Senior Project Manager - Manchester, United Kingdom - AQA Recruiting

Description

At AQA, we're committed to advancing education and we're committed to our people.

As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over seven million GCSEs and A-levels each year and it's our people who make this happen.

Senior Project Manager
Permanent
Smart Hybrid Working
Are you an experienced Project Manager looking for development, variety, challenge and progression?

As a Senior Project Manager in AQA you will lead on a variety of people, process and technology projects, typically from 6 months to 2 years in duration and whilst initially you will initially be assigned to a core strategic programme you may work on multiple projects depending on scale and business priorities.

You will be able to apply your extensive Project Management skills to a wide range of outcome focussed change initiatives with the customer always in mind.

You will be working with a variety of stakeholders up to executive and senior leadership and be joining a supportive, collaborative, team of like-minded Programme and Project Management professionals who are at the heart of delivering an ambitious portfolio of change across the business.

You will line manage a small team of Project Managers, acting as a role model in Project Management disciplines whilst providing direction, coaching and performance management support as well as helping resolve day to day escalations on their projects.

You will have access from day one to an i ncredible pension scheme with employee and employer contributions jointly totalling, up to 18.25 days annual leave allowance rising with service to 30 plus Bank Holidays and office closure over the Christmas period.

The whole team are encouraged to work on their own development , studying towards something of personal interest and specific to project management with access to an incredible Learning Management System and tailored courses.

AQA work in a smart hybrid way.

This team are in the office for a minimum of two days per week or as business dictates - meetings are more productive in person, so you will need to live within a commutable distance of the Manchester office.

You will also benefit from Private Medical Insurance and a Health Care Cash Reward Plan as well a paid volunteering days , newly refurbished office spaces with discounted eateries, a gym , a games room and a yoga studio.

Supporting the delivery of a new strategy using your experience of both Agile and Waterfall project methodologies, you will ensure clarity and accuracy whilst asking the right challenging questions.

Producing business cases, project plans and making accurate, timely decisions.
Coaching and motivating project teams through matrix management, delivering support, driving best practice, delivering skills and ensuring learnings are captured
A track record in developing talent, performance management and coaching
You will enjoy sharing the skills you have developed and learned through your Project Management qualifications .

Please upload your most recent CV with a cover letter detailing your skills and experience for this Project Manager role.

As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over seven million GCSEs and A-levels each year and it's our people who make this happen.

Senior Project Manager
Permanent
Smart Hybrid Working
Are you an experienced Project Manager looking for development, variety, challenge and progression?

As a Senior Project Manager in AQA you will lead on a variety of people, process and technology projects, typically from 6 months to 2 years in duration and whilst initially you will initially be assigned to a core strategic programme you may work on multiple projects depending on scale and business priorities.

You will be able to apply your extensive Project Management skills to a wide range of outcome focussed change initiatives with the customer always in mind.

You will be working with a variety of stakeholders up to executive and senior leadership and be joining a supportive, collaborative, team of like-minded Programme and Project Management professionals who are at the heart of delivering an ambitious portfolio of change across the business.

You will line manage a small team of Project Managers, acting as a role model in Project Management disciplines whilst providing direction, coaching and performance management support as well as helping resolve day to day escalations on their projects.

You will have access from day one to an i ncredible pension scheme with employee and employer contributions jointly totalling, up to 18.25 days annual leave allowance rising with service to 30 plus Bank Holidays and office closure over the Christmas period.

The whole team are encouraged to work on their own development , studying towards something of personal interest and specific to project management with access to an incredible Learning Management System and tailored courses.

AQA work in a smart hybrid way.

This team are in the office for a minimum of two days per week or as business dictates - meetings are more productive in person, so you will need to live within a commutable distance of the Manchester office.

You will also benefit from Private Medical Insurance and a Health Care Cash Reward Plan as well a paid volunteering days , newly refurbished office spaces with discounted eateries, a gym , a games room and a yoga studio.

Supporting the delivery of a new strategy using your experience of both Agile and Waterfall project methodologies, you will ensure clarity and accuracy whilst asking the right challenging questions.

Producing business cases, project plans and making accurate, timely decisions.
Coaching and motivating project teams through matrix management, delivering support, driving best practice, delivering skills and ensuring learnings are captured
A track record in developing talent, performance management and coaching
You will enjoy sharing the skills you have developed and learned through your Project Management qualifications .

Please upload your most recent CV with a cover letter detailing your skills and experience for this Project Manager role.

To lead the delivery of Large Projects and/or multiple medium/small projects in the Projects and Programmes Portfolios.

The role of the Senior Project Manager is to work with the Stakeholders, Delivery teams, and AQA leadership and management teams to ensure that all activities in the overall Project Plan are delivered to time and quality.

To track and report project delivery and progress. To identify and manage dependencies, risks and issues.

To hold all project members to account for their areas of the Project and to work in a matrix-managed environment with competing change needs and driversLandscape:

The Senior Project Manager will have line management responsibility and will report into the Head of Projects in the Programmes & Project Management team and is one of the teams that make up the FCS Business Change Hub.

This role will have regular interaction with teams across AQA including project representatives, senior leaders, and FCS and business change hub colleagues.

The Senior Project Manager may also work with third party consultants and suppliers where the nature of the project requires such support.

Develop, maintain and track progress of the Projects, ensuring key milestones are identified and communicated to key stakeholders.

Work with the Programme, Delivery and AQA leadership teams to ensure the delivery of key project milestones to time and quality, and within the project budget.

Support the Programme, Delivery and AQA leadership teams in developing a critical path of key activities, providing planning support and identifying and managing dependencies across the plans.

Manage the change risk log and associated reporting, working with work-stream leads to identify and mitigate risks accordingly.
Participate in the strategic development of the Programmes and Projects teams.
KnowledgeGeneral understanding of the Projects and Programmes environment
An excellent understanding of project methodologies and tools
Good understanding of change management methodologies
Project management qualification
Change management qualification
Strong people management skills with the ability to inspire and motivate team members and other colleagues to meet deliverables and adhere to agreed processes and ways of working
Able to solve problems and unblock challenges that may hinder project progress
Able to coach project members in sound project discipline without over burdensome project theory and models
Assertive and resilient to be able to challenge project members and stakeholders when they are not delivering on their accountabilities
Data savvy and able to analyse, interpret and report back complex information in a meaningful way
Delivering business change programmes and/or large projects
Involvement in target operating model implementation programmes

AQA is an independent charity that sets and marks over half of all GCSEs and A-levels in the UK every year.

Our purpose is to advance education by helping students and teachers to realise their potential.

To help drive these ambitions, AQA invests in the development of its people by offering a range of professional development and learning opportunities leading to over 50% of our permanent roles being filled internally.

Please note that Faye will not be able to assist you with enquiries regarding Temporary vacancies or non-recruitment enquiries.

If you have query regarding Temporary vacancies, please contact:

Hybrid Working
We're operating a hybrid working model. This allows for our colleagues to work from two days a week in one of our offices across England.

AQA is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes people unique.

Please note that due to the confidential nature of our work, we are unable to employ people for our temporary roles who are currently a candidate for Key Stage 4 and 5 public examinations.

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