Agile Delivery Manager

at  National Audit Office

JOB DESCRIPTION

Agile Delivery Manager
Part time - 3 days pw
12 Month FTC
The Modern Publishing programme aims to update the NAO’s publishing approach and outputs by aligning with industry-standard tools and ways of working; enabling an efficient and digital-first approach to writing, producing, and sharing our publications.
This programme is split into two projects; ‘Collaborative Authoring’ (CA) and ‘Digital First’ (DF). The CA project aims to provide a single-version solution for the collaborative writing, editing, and publishing of, initially, VFM reports. It will enable production of content in xml which is required for html publication (the DF element of the programme). The CA project has completed the discovery phase and is currently exploring potential solutions through proof-of-concept testing. The project has a Director, Lead, Project Manager and Technical Lead. This roles sits alongside the Project Manager. There are also programme-level roles that support.
We now need an experienced Agile Delivery Manager with relevant expertise to lead the procurement, pilot, testing, and implementation of complex technology solutions to support the delivery of the CA project, through the application of good technical, process, and digital project management practice.
Reporting to the Collaborative Authoring Project Lead, the Agile Delivery Manager will join the core programme team and will be responsible for:
Managing technical and process delivery elements of the procurement, pilot, and full implementation of the Collaborative Authoring platform, ensuring that all relevant deliverables set out in the 2nd draft business case are met, ready to contribute to the project’s full business case for change.
Working cross-departmentally within the organisation to integrate existing and new systems and processes; contributing to the development of clear guidance to encourage user buy-in and successful transition to bau.
Integrating with this project’s sister project; Digital First – aligning outcomes, managing implications and dependencies.
Working closely with internal and external stakeholders involved in delivering the programme to ensure alignment and successful delivery to plan.
Internal/External relationships:
Programme/Project delivery team, sponsor, and board.
Digital-First project team.
Internal relationships with staff at all levels.
Direct contact at user-level to ensure that technology systems and services are developed to meet user and wider business needs;
Close working relationships with Procurement, Change, Digital Services and Information Security colleagues to ensure we procure and implement an appropriate solution whilst mitigating and managing risks.
Service owner management to ensure that they are fully engaged and informed about prioritisation of work and the effect of strategic priorities on resourcing their requests. Also, to keep up to date with their concerns or consideration regarding supporting the services.
External relationships with suppliers.
Job Responsibilities:
Project Delivery (40%)
Manage the software procurement, and the pilot and implementation of the Collaborative Authoring (CA) platform (software and processes) on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the sponsor / Project Board in accordance with NAO guidance and standards.
Ensure that the CA project’s user requirements are delivered against, through a combination of bringing in new technology, utilising existing, and adjusting ways of working (as advised by the wider project team).
Help define, document, and secure agreement to the workstream scope, goals and deliverables, and success criteria in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders – contributing to discussions on potential benefits.
Work closely with the Modern Publishing programme team and other stakeholders to identify and manage inter-project dependencies, critical path, and key workstreams, escalating any issues as appropriate; specifically ensure requirements of and implications for the Digital First project are identified and managed throughout the project phase.
Proactively manage internal and external dependencies and risks to delivery of the collaborative authoring solution, resolve issues, escalating as appropriate, and getting the best value against constraint.
Own and manage changes to workstream scope; identifying potential risks and devising contingency plans as well as providing the project board with options for resolution.
Pressure test new, in-view, and existing systems and processes to draw out any errors, bugs and crashes, recommend and implement improvements to solve any identified issues.
Specifically, to deliver the following assets:
A full procurement plan, including potential procurement routes and recommendation for project board, a detailed tender document, and evaluation criteria
Contribute to new supplier contract terms including SLAs
Create project recommendation and proposal documents and presentations as required, for the workstreams you are responsible for
Produce and implement a pilot testing plan to enable validation of end-to-end user acceptance, delivery of functional requirements, and that the product generally functions as intended.
Develop a post-pilot evaluation and recommendations paper
Develop a detailed plan for full implementation of the platform
Contribute to communications and engagement plans and materials including guidance
Contribute to bau transition plans
Commercial management (30%)
Engage with procurement and project team members to understand requirements and processes relating to procuring and managing related services provided by third parties
Use project team expertise, user requirements, project scope and proof of concept findings to provide an options assessment and proposal for full procurement of third party services to support Collaborative Authoring, for Board and ET sign off
Working with our Procurement team; run the procurement process end-to-end and ensure the contract has suitable terms and break clauses to support the NAO’s requirements
Balance cost versus value and considering the financial impact of user needs on the project
Ensure effective communication and relationship-building with contracted supplier/s, working closely with the primary contract manager.
Governance (20%)
Work towards the appropriate service standards and NAO Change Delivery Framework for the relevant project phase. Recognise when to move from one stage of a product lifecycle to another.
Apply best practice tools and techniques for project delivery execution and management, supporting the Project Manager and others to develop change management plans, including communication and engagement plans.
Contribute to progress, risk, dependency and issue reports for relevant senior staff within project governance structures, escalating as appropriate to ensure issues are handled promptly and effectively.
Propose solutions to business problems with consideration of Information Security and Data Architecture.
Communication (10%)
Work with the Project Manager to ensure effective liaisons with project team members and stakeholders across the business to ensure that the procurement, pilot and implementation phases of the project are planned, initiated and delivered successfully, and set up to transition smoothly into business-as-usual.
Support the Change and Publishing Quality (VFMPQ) teams to ensure that project communications and engagement activity is clear, compelling and successful in encouraging behaviour change, and that we gather and use user feedback throughout the project.
Contribute to post-pilot/ post-project sessions and share lessons learned to identify successful and unsuccessful project elements.
Knowledge transfer to NAO colleagues to ensure shared understanding and resilience throughout the project, and to ensure the core elements of implementation and transition are documented and good practice continues.
Key Skills, behaviours and experience:
Qualifications/Training:
Formal training and experience in agile delivery management methodology – essential
Experience in implementation of technical software and associated process and workflow improvements – essential
Experience in procuring and piloting new technical software – essential
Experience of working in similar environments/projects in the public sector – desirable.
Experience of working with mid-large scale publishing organisations and/or with publishing software – desirable.
Behavioural skills and personal qualities:
Ability to marshal and co-ordinate resources, effectively prioritise and execute tasks, and adapt where necessary to ensure project delivery;
Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to negotiate, manage conflict, influence outcomes and gain buy-in for new initiatives and ways of working;
Strong verbal and written communication skills with users, key stakeholders and technical staff at all levels, including presentation skills. Ability to clearly articulate and communicate project concepts and issues to both technical and non-technical staff.

Nationality Requirements:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme