Programmes Officer

The Skills and Employment Unit promotes and delivers the Mayor's Skills for Londoners (SfL) strategy, policies and their associated delivery priorities. The Programmes Officer role is situated in the Programmes Management Office (PMO) and is responsible for managing the budget and performance of the Skills and Employment portfolio. It is responsible for developing and managing the programme governance to ensure successful delivery and compliance across programmes with regulations e.g., GLA Contractual and Grant and Funding Rules requirements. It also coordinates the Corporate processes including managing the corporate dashboard, finance processes and data governance.

This role will have overall responsibility in support of the Principal Programme Officer to capture the performance of the programme delivery and manage the AEB programme.  You will be required to work as part of a team, be able to work across multiple work strands, deliver high-quality PMO support, and resolve issues quickly and effectively in a professional manner.

We are looking for an individual with experience and knowledge of project and programme management specifically the understanding of programme management office functions including:

• project planning
• financial and performance analysis
• risk management
• issue resolution
• evaluation.

This role is particularly suited to someone who wants to advance their career in project and programme management.

1. Develop and maintain robust Programme governance that ensures the successful delivery of the programme in alignment with Mayoral approvals and other guidelines.
2. Work with senior delivery managers to monitor programme delivery, outputs, results and expenditure ensuring that risks and issues are properly recorded and mitigating controls are in place and reviewed regularly. 
3. Produce high-quality programme reports and dashboards for several stakeholders including but not limited to the Assistant Director-led Skills Programmes Board, AEB Mayoral Board, and externally for the Skills for Londoners Board, Skills for Londoners Partnership Board and the London Recovery Programme.
4. Contribute to the provision of robust and timely programme tools, systems, templates and processes for Provider Managers including new processes related to programme management and providing training and support to use the tools.
5. Contribute to any other related additional programme and performance management assignments including the completion of the Corporate quarterly Performance dashboard.
6. Supervise Project Support Officers in a matrix environment in the completion of responsibilities, providing advice and guidance where needed.
7. Support the development of data governance processes for the Unit.
8. Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities, promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
9. Manage resources allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethics and Standards; and
10. Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross department and cross-organisational groups and project teams.

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

1. A degree or professional qualification in portfolio, programme or project management or in management of project/Programme management office (PMO) or related subjects preferably to post-graduate level.
2. Demonstrable ability, experience and knowledge of project and programme management including the understanding of programme management office functions including project planning, financial and performance analysis and management, risk management, issue resolution and evaluation.
3. High-level knowledge and experience in MS Excel, with the ability to develop reports and dashboards, and maintain and analyse spreadsheets and databases. Experience of, or ability to acquire knowledge, in specialised software packages such as Power BI, SQL or SPSS is highly desirable.
4. Well-developed IT skills, experience in using financial and claims management systems and processes, excellent report-writing skills and a high level of numeracy.
5. Experience in records management and an understanding of General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and how this influences data processing and data sharing. 
6. Experience working with the Adult Education Budget or Skills and Employment programme is highly desirable. 

Behavioural competencies

Research and Analysis

… is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Proactively seeks new information sources to progress research agendas and address gaps in knowledge
• Grasps limitations of or assumptions behind data sources, disregarding those that lack quality
• Analyses and integrates qualitative and quantitative data to find new insights
• Translates research outcomes into concise, meaningful reports
• Identifies relevant and practical research questions for the future

Communicating and Influencing

… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate and engage with us.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders
• Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication
• Persuades others, using evidence-based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver messages effectively
• Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
• Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

Building and Managing Relationships

… is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Develops new professional relationships
• Understands the needs of others, the constraints they face and the levers to their engagement
• Understands differences, anticipates areas of conflict and takes action
• Fosters an environment where others feel respected
• Identifies opportunities for joint working to minimise duplication and deliver shared goals

Planning and Organising

.. is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time to a high standard. 

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones
• Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring the team’s work is delivered to a high standard
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met

Problem Solving

… is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully
• Proposes options for solutions to presented problems
• Builds on the ideas of others to encourage creative problem solving
• Thinks laterally about own work, considering different ways to approach problems
• Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem-solving

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA competency framework.

This role is based at London Fire Brigade’s Head Office (Union Street SE1 0LL).

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

Please note all applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs alone for this role.

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 012345).

Applications submitted without a Personal Statement will not be considered.

London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

On this recruitment campaign, as part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

Reasonable adjustment will be made to working arrangements to accommodate a person with a disability who otherwise would be prevented from undertaking the work.

Application closing date: 14 May 2024 at 23:59

If you have a question about the role or would like to discuss it informally, please feel free to contact Aisha Khan at [email protected]  to arrange a call. 

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however, some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

Secondment Opportunity

If you are a GLA employee applying for an internal fixed-term position, as an internal secondment opportunity, you must ensure you satisfy the following secondment policy criteria listed below before applying 

• On a permanent contract or a fixed term contract where the time left on the contract at the point at which you apply for secondment is longer than the secondment period;
• successfully completed your probation period and are performing to the required standard for your current role; and
• at least 18 months service with the GLA 

If you do meet the criteria listed above, you will need to complete the Approval for secondment application form and gain line manager approval, before emailing the fully completed form to the Resourcing Assistant who is managing the vacancy. This form must be received by the closing date of the vacancy. Failure to provide this form will mean your application cannot be progressed.

If you are unable to satisfy all of the criteria, unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply for this vacancy as an internal secondment.  For further information, please see Secondment Policy and Procedure.

IMPORTANT: If you are a current GLA employee on a fixed-term contract, which is due to end BEFORE the end date of this vacancy, you DO NOT NEED to complete the Approval for secondment application form as it is not a secondment.

If you are successful in securing this secondment opportunity, you will need to be released from your existing role, so please ensure that you make your line manager aware of your application.

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact [email protected].