birmingham2022.gigroup.com · Web viewThis role will shape our strategic roadmap, lead on integrated planning and undertake agile programme management to ensure we deliver on our

STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGER

ROLE DESCRIPTION

STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGER

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Role title

Strategic Planning Manager, Festival UK* 2022

Department

Corporate Operations and Business Integration

Position Type

Full-time fixed-term contract, until Jan 2023

Reports to

Head of Business Integration

Location

One Brindley Place, Birmingham, B1 2JB

Festival UK* 2022 will take place across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. As a celebration of UK creativity and innovation, the Festival will present a ground-breaking programme of ten new artistic commissions, each with the ambition of reaching millions globally.

The Festival seeks to bring people together and promote our creativity to the world. 2022 is a major year in the cultural life of the UK, as the Festival will take place alongside the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen. These major events can demonstrate the inspirational role that creativity can play in our changing world; and how unforgettable experiences can make life better.

Led by Chief Creative Officer, Martin Green CBE, Festival 2022 Ltd, has been established in Birmingham to curate, manage and promote the Festival; working with strategic delivery bodies within each nation to devise and deliver the programme. This position will be employed by Festival 2022 Ltd. a subsidiary company of the Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (the OC).

Role Overview

The Strategic Planning Manager is a central role operating across internal departments, external Strategic Delivery Bodies (SDBs) and integrating with the lead organisations delivering our 10 major commissions.

This role will shape our strategic roadmap, lead on integrated planning and undertake agile programme management to ensure we deliver on our organisational and cross-partner goals. As a senior member of the Business Integration team, the postholder will be passionate, highly organised and adaptable.

As an experienced project lead, this post will focus on:

· Designing, developing and assuring integrated delivery plans across Festival UK* 2022

· Implementing integrated planning and reporting solutions to facilitate rapid decision making

· Setting the standards for risk management at a project, programme and portfolio level, ensuring that all partners are working to the same standards and risk management as an approach is embedded in ways of working across the whole festival

· Reviewing and assuring project plans alongside Risk, Assumption, Issue and Dependency (RAID) logs

· Monitoring and reporting on the performance and delivery confidence of the programme

· Leading continuous improvement of our Festival systems and processes, working collegiately with a team of creative producers to design a programme management approach appropriate to the sector

· Building capacity within partner organisations to support a 'one team' culture across Festival delivery

· Owning and managing special projects within Festival

The Festival is a £120million major Government programme and the Strategic Planning Manager will support the senior team by acting as a custodian for the 'big picture' across all planning; prioritising, understanding and communicating within the team and externally.

The appointed individual will bring substantial Project Management Office (PMO) experience or equivalent knowledge from a comparable role. The role requires demonstrable skills in project delivery, a strong stakeholder management background and the ability to analyse risk in a complex multi-partner environment. The postholder must be creatively minded and solutions-focused in their approach.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the delivery phase of a major Festival that will mark a significant year in the cultural life of the UK and support our recovery from the global pandemic.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

· Establish and embed programme management solutions across the partnership delivering a nationwide Festival of creativity and innovation in 2022.

· Manage the integrated programme plans for the Festival, ensuring agile planning is taking place across all stakeholders. This includes internally within the Business Integration function, Marketing and Communications and Creative Programme team; as well as with the Organising Committee, our Strategic Delivery Bodies and across the ten lead organisations delivering the commissioned creative programme.

· Advise senior decision-makers on progress and strategic priorities, acting as a single source of truth for workstream performance against key milestones and overall delivery confidence.

· Communicate any critical areas of planning that require prioritised resource.

· Implement and champion a culture of planning that is responsive to the Festival's sectors and appropriate to the nature of work being commissioned. In doing so, work with the team of creative producers to engender a positive and solutions-focused approach.

· Manage a streamlined approach to monthly internal and external reporting, including departmental progress reports, partner updates from Strategic Delivery Bodies and synthesised monitoring information from the lead organisations delivering each of the ten commissions. The role will also be required to prepare a portfolio report, consolidating information into a central submission for governance forums.

· Work collegiately with team members at all levels to devise, review and update project plans and track risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies using centralised programme management tools.

· Build capacity in partners by providing advice, guidance and support for project management.

· Develop strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and across external delivery teams.

· Positively represent the Business integration team, deputising for the Head of Business Integration as required. Model, demonstrate and promote good practice.

· Lead continuous improvement of our Festival systems and processes, ensuring all required project management documentation and project specific tools are utilised across the Festival.

· Work closely with senior management to clarify rapidly evolving requirements in a proactive and flexible way. Identify, recommend and support changes which facilitate accelerated programme delivery.

· Contribute to the development and implementation of policies, procedures and systems.

· Lead review sessions and strategic planning workshops.

· Inspire, mentor and support entry-level positions to have an inclusive Festival experience.

· Champion the overall vision and creation of the Festival to successful deliver a major programme.

· Act in accordance with all policies and procedures.

· Own and manage special projects, including undertaking any relevant additional duties identified by the Head of Business Integration and Executive Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS ROLE WILL EVOLVE THROUGHOUT THE LIFETIME OF DELIVERY.

Festival Values

Festival 2022 is driven by shared values. We are Open, Optimistic and Original. Ability to articulate, represent and shape the Festival 2022 values is of importance to the role.

Person Specification

Skills and Experience

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

· Significant industry experience in a similar role and/or recognised programme, project or PMO accreditation – e.g., Prince 2, Agile, P3M.

· Educated to degree level and/or equivalent professional qualification.

Knowledge, experience and skills

Essential

Desirable

· Exceptional planning, project and PMO management skills,

· Ability to find clarity and direction in a multi-stakeholder environment.

· Ability to assess and analyse a range of complex operational requirements and implement the most appropriate approach.

· Experience of leading and motivating team members.

· Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

· Resilient, focused on resolving challenges and identifying solutions.

· Ability to build relationships, with speed and credibility, at all levels.

· Experienced in developing integrated management reports.

· A style adaptable to suit different disciplines and multi-task.

· Advanced skills in Office 365, in particular Microsoft Excel.

· Experience of multi-partner project delivery.

· Experience in managing key programme management office functions, in particular risk management.

· Strong written communications skills, able to produce content for a variety of audiences, demonstrating numeracy and literacy, and applying expert knowledge.

· Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence others and manage relationships.

· Knowledge of the events sectors and/or cultural Festivals or venues.

· Experience of working for a publicly funded project.

· Experience of large-scale major programme.

· Experience of delivering projects and products using the appropriate agile project management methodology, learning & iterating frequently.

· Advanced knowledge of the Smartsheets platform.

· Understanding of project management in a creative / artistic context.

We will consider a secondment from an existing organisation or public body for this role.

Festival UK* 2022 is committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the UK. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply and welcome applications from individuals with skills and lived experience to help us ensure the Festival is representative of the communities it will engage and celebrate.

The principles “FREDIE” (Fairness – Respect – Equality – Diversity – Inclusion and Engagement)

support our aim of delivering an inclusive Festival

Page 2

© Festival 2022 Ltd