local Authority shareholders.
Opportunity
Dorset Council is seeking an experienced Programme Officer to provide hands-on programme coordination and project support for a major Oracle ERP implementation programme. This is a critical interim role supporting programme delivery during a pivotal phase of implementation. The successful candidate will work alongside the Transformation Manager, ERP Delivery Lead, business workstream leads and strategic delivery partners to strengthen programme controls, coordinate governance activity, maintain delivery reporting, and support the successful progression of the programme through build, testing, readiness and implementation activities.
The role will act as a central point of coordination across the programme, helping ensure decisions, actions, risks and dependencies are effectively tracked and managed.
Key Purpose of the Role
To provide day-to-day programme coordination for Dorset Council's ERP Programme, ensuring that plans, risks, actions, dependencies, decisions and reporting information are maintained accurately and consistently, and that governance activities are effectively supported to enable successful programme delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Support coordination of day-to-day ERP programme activity across all workstreams.
- Maintain programme plans, milestones, action trackers, dependency logs, risk registers and decision logs.
- Monitor progress against agreed plans and proactively follow up outstanding actions and deliverables.
- Coordinate programme reporting, dashboards and progress updates for governance forums and leadership groups.
- Work closely with business workstream leads across Finance, Procurement, HR, Payroll, Talent, Data, Technical and Reporting.
- Support programme governance, ensuring meetings are organised, papers are prepared, actions are captured and decisions are recorded and tracked.
- Coordinate and maintain programme documentation, ensuring information is current, accessible and compliant with agreed standards.
- Support business readiness, stakeholder engagement, communications and adoption activities across the programme.
- Assist with the coordination of testing, training, data quality and data cleansing activities where required.
- Work constructively with Oracle, Mastek and internal technical teams to support programme coordination.
- Produce high-quality reports, presentations, meeting notes and briefing materials for a variety of audiences.
- Support the collection and maintenance of evidence relating to programme progress, readiness and benefits.
- Ensure programme information is accurate, auditable and maintained in accordance with council information governance requirements.
- Provide delivery confidence through strong organisation, attention to detail, proactive communication and effective follow-through.
Essential Experience
We are looking for an individual who can quickly establish credibility, work independently and maintain excellent organisation within a complex programme environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Experience working within a project, programme or transformation delivery environment.
- Experience maintaining project plans, risks, issues, actions, dependencies and governance documentation.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills, with excellent attention to detail.
- Experience producing reports, presentations, meeting papers and management information.
- Experience supporting senior governance forums, programme boards or project meetings.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
- Experience coordinating multiple workstreams and managing competing priorities.
- Ability to analyse information and present it clearly and accurately.
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to follow up actions and challenge constructively where required.
- Experience of Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Word and SharePoint.
- Knowledge of project and programme management principles and controls.
- Ability to work proactively, use initiative and maintain momentum in a fast-paced delivery environment.
- Commitment to maintaining accurate records and high-quality programme information.
Highly Desirable
- Local government experience.
- Experience supporting ERP, Finance, HR, Payroll or technology-enabled transformation programmes.
- Oracle Cloud implementation experience.
- Experience working with systems integrators and delivery partners.
- Experience supporting programmes moving through design, build, testing, readiness and implementation phases.
- Experience using project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Project for the Web, Visio or Miro.
- Knowledge of benefits management, change management and transformation governance approaches.
- Relevant project management qualification such as APM, PRINCE2 or equivalent.
Personal Style
We are looking for a highly organised and proactive project officer who is collaborative, dependable and outcome-focused. The successful candidate will be comfortable working across multiple workstreams, building strong relationships, maintaining programme discipline and ensuring key actions are followed through to completion. The role requires someone who can quickly identify gaps in information, coordinate activity effectively, maintain high-quality programme controls and support Dorset Council in maintaining confidence and momentum across one of its most significant transformation programmes.
Connect2Dorset is a trading style of Dorset & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Dorset Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Dorset is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.
ERP Programme Officer employer: Connect2Dorset
Connect2Dorset is an exceptional employer that prioritises ethical practices and community impact, making it a rewarding place to work. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, team members are encouraged to thrive in a supportive environment while contributing to meaningful projects within the local authority. The opportunity to lead significant transformation initiatives in the picturesque setting of Dorchester adds unique value to this role, fostering both professional and personal fulfilment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land ERP Programme Officer
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Connect2Dorset. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Connect2Dorset.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Connect2Dorset.
We think you need these skills to ace ERP Programme Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Connect2Dorset and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Connect2Dorset
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Connect2Dorset will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Connect2Dorset.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Connect2Dorset.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Connect2Dorset. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
