Vacancies

SCPO Programme Manager

Buro Happold is a global engineering consultancy with a reputation for delivering innovative and sustainable solutions. We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented SCPO Programme Manager to join our IT team.

A key organisational role within the global strategic environment which focuses on the efficacy of strategic and business change project and programme delivery, assurance and governance providing ongoing, focused programme management for one or more of the practice’s key strategic themes. The role focuses on strategic alignment, operational efficiency and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This position will play a critical role in enhancing performance, driving collaboration and embedding best-in-class operational processes as we strive to improve our Projects Office environment.

Working closely alongside the Strategic and Change Projects Office (SCPO) and with the practice’s strategic programme delivery groups, the role will engage regularly with thematic global strategic / matrix leadership, project directors and leaders working within those strategic focus areas and individual strategic and change project managers, providing programme delivery assurance and governance, managing effective programme communications and knowledge sharing.

This role may be performed flexibly or part-time and any requests will be fully considered in line with business demands.

Success in this role will involve driving project teams to realise project outputs that contribute to the overall programme objectives/outcomes. This will be delivered through strong Programme Management, using a range of efficient, consistent and globally standardised governance tools and processes. Success will be assessed via stakeholder feedback and through metrics, reporting and insights as defined in the Business Case and/or PID (PEP).

The Role

Working in a matrix structure, with the SCPO Director as Line Manager and Global Director of Operational Excellence as Programme Sponsor, you will use the standardised global BH approach to Programme Management to deliver operational excellence across multiple functions/projects/workstreams.

Job Purpose & Key Responsibilities

Work alongside the Strategic / Matrix Lead and SCPO in the definition and planning of strategic and business change activities within strategic focus areas to ensure consistency in best practice, approach and delivery.
Provide ongoing assurance of strategic and business change projects to ensure sufficient scrutiny of project and programme financial, risk, change and planning performance to maximise the chances of successful delivery. Work closely and on a regular basis with the Global Strategic / Matrix Lead and their Programme Delivery Group to achieve this.
Work closely with the Strategic / Matrix Lead and SCPO to define, establish and maintain continuously improving global communications and knowledge exchange within the strategic focus areas, concentrating on improving knowledge management, community links, strategic development workshare and encouraging collaboration between stakeholders at all levels.
Mentor and support colleagues within the strategic focus areas, enhancing project and programme management skills and capabilities and ensuring colleagues at all levels can interpret processes and use the tools provided necessary for high quality, continuously improving project management, including internal BH PM process and wider industry best practice techniques.
Leadership, management and controls
Support the SCPO as required with the continuous development and improvement of approach and governance of all strategic investment and business change projects across the firm’s geographies, sectors, and disciplines.
Keep abreast of best practice and look ahead for innovative approaches to professional communication and collaboration tools and techniques in order to continuously improve programme collaboration and communication.
Input into the development of the global methodology and framework for knowledge management to be used within all strategic theme programmes within disciplines.
Work with individual project directors and project leaders to minimize scope-creep, provide assurance to the wider business of delivery against agreed objectives and review financial, planning and change data.

Programme Management

Act as the primary Programme Manager, coordinating projects/workstreams across Shared Business Services and wider Discipline BH teams.
Ensure strategic alignment of operational initiatives with the overall organisational goals.
Develop and manage project roadmaps / timelines, ensuring all teams meet key milestones, deadlines and objectives.
Establish governance frameworks for tracking, reporting, and communicating progress to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
Identify and mitigate program risks, ensuring initiatives remain on track and deliver measurable impact.
Establish a clear Change Management plan to support positive change, ensuring all stakeholders are aware of the change and information is communicated in a timely way, responding to the needs of end users as well as Senior Stakeholders.

Operational Excellence

Foster a culture of continuous improvement, empowering teams to find innovative ways to improve processes.
Lead cross-functional initiatives to streamline processes, reduce waste, and improve service delivery

Stakeholder & Change Management

Act as a bridge between key stakeholders, ensuring alignment between each team (Finance, Technology, Security & Risk, HR) and the wider firm.
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between teams to break down silos and improve operational cohesion.
Support change management efforts, ensuring seamless adoption of new processes, tool and ways of working
Provide guidance to teams involved in execution, ensuring consistent delivery that meets the needs of the business.

Risk Management

Support the identification and mitigation of operational risks.
Work closely with the Risk and Compliance team to ensure operational processes are compliant with regulatory and organisational processes and requirements.

Reporting and Analysis

Provide updates to the SCPO for inclusion in various practice-wide strategic projects and business change reports to senior stakeholders, ensuring all significant risks and opportunities are captured, owned, managed and updated.
Conduct regular analysis of operational processes, identifying opportunities for improvement.
Prepare and deliver reports and presentations to senior leadership that detail project progress, challenges, and opportunities.

Qualifications

Relevant degree or subject related recognized qualification
Project Management qualified (APM/Prince2) with 5+ years PQE
Programme management qualified (APM/Prince2/MSP/P3O) with 5+ years PQE
Intermediate Microsoft O365 skills essential
Excellent stakeholder management, reporting and communication skills

Experience

The role would ideally suit an project/programme professional with an excellent understanding of programme, project and operational delivery and commercial considerations, who is experienced in collaborating with multiple stakeholders and closely supporting a diverse range of teams across multiple functions and in global business locations.

Our ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

Demonstrates and can validate experience of working within and contributing to the efficacy of a programme office that has overseen significant complex successful strategic change projects/programmes.
Proven experience as a project manager and leader of project teams.
Proven experience of building excellent stakeholder relationships and building positive cross-functional alliances with a warm, collaborative and approachable style.
Proven experience of driving significant change and improvements across programmes and projects.
Experience of operating within an engineering consultancy or professional services firm an advantage.
Demonstrates excellent influencing and negotiation skills.
Can demonstrate a combination of acumen, agility, assertiveness and affability.
Strong mentoring skills with the experience to influence, guide and develop others.
Flexible can-do attitude with the drive to positively approach a wide range of business needs.
Self-motivated and highly organised with the proven ability to prioritise and work reactively.
Confident and proactive, with the ability to take the lead and deputise for senior colleagues as required.
Resilient with excellent communication skills and attention to detail.

What we offer you

Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world's most respected consultancies.
Hybrid working arrangements.
Attractive salary.
Discretionary bonus.
Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements.
Generous company pension scheme, life assurance and income protection.
Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts.
Enhanced parenthood leave policies.
3pm finish on the last Friday of the month.
A strong commitment to continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you.
Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions.
A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities.
An opportunity to support your local community and those in society that are most in need, wherever they are located in the world through our Share Our Skills (SOS) programme.
A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring.
An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won't be far from exceptional.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.

Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.

We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.

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