Greater London Authority
The Skills & Employment Unit at the GLA is responsible for this vision and is one of the largest and most dynamic Units. The Delivery teams within the Unit are responsible for developing and delivering a complex and varied portfolio of projects encompassing support to Londoners, particularly those who are unemployed and disadvantaged, as well as collaboration with employers, schools, colleges and independent training providers which includes the London Multiply Programme, a £40m Multiply programme which is a government-funded programme to help adults across the London improve their numeracy.

We are looking for an experienced Principal Project Officer to manage a particular workstream of the Multiply programme which is the programme's evaluation and support in potential upcoming commissioner led evaluation work. This role will report to the Multiply Programme Manager and involves leading work with external agencies and working with internal teams and services to collate information at pace and requires excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills.

The specific deliverables of this role will include:

• Project plan and contract management of Multiply Evaluation consultants for 12 months
• Lead on engagement with providers, establish meetings, share evidence as required
• Share best practice and interval findings with the GLA and where appropriate with the DfE
• Support the Multiply Programme Manager with initiation, mobilisation and recruitment for commissioner planned evaluations and trials
• Work closely with Multiply Delivery Team to ensure both the evaluation and commissioner led evaluation and trials work aligns with deliverables of the London Multiply Programme
• Support the Multiply delivery team with programme deliverables

Principal accountabilities

1. Manage the programme delivery and development of existing and new Skills and Employment programmes of activity which meet Mayoral Manifesto commitments in line with planned performance and outputs to time, budget commitments and quality specifications. This will include direct delivery and monitoring the activities of delivery partners and their sub-contractors, identifying and reporting on risks and issues as appropriate.
2. Manage the development, implementation and day to day delivery of the AEB business cycle from project development to contract completion including contract and partner negotiations, contract management, audit, quality assurance and compliance processes for the GLA.
3. For all projects and programmes in own portfolio, undertake ongoing and proactive management, monitoring, verification, recording, analysis and reporting of:
   - Financial, outputs and outcomes performance, to ensure achievement of target outputs and outcomes and programme objectives within budget and while maintaining overall value for money;
   
   - Quality assurance and compliance, including through regular monitoring and audit of the activities and supporting evidence of delivery partners and their sub-contractors;
   
   - The validity, accuracy and eligibility of claims, including ensuring external funding bodies' management information and monitoring requirements are met;
   
   - Progress against milestones, and financial and outputs and outcome targets, ensuring delivery and quality concerns are raised and tackled promptly;
   
   - Risks and issues, to ensure awareness and understanding of these and implementation of appropriate and timely mitigations.
4. Manage the development of skills projects and programmes with key stakeholders.
5. Work with the wider GLA Skills Policy and Strategy team and Skills Funding and Systems team to inform the development of initial priorities for a devolved Adult Education Budget, a draft Adult Education Budget Funding Statement and a draft Adult Education Budget commissioning strategy.
6. Identify and report on risks and issues as appropriate, and lead on resolution of operational, contractual and performance issues as they arise.
7. Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders and key partner agencies responsible for leading, or contributing to projects within the Skills & Employment team's programme.
8. Prepare and present reports, briefs and recommendations on key issues and actions to the Managers and Assistant Director to facilitate executive understanding and decision making.
9. Realise the benefits of London's diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities, and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London's communities
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

Person specification

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

• Experience of delivering skills and employment programmes in a political environment, including delivery through multiple third parties and contract management.
• Experience and practical knowledge of project management and project control techniques relevant to outcome-related funding models, including financial analysis, project planning and appraisal, financing and risk management and evaluation.
• Experience of commissioning and managing skills and employment providers and achieving results through effective procurement.
• Experience of developing, leading and managing teams, including tackling poor performance, developing talent, and being accountable for the team's performance.
• Evidence of well-developed IT skills, solid experience of using financial management systems and processes, and excellent report writing skills
• Experience of managing stakeholder relationships at a senior level in a complex political or business organisation.
• A good understanding of local and national skills and employment funding streams, associated reporting and the benefits of outcome-related funding models for both participants and funders.

Behavioural competencies

Building & Managing Relationships
is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals

Level 3 indicators of effective performance:

• Actively engages partners and encourages others to build relationships that support GLA objectives
• Understands and recognises the contributions that staff at all levels make to delivering priorities
• Proactively manages partner relationships, preventing or resolving any conflict
• Adapts style to work effectively with partners, building consensus, trust and respect
• Delivers objectives by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership

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 3 indicators of effective performance:

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication
• Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well thought through arguments
• Negotiates effectively to deliver GLA priorities
• Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is necessary and brokers agreement

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

Level 3 indicators of effective performance:

• Monitors allocation of resources, anticipating changing requirements that may impact work delivery
• Ensures evaluation processes are in place to measure project benefits
• Gains buy-in and commitment to project delivery from diverse stakeholders
• Implements quality measures to ensure directorate output is of a high standard
• Translates political vision into action plans and deliverables

Responding to Pressure and Change
is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Maintains a focus on key priorities and deliverables, staying resilient in the face of pressure
• Anticipates and adapts flexibly to changing requirements
• Uses challenges as an opportunity to learn and improve
• Participates fully and encourages others to engage in change initiatives
• Manages team's well-being, supporting them to cope with pressure and change

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

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Clarifies ambiguous problems, questioning assumptions to reach a fuller understanding
• Actively challenges the status quo to find new ways of doing things, looking for good practice
• Seeks and incorporates diverse perspectives to help produce workable strategies to address complex issues
• Initiates consultation on opportunities to improve work processes
• Supports the organisation to implement innovative suggestions

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).
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