Assistant Head of IT Projects in London

The Assistant Head of IT Projects is responsible for the strategic management, planning, and control of half of IT Project delivery throughout the organisation, fulfilled through a team of professional IT project specialists. The role involves working in close liaison with departments and units throughout the organisation, ensuring that the organisation gains maximum benefit from its investment in information technology. The Assistant Head of IT Projects will ensure that projects support and enhance the organisation's mission.

The Assistant Head of IT Projects will develop, implement and maintain policies and procedures for administering IT projects based on PRINCE2. They will direct and control the vendors and contractors who are vital to IT Project delivery. The organisation is geographically dispersed and has approximately 7,000 IT users across approximately 900 locations.

Key working relationships:

• Senior leaders across the organisation of IT Projects
• External suppliers and out-tasked service providers
• IT Department Units

People management:

The direct reports are typically 2-3 permanent staff. During annual portfolio planning, 1–2 additional fixed-term or contract specialists are brought in. The number of external consultants varies depending on the programme or project needs. The role also involves managing out-tasked service providers and coordinating tasks with staff outside the immediate team.

Operating budget: Up to £2 million per annum

You will…

• In collaboration with the Head of IT Projects, define the vision and set and implement the strategy for IT Projects within the UK & Ireland (UKI) Territory, to ensure successful IT change is delivered across the organisation.
• Deliver and report on a portfolio of IT Projects and Programmes to cost, quality and time criteria – circa 100 projects per annum.
• Be responsible for ensuring that the selection of new products and vendors goes through a rigorous selection process, so that purchases meet strategic goals and provide good value for money.
• Ensure any technology changes are agreed in close collaboration with the Head of Enterprise Systems, Data & AI, Head of IT Infrastructure, Head of IT Projects, Head of IT Services and Head of IT Security, and their respective unit heads, to ensure that any service-affecting project has been understood and mitigated as required.
• Develop, implement, & ensure the maintenance of policies, procedures, documentation & associated training plans for IT Projects.
• Lead and manage the IT Projects team of employees, ensuring that both team and individual objectives are achieved, and development needs are met to optimise service delivery.
• Manage vendors & contractors, and associated budgets, to ensure uninterrupted service and value for money.
• Take a hands-on approach wherever it is needed; the team is small, the demands are high, and flexibility is key to ensure we serve the organisation.
• Develop, implement, & ensure the maintenance of ‘on-demand’ KPI’s by working with senior stakeholders to identify organisation knowledge needs, to support effective decision making at all levels.
• Be responsible for owning an issue until its resolution or until you have managed to secure a more knowledgeable owner, to ensure that all requests are resolved in accordance with their importance.

You have…

• Excellent demonstrable experience of planning, managing, and delivering IT transformation projects over a mid to long-term horizon, in a geographically diverse and multi-disciplinary organisation.
• Expert level subject matter expertise in managing, designing, implementing, supporting, developing, and improving complex IT change programmes, with the proven ability to apply that knowledge effectively within the workplace, with the drive to keep updated with all best practice developments, and influence organisational thinking.
• Demonstrable proven ability of planning with a 2-3 year time horizon.
• Demonstrable excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and presentational) with the proven ability to convey complex ideas/processes/procedures to technical & non-technical audiences, up to Board level, with the intention of influencing decision making and/or changing behaviours.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence at a senior level and develop strong, successful, collaborative, and influential working relationships at all levels of seniority within an organisation.
• Proven ability to think critically, you are a solution focused individual with demonstrable ability to analyse and improve existing processes and procedures to positively influence performance and outcomes.
• The ability to manage the continuous review and improvement of project delivery across a geographically diverse and multi-disciplinary organisation.
• Proven strong financial management skills with previous experience of managing budgets, developing spending plans, and delivering financial reporting as required.
• Proven strong experience of successfully managing employees to deliver objectives, developing and training staff and actioning performance management processes where required.
• Educated to degree level and/or with equivalent relevant practical experience and a minimum of Prince 2 Practitioner and ITIL foundation, or equivalents.
• The ability to work flexibly to deliver the requirements of your role such as evening work, weekend work, unsociable hours and occasional overnight stays for meetings and visits throughout the Territory.

You may have…

• Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector.
• A recognised Programme Management qualification such as the “Managing Successful Programmes” (MSP).