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NHS Business Services Authority
About
The NHSBSA values and respects the diversity of its employees, and aims to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities. We welcome applications irrespective of people’s age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
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Assurance Specialist
Closed for applications on: 5-Mar-2024 00:03
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 5-Mar-2024 00:03
Key details
Location
- Site
- Stella House
- Address
- Goldcrest Way
- Town
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
- Postcode
- NE15 8NY
- Major / Minor Region
- Tyne and Wear
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
Salary
- Salary
- £43,742 - £50,056 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 7)
Specialty
- Main area
- Assurance Specialist
Job overview
Job Overview
Here in the Portfolio Management Directorate (PMD) we have a proven track record of putting our colleagues first and enabling career growth and development. This is an exciting new role within a newly formed team which looks to contribute to the further success of the directorate and its people. PMD is one of 8 directorates within the NHS Business Services Authority, an arms-length body of the Department of Health and Social Care.
We’re looking for an Assurance Specialist who can support on large-scale projects and programmes of change work. The successful candidate will communicate well at all levels, motivate/coach colleagues and strive to establish best practice methods.
You’ll be joining the Assurance team within our Portfolio Management Directorate, driving and embedding quality assurance across some of our largest and most complex programmes. You’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with the wider business and build relationships with stakeholders in all different areas of the NHS BSA and beyond.
What do we offer?
- 27 days leave (increasing with length of service) plus bank holidays
- Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)
- Flexi time
- Hybrid working model (we are currently working largely remotely)
- Career development
- Active wellbeing and inclusion networks
- Excellent pension (20.6% employer contribution)
- NHS Car lease scheme
- Access to a wide range of benefits and high street discounts!
Advert
- Deliver an increase of assurance across the portfolio of change whilst aligning with GovS002[GD1] The government standard for the direction and management of portfolios, programmes, and projects.
- Support members of the Assurance team by sharing best practice and expert knowledge of assurance regarding standards, processes and methods, providing training where needed.
- Lead on internal assurance reviews across the portfolio, creating cross functional review teams to embed best practice and drive efficient delivery of the Portfolio Change Plan
- Providing assurance for projects and programmes with multi-year cost profiles often of >£10m, which may also be subject to external oversight.
Support the development of portfolio assurance within the NHSBSA to help drive its understanding of portfolio, project and assurance standards, and increase its maturity level. - Facilitate critical friend reviews, encouraging open and honest dialogue across the portfolio to promote learning and improvement
Lead on the timely and accurate reporting of assurance to Programme and Project Boards, NHSBSA Leadership Team and governance forums as appropriate. - Develop constructive and productive working relationships with programme and project managers to support cross-programme and project management collaboration.
- Positively challenging stakeholders and senior managers and consult to provide advice on assurance matters.
- Be an authority for assurance-related activity, providing expert guidance and support.
Working for our organisation
Here at the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), what we do matters.
We manage the NHS Pension scheme, process prescription payments and much more. Our services are used by NHS organisations, contractors and the public: we take pride in being part of something so meaningful, that touches millions of lives.
Just as we design our services around the needs of our customers, we place our people at the heart of our organisation. That’s why when you join us, you’ll be empowered and given the right support to help your career grow.
As one of the UK’s Best Big Companies to work for, we’re all connected to our values: Collaborative, Adventurous, Reliable and Energetic. We care about our people, our purpose, and your progress.
We strive to offer a fantastic colleague experience, where every voice is heard, and every colleague is supported and respected. Wellbeing, diversity and inclusion is at the centre of this, so when you join us, you can connect with our Lived Experience Networks who help us to bring our authentic selves to work.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and circumstances. We are committed and proud to be a flexible employer and will endeavour to offer a working pattern that suits you wherever possible, whether that be hybrid working, flexible hours, job sharing and more.
Ready to join us on our journey to be a catalyst for better health? Apply today and see where the NHSBSA can take you.
