Job Description

Banking Platform Programme Manager

Details
About SLC
Student Loans Company is a non-profit making Government-owned organisation set up in 1989 to provide loans and grants to students in universities and colleges in the UK. We are responsible, in partnership with Local Authorities in England and Wales, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, the Education and Library boards in Northern Ireland, the Higher Education Institutions and HM Revenue & Customs, for student support delivery in the UK.
SLC continuously delivers change projects to support our customers and stakeholders needs, which regularly includes the development and introduction of new products and services. In addition, we are currently undertaking an exciting Transformation programme to help us achieve our vision, which is to become a digital, customer focused centre of excellence.
Job Purpose / General Characteristics
The role holder would be a high-performing IT Senior Programme Manager.
The Banking Platform Programme Manager is responsible for managing and successfully delivering enhancements and stakeholder sponsored changes (as part of larger projects and programmes) to the SLCs Core Banking platform and assoictaed systems.
Reporting to the Head of Programme Management, the Banking Platform Programme Manager will design and establish project, programme and portfollio management arrangements that provide assurance of operational delivery to the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) / Head of Banking Platform.
They will manage the delivery and implementation of the project (s) deliverables to meet the defined requirements of the project stakeholders. They will be the primary contact with Project managers, to ensure that the projects deliverables and outcomes are aligned to customer requirements. They will manage requirements delivery and reporting needs and coordination of resource to ensure quality outputs are delivered to the agreed timetable and within its agreed budget. Additionally they will manage platform continuous improvements, BAU work and service enhancements, working with the business to prioritise these.
Responsibilities
§  Leading teams of technical and business resources to deliver complex technology solutions in support of key product initiatives by working closely with architects and engineers in a multi platform environment
§  Ensure overall integrity of the Banking Platform portfolio of change (including BAU work and small service enhancements) and its interfaces with other programmes/projects
§  Develop and maintain a detailed Portfolio/Programme plan – ensuring alignment to SLC strategic view - monitoring deliverables and tracking progress; detailing key milestones, dependencies and critical path where appropriate. Tracking and reporting on the current portfolio/programme deliverables and confirming the entry of pipeline work into the future portfolio;
§  Implementation of the agreed portfolio of changes to the banking platform, including management of both the dependencies and the interfaces between projects and programmes across the portfolio;
§  Produce a Portfolio/Programme resource strategy and plan;
§  Monitor and manage the banking platform change / project budget, risks, issues and /opportunities to satisfactory resolution;
§  Ensure delivery of programme / portfolio / project outputs is to the appropriate quality standard, on time and within budget, in accordance with the plan through monthly monitoring;
§  Manage third party contributions to Portfolio/Programmes/Projects as appropriate;
§  Ensuring effective management of any changes impacting Programme/Portfolio/Project delivery are tracked through controlled change process;
§  Report on programme/portfolio/project progress through agreed reporting lines, at agreed intervals, via Highlight reports, portfolio/programme/project board and corporate updates;
§  To play an active role within a recognised ‘centre of excellence’ in all aspects of programme, portfolio and project management;
§  Comply with procurement competitive tendering processes, for all projects.
§  Recruit, manage, develop and motivate a team of individuals to meet the requirements of the business and customers, ensuring they are aware of and capable of delivering their accountabilities to support bankning platform service delivery.
§  Line manage a team of PPM resources and contribute to the talent management and development agenda within the Programme Management Function to ensure programmes and interventions are in place to develop the skills and abilities of the team’s resources.
§  Develop a team of highly skilled, knowledgeable and motivated PPM practitioners, with agile skills capable of delivering to a high standard.
§  Build and maintain relationships with senior individuals internally, plus external partners, stakeholders, suppliers and other relevant bodies to ensure effective communications, to enhance SLC’s abilities to deliver its objectives, to provide advice on behalf of SLC and to influence decision-making processes.
§  Plan and manage technical quality assurance activities in complex areas to ensure quality standards are maintained and to facilitate the improvement of products and services.
§  Maintain knowledge of regulatory and legal requirements relevant to the role, supporting and promoting compliance with those requirements within the role and the business.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
§  Degree in computer science, computer engineering, or other technical discipline, or equivalent work experience, is preferred;
§  Strong Technical Programme / Project Management experience with evidence of successful and extensive technical programme / large project delivery in an IT and Business environment;
§  Deep understanding of all aspects of software development and delivery lifecycles with a demonstrable track record of increasing responsibility;
§  MSP and Prince 2 qualified with proven track record of applying project management methodologies and practices in a complex technical project delivery environment;
·  Ability to engage with technical staff and suppliers to define the best systems to achieve business/user objectives;
§  Experience and practical knowledge of Agile delivery techniques within IT services
§  Experience of quality assurance and change management;
§  Excellent leadership and management skills with ability to broker and communicate resolutions for areas of project contention;
§  Ability to build relationships by communicating, influencing and negotiating effectively with programme/project stakeholders and sponsors;
§  Good commercial understanding including demonstrable external contract management experience, and experience of managing and delivering large procurement exercises,
§  Financial knowledge including understanding of ledgers, accounting structures, double entry book keeping ?
§  Ability to manage complex plans and cross-portfolio dependencies;
§  Experience managing large programme and project budgets and reporting
§  Excellent communication skills with ability to effectively communicate across third parties and technical and business product managers
§  Excellent written/verbal communication and presentation skills with experience of reporting at Exec level;
§  Experience in clarifying objectives, dealing with ambiguity/under-defined problems, advocating for simplification, and influencing teams; and
§  Excellent MS Office suite knowledge, including PowerPoint and MS Project.