Census Operational Readiness and Cutover Manager

Census Operational Readiness and Cutover Manager Pertemps Scotland Ltd are working with our client in Edinburgh to recruit for a full time Census Operational Readiness and Cutover Manager on a temporary basis from April - October 2020 with potential extension. The main duties would be: The Census Operational Readiness and Cutover Programme Manager will lead the delivery of the Companies Operational Readiness and Cutover work streams for Census 2021. The role will report to the Director of Census Operations and work collaboratively as part of the Programme Team. The role will provide oversight and direction / guidance to a team of multi-functional project managers delivering transition planning, technology and operational readiness work streams. In particular, the programme manager will: - Develop and own the Census live running cutover / transition management strategy, to include but not limited to all impacted services, including systems, data and users and agreeing the strategy with the Director of Census Operations - Carry out the evaluation of scope of services and impact of cutover / transition management strategy/service acceptance criteria to internal and external programme parties - Work collaboratively with the wider Census programme to deliver and drive a live running cutover / transition plan that is fit for purpose and value for money - Work with all service / business owners, in-house and external service / technology suppliers to develop individual cutover / transition plans - Create and manage the cutover / transition resource plan and RACI with clearly defined roles and responsibilities - Work with all service / business owners to develop Service Acceptance Criteria for transitioning products and services from suppliers and Company development teams in to live operation - Implement arrangements to effectively plan and manage the programme budget, including support of business cases and funding submissions as required - Lead the execution of the Census live running cutover/ transition management and operational readiness work streams - Track progress of delivery against the acceptance criteria and cutover plans - Assess and raise risks associated with Operational Readiness, Service Acceptance or Cut Over activities. Ensure robust risk mitigation plans are in place - Manage supply / accuracy of all cutover / transition related communications - Ensure projects within the Cutover / Operational Readiness programme deliver to agreed quality, cost and timescale targets - Actively manage agreed programme governance and reporting arrangements on a day-to-day basis, ensuring progress is clearly visible and all key risks and issues are escalated in a timely manner - Report on a weekly basis to Programme Office on progress, matters for direction or decision and key issues for escalation - Lead and learn key lessons from dry run cutovers - Manage programme controls and ensure project managers align with the control framework - Advise Project Boards or equivalent management of deviations from the Census cutover and operational readiness plan - Lead and motivate programme teams - Ensure the behavioural expectations of team members are established - Ensure that the Cutover / Operational Readiness projects are managing resources and budgets effectively - Manage programme escalations within the Cutover / Operational Readiness team and with the wider Census programme - Develop and maintain linkages to Census programme benefits plan and report on benefits realisation as required Essential Skills: - A successful track record in the management of large scale operations / digital programmes & projects, to time and cost, which delivered quality outcomes and tangible business benefits - Substantial experience of successfully delivering complex, multi-faceted programmes including digital technology delivery, multiple service / technical suppliers, people and process change deployment in a complex stakeholder environment - Significant experience in the resourcing of project staff and able to recognise the various methods required to lead and motivate people to deliver within project environments - Experience of major programme governance, finance and risk management within a corporate environment - A degree or similar level of education, or significant equivalent senior level experience - A strong and broad understanding of current programme and project management approaches and methodologies (including both agile and waterfall), preferably with a recognised Programme Management qualification eg MSP - Ability to apply risk assessment and management principles and processes - Excellent communication skills including the ability to negotiate with and influence senior stakeholders across multiple organisations - Ability to manage complex internal and external relationships across multiple organisations, including deploying conflict management skills - Ability to apply commercial expertise, including contract management of IT suppliers - Highly collaborative approach / management style Desirable - Experience of public sector-based programmes and project management - Experience of public-sector based governance and complex authorising environments Security Clearance required - Candidates must already obtain a Disclosure Scotland Certificate