Project Manager in Castlereagh

The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service is executing a comprehensive Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Strategy (2024 – 2030), which was developed in collaboration with the Strategic Investment Board. This transformation programme focuses on modernising legacy technologies to enable the strategic use of data and build a digitally agile workforce. This will fundamentally transform the organisation's ways of working and enable the service to better serve people and communities. The Project Officer will play a key role in supporting the successful delivery of an associated project(s). The postholder will assist in planning, coordination, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring activities to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to the highest standards.

Main Roles and Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Implementation: Assist with the development and implementation of the Project Plan for the project ensuring that all objectives, targets, contractual responsibilities and obligations are met. Support the drafting of specification and requirements documents as required. Be the main point of contact for the contractor when dealing with system implementation issues e.g. design and configuration. Work with the subject matter experts on the project team to develop and implement a User Acceptance Testing (UAT) plan.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Ensure all project communication is carried out in line with the communication plan keeping internal and external stakeholders updated on project progress. Engage with internal and external stakeholders to ensure business needs, customer requirements are understood and captured in the scope, development briefs and project specifications. Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationships with external and internal stakeholders, to include; the supply chain and NIFRS colleagues.
• Governance & Data Management: Assist with preparation of the materials and attendance at regular governance meetings, such as Project Board, Programme Board, Working Groups to ensure all stakeholders remain aligned. Assist the Project Lead in the management of Risks and Issues, ensuring that any mitigating/ resolving actions have assigned action owners and are completed within agreed deadlines. Ensure that all key stakeholders are aware of the key risks and issues within the project early. Assist with the completion of any Business Case or addendum requirement to support any deviations from approvals. Responsibility for handling sensitive personal data and ensuring that the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are met.
• Finance and Budget Management: Assist the Project Lead with managing the allocated project budget in line with financial regulations, policies and procedures and corporate timescales to ensure that resources are allocated appropriately and benefits to NIFRS are maximised. Monitor spend against business case approvals, escalating to the Project Lead early where corrective action may be required.
• General Responsibilities: Provide direct cover/deputise for, represent as required and support the Project Lead. Undertake additional project work as directed by the Project Lead, using the principles of good project management. Deliver a high level of internal and external stakeholder collaboration ensuring continued & effective working relationships.

Essential Criteria:

• Possess, as a minimum, a Level 6 qualification (e.g. Degree or equivalent*) in a relevant discipline such as business management, project management, business studies, information technology, information systems, systems management, software development, software engineering AND Have a minimum 1 year relevant experience in a project support or coordination role for Digital/IT projects.
• OR Possess, as a minimum, a Level 5 qualification (e.g. HND or equivalent*) in a relevant discipline such as business management, project management, business studies, information technology, information systems, systems management, software development, software engineering AND Have a minimum 2 years relevant experience in a project support or coordination role for Digital/IT projects.

Applicants must demonstrate on their application form how the qualifications they have provided are equivalent, in level, to those qualifications requested above. They should give details of the full qualification title, the awarding body and the date awarded (the date awarded is the date on which you were admitted by the official awarding body).

Can demonstrate:

• Excellent planning and organisational skills with ability to work under pressure to achieve desired outcomes.
• The ability to develop and maintain productive, collaborative working relationships in order to advise and influence senior management.
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written); and the ability to provide timely and accurate information.
• IT literate specifically in the use of the Microsoft Office suite (including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Outlook) and Management Information Systems.

Applicants must have a full current UK/ EU driving licence and a car available for official business use, or access to a form of personal transport that will enable you to meet the requirements of the post in full.

Successful candidates may need to apply for an Access NI Certificate with Platinum Recruitment NI Ltd regardless if you already have a valid certificate. It will be a cost of between £16 - £32 depending on clearance level.