Programme Manager (Integration/M&A - Media / Events)

Programme Manager - Integration / M&A - Urgent contract opening

(Media / Events / Research)

Pay rate: £800-950pd

IR35 determination: Outside IR35 (the contractor will need to provide payment for the QDOS IR35 assessment)

Location: 2 days in the office (London) or completely remote

Duration: 6 months initially

Interview process: One stage

Reporting line: Head of Business Transformation

Role profile: Working as part of the Strategy & Business Transformation function the Programme Manager will shape and lead the set-up and delivery of Strategic programme(s). This role will predominantly Programme Manage the integration of a recent acquisition. Partnering with key stakeholders in the business you will lead delivery of the programme objectives and oversee the projects coming together to deliver the desires outcomes. You will foster a culture of rapid, quality execution across all business functions and embedding desirable change management behaviours across the business.

Key areas of responsibility/accountability

• Provide overall direction, leadership & coordination for the programme to ensure it achieves the desired outcomes and benefits on time and to the required quality
• Establish short and long-term programme objectives and ensure team members meet them
• Develop, tightly manage and report on programme KPIs, benefits and other success factors
• Develop & own the programme plan
• Ensure adequate project and business resource is allocated to the programme, resolving resource issues or escalating as required
• Co-ordinate and prioritise resources across the projects or workstreams
• Manage programme forecasts and budgets
• Business partner with operational teams to continuously prioritize the most important activities to ensure programme delivery
• Identify and work closely with relevant teams and stakeholders to manage inter-dependencies and mitigate risks where possible
• Set up and run programme governance
• Develop, own & report programme progress & RAID into Line Management and the defined Steering Group / Sponsor
• Proactively manage risks, issues and assumptions, escalating as required to ensure these are unblocked
• Recommend enhancements to team, governance structure, approach, tools & templates
• Coordinate delivery of key milestones and cost savings to agreed time and budget
• Actively support embedding desired ways of working across the business
• Support & facilitate change management
• Work with programme team to ensure an appropriate comms plan is developed and implemented

Knowledge and experience required

• 5-10 years' experience as a programme manager within a complex, global business
• Highly motivated with initiative, capable of working without supervision. Ability to grasp new concepts quickly
• Proven successful delivery acquisition integrations
• Knowledge of digital, media, events, research and technology businesses preferred
• Proven ability to deliver through remote teams
• Experience in setting up a new programme from scratch
• Excellent leadership & inter-personal skills - ability to lead a cross-functional team and work with a range of stakeholders
• Team-spirited and can work under pressure, co-ordinating multiple programmes(s), project(s) at any one time.
• Strong sense of integrity, respect for confidentiality, sound judgment and decision-making skills
• Strong command of Microsoft office / Excel / PPT and project management tools.
• Existing project management qualifications (PRINCE2, PMI, APM) preferred

Interacts with

• Commercial Combination Officer - Sponsor
• Strategy & Business Transformation Team
• Programme Leadership team
• Workstream delivery teams
• Operational teams
• Finance and legal

What you will produce

• All Programme Management materials
• information to aid decision making & direction
• Programme plan & RACI
• Progress reports & RAID Logs
• KPIs /Success metrics
• Programme governance & controls
• Resource allocation plan
• Budget
• Communications Plan

Measures of success

• Outcome delivery
• Projects deliver within the Programme(s)
• Delivery of benefits / KPIs
• Revenue Growth
• Profitability
• Milestone delivery
• Informed, engaged stakeholders
• Change management "Hearts & Minds"