Head of Project Delivery

Job Introduction

Core Function for Delivery of Projects. This role must oversee effective project management to time, cost and quality. Included in this is oversight of an effective Project/Portfolio Management Office function containing project controls to support Project Management in reporting, schedule and planning, project risk management, and establishing consistent project governance and performance standards. Responsibility for managing the Sales and Operational Planning process (supply and demand forecasting) and supporting delivery resource management.

Main Responsibilities

ACCOUNTABILTIES 

• Accountable for Delivery of Customer and Internal projects to cost, time and quality.
• Accountable for the NNL Delivery Performance Process, including the integration of the process with other NNL processes at Corporate and Functional level and monitoring compliance / assuring adherence to the process.
• Accountable for project, portfolio and programme risk management during delivery
• Accountable for implementing Continuous Improvement including Lessons Learnt via sponsorship of change, setting and reinforcing standards, and capability development.
• Accountable for the project control functions to underpin consistent project management standards, project delivery governance, and provide appropriate project controls for key programmes, customer portfolios, and projects.
• Owns, manages and governs the Sales and Operational Planning Process for NNL. Management of the data and meeting oversight to enable decision making on prioritisation of projects and resources in delivery, and to enable sustainable future capability planning.
• Accountable for the collating, production, analysis, interrogation, oversight and presenting of Management Information to enable NNL Performance Management.
• Accountable for the line management and capability development of the Project Management and Project Control functions within NNL.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Responsible for representing NNL as appropriate to external customers in discussions about delivery process, assurance and improvements.
• Responsible for assisting the Chief Customer Officer in preparing, presenting and interpreting reports and communications for Executive Leadership and Board.
• Standing member of the monthly NNL Delivery Meeting at which the senior leadership across the business come together to address delivery performance and prioritisation issues.
• Review, formulate, recommend, and implement procedures and processes within the Project Management Authority (PMA) and across NNL Delivery.

The Ideal Candidate

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

• Experience and knowledge of owning and managing Project Delivery comprising multiple and dynamic projects to different customers.
• Experience and knowledge of Project Control functions as applied to Programmes, Portfolios and Projects.
• Experience of sponsoring and managing large strategic projects end to end.
• Experience of business planning processes to align current delivery to longer-term business outcomes.
• Experience of line management of a tiered team (escalation and cascade processes)
• Leadership of change within a function
• Experience of safety leadership and behavioural awareness
• Responsible for Scope, plan, and execute multiple, often quick-turnaround projects and analyses with minimal outside assistance.
• Work with appropriate stakeholders, including outside parties, to undertake analyses and present findings to CCO or CEO
• Being an active leader in the Directorate, taking responsibility for a corporate activity that will keep motivation high and capability available.

Skills & Behaviours

• Able to drive change in a live, dynamic environment that is aligned to business need
• Excellent communication skills are paramount, as is the ability to demonstrate managerial courage by challenging the status quo in an open, honest and unthreatening manner
• Ability to build relationships across the business in a matrix working environment to enable effective working
• Skills in conflict management and mediation
• Chairing and facilitation skills
• Ability to coach and develop people a significant advantage
• Able to prepare and present clear, logical presentation material and business cases
• Flexible approach and adaptable to change

About The Company

Grounded in robust science and decades of experience, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the authoritative voice in the UK and beyond for technological development within the nuclear power sector.

Our unparalleled understanding of the science, challenges and opportunities makes us an unrivalled authority and partner in the field, providing experts, technologies, and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.

Harnessing potential technologies and translating them into to industry-ready solutions means our pioneering approach spearheads international improvement and technological progress.

We work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with our integrated micro drilling technology, or as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems for spacecraft, based on radioactive materials.