project manager Edinburgh, Scotland
Job description
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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Project Manager
18-month FTC
Edinburgh/Hybrid
E3 Grade £42,090 - £48,996
Everything we do at the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) aims to create the right environment for colleges and universities to thrive individually and collectively.
The Scottish Funding Council is Scotland’s tertiary education and research authority. Our ambition is to make Scotland an outstanding place to learn, educate, research, and innovate – now and for the future. So, naturally, we have a clear focus on recruiting the best people and developing them throughout their career.
We invest around £2 billion every year, and our funding enables colleges and universities to provide life-changing opportunities for over half a million people.
We’re not only looking for the best people to come and work for us, but also people who will connect with our guiding principles which include working in partnership, championing diversity, and supporting sustainability for future generations.
By fostering our guiding principles, we are very proud of the inclusive working environment that we have created. We are committed to attracting people of all backgrounds: we want our colleague base to reflect the people and communities that we serve.
Job Summary
To lead the project management of the College Infrastructure Strategy (CIS) delivery to achieve its strategic goals. This is a key role to the success of the strategy delivery. The Project Manager will oversee and report progress on delivery of the strategy’s planned work programmes on a day-to-day basis, supporting the Finance and Funding Directorate’s Senior Management, and managing systems and processes required to ensure successful delivery in a high-paced environment.
On appointment the post will be Project Manager for the implementation of the CIS. One of the key areas of responsibility for this post is communicating with SFC colleagues across all directorates and college leaders to ensure positive engagement with and be responsive to the CIS delivery plan, and to the SFC consultancy support work plans. This will require the role holder to build and maintain good working relationships with SFC colleagues across all directorates, the SFC consultancy support team, Colleges Scotland, college leaders responsible for their infrastructure and other government bodies.
Job description
Key Responsibilities
- Further develop and maintain the College Infrastructure Strategy (CIS) delivery plan, exercising change control when appropriate to ensure that agreed project timescales are adhered to.
- Monitor and report progress against the CIS delivery plan, to ensure delivery on time, to budget and identify and actively manage project interdependencies.
- Manage the consultants’ agreed work programme, be SFC key contact for the consultants, ensuring their effective delivery and engagement with the college sector.
- Working effectively with SFC colleagues across all directorates on college estate policy and funding.
- Identify and manage problems, risks and issues which may affect the success of the delivery programme, initiating or escalating corrective action as appropriate.
- Report progress against the strategy delivery plan to SFC management and relevant SFC committees and Board and contribute to reports to the relevant project meetings and external stakeholders, including Scottish Government.
- Maintain awareness of national policy agenda that influences the successful delivery of the CIS
- Prepare and take responsibility for the management and maintenance of the CIS delivery plan risk register.
Person specification
It is important through your CV / Cover Letter that you give evidence of proven experience of each of the following essential criteria:
- Substantial experience of delivering projects, ideally with some experience of public sector projects and/or of working with estate management, construction or infrastructure/build environment organisations or projects.
- Well-developed knowledge of techniques for planning, monitoring and controlling projects using project management methods such as PRINCE2, APMP, PMP or equivalent methodologies.
- Demonstrable ability to deliver successful projects, preferably within a strategic delivery/industry change programme.
- Stakeholder management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams and stakeholders.
- Effective analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to inform decisions, this could include budgeting and expenditure reporting.
- Confident and competent in a range of relevant IT applications, in particular Microsoft Office applications including MS Project and Visio.
- Experience of procurement and commissioning processes including negotiation with 3rd parties is not essential but would be an advantage.
Additional information
Location
SFC offers hybrid working for its employees. This means that whilst the role is based at our Edinburgh office, there is substantial opportunity to work from home most of the time. As a rule of thumb SFC expects that a minimum of three days a month in the office (on average) will achieve the benefits of its hybrid approach, however it is for the employee and their line manager to agree the balance between home and workplace working - determined primarily by business need. Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.
Benefits
Key Rewards and Benefits
- Normal full-time hours of work are 35 per week. We will consider flexible working arrangements. A flexi-time system is in operation.
- Annual leave entitlement of 26.5 days pro-rata, rising to 30 days pro-rata after 4 years’ continuous service. Public and privilege holiday entitlement of 11.5 days pro-rata.
- A flexible approach to hybrid working, giving you flexibility to work from home for some of the time while also maintaining regular in-person contact with colleagues.
- Annual pay review: approved within the framework of the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy and negotiated with our recognised trade union, Unite. Salaries are reviewed annually in April for employees who commence employment prior to 1 October in the preceding year.
- Eligibility to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme. With its low member contribution rates and generous employer contributions, this gives you a secure, inflation-proof pension for life with no investment uncertainty. Details of contribution rates together with further details of the pension benefits are available on the Civil Service Pensions website. There is also the option of a Partnership pension account.
- Support for continuous professional development.
- Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Special Leave (paid and unpaid), a contribution to learning outside work through our Lifelong Learning Fund, free winter flu vaccination, and access to occupational health support.
- Support for travel to and from work, including a salary sacrifice cycle loan scheme, cycle storage and shower facilities, an interest-free loan for bus or rail season tickets and free office car parking for employees on a first-come basis.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter. The selection panel will use this evidence to assess your application against the selection criteria in the Person Specification section above. It is not mandatory to provide a cover letter but it can be beneficial to provide further evidence of your suitability against the essential skills. In your CV please also set out your educational and professional qualifications, and career history, with key responsibilities, dates and achievements. Please provide reasons for any gaps.
Expected Timeline:
The Closing date for applications is Sunday 13th August, unfortunately late application cannot be considered.
The selection panel will assess your application by considering the evidence you have provided in your CV / Cover Letter. Please ensure your application demonstrates how you meet the criteria in the Person Specification for the role. The selection panel will then select the shortlist of candidates to take forward to interview stage.
Panel sift is due to take place Wednesday 16th August
Interviews are due to take place week commencing 21st August. We may be able to provide further flexibility based on your availability.
Please note, these dates could be subject to change.
Pre-Employment Checks
As part of our pre-employment process, we will ask you to provide relevant documentation to show that you are eligible to work in the UK and a Basic Disclosure Scotland certificate. You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this role; we do not offer sponsorships. We also take up references as part of this process. Expenses will be reimbursed for Basic Disclosure check. This will only be requested if you are appointed into the role.
Disability Confidence
If you need any adjustments to support your application, such as information in alternative formats, please contact us and we’ll do everything we can to help. If you’re eligible under the Disability Confident Scheme please give details when prompted at the appropriate stage in the online application process.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
