Transformation Programme and Planning Manager

Forestry & Land Scotland (FLS) became an Agency of Scottish Government on 1st April 2019. Our staff work in a broad range of roles that enable the effective management of Scotland’s forests and land.
The Business Area, working with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) is responsible for the definition and successful delivery of the One FLS – Fit for the Future transformation programme, achieving programme outcomes and helping to ensure a continual improvement.
The overarching intent of the programme is to ensure the long term, financial sustainability of its commercial operations, whilst continuing to create value of the national forest and land asset. Furthermore, the programme is embedding culture of change and continual improvement, striving for operational excellence., As an experienced, effective and competent Programme Manager and Planning Manager, you will provide expert programme management and programme planning services to the One FLS – Fit for the Future transformation programme.
You will actively support the Transformation Programme Director, relevant business change leads and project leads in delivery activities and appropriate planning and oversight activities, including the requirement to produce and maintain an overall programme plan(s) comprising project delivery, business change and benefit realisation activities.
The post holder will effectively discharge the responsibilities of Programme Manager and Planning Manager (a hybrid role) for the ‘One FLS – fit for the future’ transformation programme, taking day-to-day responsibility for successful delivery of programme outcomes, project outputs, as well the planning of business change and benefit realisation. This role requires a proportionate and pragmatic approach, managing-down significant risks to delivery, and will require the provision of hands-on support to delivery teams and their ELT leads.
This is a hybrid hands-on role requiring the post-holder to have the ability to hit the ground running in order to support the transformation programme effectively.

Person specification
+ Lead a team of Project Managers and other specialist resources (e.g., PMO, procurement, business analysts, testers) to successfully deliver the Projects within the Programme. Provide guidance to help develop project team in support of the overall Programme delivery goals.
+ Supporting the Programme Director, facilitate agreement of the target state the Programme will help deliver. Facilitate the documenting and maintenance of this target state using FLS’s preferred format/approach (e.g., Blueprint, Target Operating Model) and identify the outputs, capabilities and, working with the business change leads, the transition and business change activities required to achieve it.
+ Work with the Programme Director, and wider project leads to agree the most suitable approach for the delivery of each Project’s outputs, including the most appropriate methodology and key deliverables.
+ Undertake day-to-day management of the Programme definition phase, ensuring that the Programme, and its constituent Projects, start-up under proper control. This will include clearly defined scope statements, project and programme-level governance, project and programme management (PPM) methodologies/standards to be used, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, including decision-making RACI’s, and an effective assurance regime.
+ Supporting the Programme Director, develop an integrated suite of plans, and related artefacts, that allow delivery and benefit realisation progress to be monitored and plans to be rolled-up/consolidated to whatever level of detail is required. Develop planning standards and support Project Managers and PMO staff to ensure they are upheld, including resource planning and management of dependencies.
+ Support the Senior Responsible Owner and Programme Director to develop a business case for the Programme, based on HM Treasury Green Book standards.
+ Supporting the Programme Director and business change leads, facilitate the identification of the benefit potential and put in place a benefits realisation plan to demonstrate how and when these benefits may be realised.
+ Put in place appropriate tracking and oversight to ensure a sufficiently accurate programme dashboard is maintained, and all governance and stakeholder groups receive timely, accurate and proportionate updates of the Programme’s progress against key dimensions (e.g., progress, resources, risks, benefits).
+ Escalate issues or major risks through governance mechanisms as required, based on the delegated authority given to the Programme Manager. Use judgement and experience to ensure a ‘no surprises’ culture. Be confident operating at an FLS leadership level to represent the Programme.
+ Ensure there is proactive management of risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies (RAID) as a means of increasing the likelihood of successful Project and Programme delivery.
+ Identify and secure appropriate additional specialist resources where required, in conjunction with FLS’s Human Resources function.
+ Contribute to a welcoming and productive Programme environment, which caters for differing levels of project and programme experience.
+ Ensure that all Project and Programme stakeholders are identified, and a plan is developed to ensure they are effectively engaged and communicated with, based on their specific characteristics (e.g., Power/Influence).
+ Working with the business change teams, recognise where additional support would be required for teams through periods of intense business change, including any disruption to existing organisation structures, reporting lines or roles/responsibilities.
+ Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, especially those that might be uncertain or sceptical about the programme and its aims and require a dedicated approach.
+ Communicate effectively with all Project and Programme team members to ensure they feel engaged in the transformation programme and committed to its success. Communication may include any of addressing large groups (e.g., Town Halls); chairing formal governance meetings (e.g., Project Boards) or operational meetings (e.g., Stand-ups, RAID reviews); facilitating workshops to agree a way forward (e.g., Blueprint development).
+ Ensure compliance with Health and Safety standards.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Alongside your salary of £61,409, Forestry and Land Scotland contributes £17,790 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.