Head of Business Engagement

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Head of Business Engagement

Salary : £65,262
Hours: Full Time/ Part Time (Minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Hybrid working available (on average 1 to 2 days a week in the office)
Grade: Band G

Closing Date: 28th May 2024

Job Overview:

The purpose of this role is to lead Project Delivery & Improvement's Business Engagement function. The team's role is to ensure projects are set up for successful delivery, by providing short-term coaching and mentoring, rapid response deployment on priority projects, short term deployments to support priority activity (such as on audits, assurance and short projects), and building a network of strategic contacts across the organisation in order to understand the potential pipeline of future opportunities. The postholder will also be responsible for managing the allocation of PD&I's delivery resource to projects and programmes, aligned with agreed resourcing principles.

In addition, the Head of Business Engagement postholder will act as the lead for UKRI's Business Case Hub, who provide a single point of contact for the Research Councils for the approval of business case within UKRI and DSIT. The Business Case Hub also provides the single point of contact for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology for UKRI's portfolio of business cases; working closely with key stakeholders in the department. The postholder will also be responsible for ensuring that UKRI's business cases align with HMT best practice; through early engagement activity and acting as a Deputy Chair and Management Case expert for UKRI's Investment Advisory Working Group.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage resourcing and prioritisation. Management of the resourcing function for PD&I, including undertaking prioritisation of new and existing resource requests
• Contribute towards organisational strategic prioritisation, helping shape emerging opportunities and plans for a pipeline of activities which will help the organisation achieve its strategic objectives.
• Create a culture of continuous improvement and learning from experience, using this to determine best practice and build capability across UKRI
• Leadership of the Business Case Hub within UKRI, working collaboratively with subject matter experts and stakeholders to ensure business cases are aligned with best practice
• Develop the capability of UKRI in business case development and establish a community of practice for business case development
• Act as the single point of contact with DSIT on the portfolio of business cases requiring departmental approval
• Build the network of subject matter experts in benefits management and assurance to ensure project are effectively managed following business case approval
• As required, contribute towards ad-hoc assignments (audits, assurance or risk reviews)
• Maintaining relationships with other Government departments, other organisations and professional bodies as appropriate to ensure sharing of knowledge more widely and to keep abreast of latest developments and best practice within the Profession.

Team Management

• The role may provide line management to project professionals as required
• Promote and ensure adherence to best practice standards in project and programme governance, working closely with the Project Profession Centre and Project Delivery Profession to keep abreast of developments and requirements.
• Act as a mentor and coach to developing members of the team and wider Project Profession members.

Shortlisting Criteria

Essential

• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience
• Prince2, MSP, APM or another relevant Project Management Methodology qualification
• Demonstrative experience of undertaking prioritisation of projects or resources
• Knowledge and experience of business case development and assurance, including ensuring business cases are aligned to HM Treasury best practice
• Extensive knowledge of project management tools and methodologies, and experience of their application in delivering programmes/projects
• Demonstrative experience of facilitation skills, and experience of building stakeholder networks across different specialisms and seniority
• Knowledge and experience of using project management related software and tools
• Experience of mentoring and coaching within a business environment

Desirable

• Experience in HM Treasury business case approval processes
• A valid Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) or Management of Portfolio (MoP) practitioner certificate
• Qualifications in disciplines related to business case development (e.g. Better Business Cases; or qualifications in economics, analysis, commercial or finance)

Interview Criteria

Essential

• Experience in ensuring business cases for projects or programmes are compliant with best practice and can achieve departmental approval at the first time of asking
• Expert knowledge of the Five Case Model for business cases and Green Book methodology.
• The ability to establish and develop productive influential relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• The ability to influence, change and impact decisions with both internal and external stakeholders.
• The ability to recognize, anticipate and effectively deal with existing or potential conflicts at an individual, team or strategic level.
• The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and adverse situations whilst remaining calm, reassuring others and maintaining performance.
• The ability to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Can apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity.
• The ability to inspire, motivate and support others by demonstrating and sharing your programme/project management and other leadership skills. To act as a role model and inspire and empower others.
• Experience of applying benefits management, assurance and risk management frameworks to projects/programmes
• Excellent communication skills - oral and written

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of using Lean/Six Sigma techniques.
• Knowledge and experience of using of Change Management techniques.
• Experience of using Continuous Improvement techniques
• Experience of using data analysis or statistical tools (e.g. PowerBI or statistical packages)

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org .

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ' How we support EDI in the workforce '.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.