We are people connected to care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In this role, you are accountable for:
Quality Assurance
- Driving increased assurance across the portfolio of change and aligning the function with GovS002 Project Delivery Functional Standards
- Act as Independent QA role on programmes and projects internally within the NHSBSA and externally in collaboration with IPA, as appropriate
- Responsible for delivering programme and project assurance across the NHSBSA portfolio of change
- Driving the safe delivery of Portfolio Change Plan via ‘critical friend’ support at project and programme level and provision of assurance reviews and feedback to project and programme boards and senior governance forums
- Working with the Portfolio Assurance Manager to establish and continuously improve the portfolio assurance framework for NHSBSA
- Lead on internal assurance reviews across the portfolio, creating cross functional review teams to embed best practice and drive efficient and effective delivery of the Portfolio Change Plan
- Identify, develop and share best practice assurance processes, tools and templates and benchmarks against industry standard. Provides direction and guidance to the programme/project team
- Deputise for the Portfolio Assurance Manager, as required
- Provide independent assessment and confirmation that programmes and projects are on track and remain aligned to NHSBSA strategic goals and objectives
- Providing assurance for projects and programmes with multi-year cost profiles often of >£10m which may also be subject to external oversight
- Determine appropriate assurance activities to support effective and efficient delivery and ensure change work is set up for success in meeting its objectives and benefits, as stated within the business case
- Where necessary, ensure appropriate external assurance reviews are arranged (eg Gateway Reviews) at appropriate points in the project lifecycle
- Support external assurance reviews (e.g. from IPA) and ensure that recommendations from external reviews are acted upon
- Support internal and external audits, driving resultant action plans and sharing lessons learnt across the organisation
- Undertake quality assurance of Business Cases and Portfolio Change controls
- Escalate and challenge Leadership Team members appropriately on assurance and governance matters
- Oversee compliance with change request process as defined in NHSBSA Portfolio Delivery Framework and Project Management Framework, escalating non-compliance
- Contribute to portfolio maturity assessment across the NHSBSA
- Supports the Portfolio Office Manager to ensure that portfolio reporting to senior governance forums accurately reflects project and programme status including assurance reviews
- Effectively communicate standards, processes and methods, providing training as necessary
- Plan and deliver internal IPA review panels and compile gap analysis reports
- Maintain close links and networks to promote industry recognised good practice on assurance and governance methods
- Working with the Portfolio Assurance Manager, random sampling of Project Checkpoints and point of escalation for the Checkpoint Process, influencing outcomes and driving compliance ensuring the correct level of governance, control and legal compliance
- Identify areas where data quality could be improved and highlighting risks to both programmes and projects; working with Professional Development Leads to drive up standards and improve project management culture
- Be accountable for own personal development needs in order to be fully equipped to meet future organisational needs
Planning
- Responsible for leading assurance activities across one or several projects/programmes
- Provides guidance and support to integrated assurance planning, as appropriate
- Works with Portfolio Office and Assurance Lead and Portfolio Assurance Manager to confirm assurance resource allocation and priority
Reporting
- Leads on the timely and accurate reporting of assurance to Programme and Project Boards to which assigned, NHSBSA Leadership Team and governance forums (i.e. LT, Portfolio Board, PPAG and PRBs) and external forums (i.e. DHSC Portfolio Office, Cabinet Office etc), as appropriate
- Reports the outcomes of reviews to all relevant stakeholders, confirms their understanding and acceptance, and agreeing resulting actions
- Ensures agreed actions are implemented from assurance reviews undertaken
Stakeholder Management
- Develop constructive and productive working relationships with programme and project managers to support cross-programme and project management collaboration
- Positively challenging programme stakeholders and senior managers and consult to provide advice on assurance matters, particularly where programmes and projects are not tracking to plan
Knowledge & information management
- Recognised as an authority for assurance-related activity, providing expert guidance and support
- Set knowledge and information processes that conforms with the organisation’s standards
- Ensure learning from experience is disseminated across the Portfolio Management Directorate and wider organisation
- Working with the Portfolio Assurance Manager develop and share good practice and techniques with the Portfolio Management Directorate and the wider change community
- Provide expert guidance and support via assurance reviews and recommendations, supporting the effective and efficient delivery of the Portfolio Change Plan
- Develop and deliver training and guidance on all aspects of assurance to stakeholders at all levels within the organisation, ensuring use of the PPM Tool for recording programme and project delivery
In addition to the above accountabilities, as post holder you are expected to :
- Provide peer support and mentoring to PMD colleagues to support capability development
- Actively contribute to the portfolio delivery, portfolio office, assurance and planning professions within, and outside, the NHSBSA
- Undertake additional duties and responsibilities in line with the purpose of your role and as agreed by your line manager
- Demonstrate NHSBSA values and core capabilities in all aspects of your work
- Encourage an environment where your own and colleagues’ safety and well-being is promoted
- Contribute to a culture which values diversity and inclusion
- Follow NHSBSA policies, procedures, and protocols as they apply to your role
Person specification
Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Knowledge in collaborating with colleagues to realise delivery of a change project/programme
- Ability to constructively challenge, influence, change and impact decisions
- Able to use initiative and determine priorities and reprioritise planned work for self and others
- Seeks to establish best practice methods and continuously improve team
- Ability to engage, motivate and coach colleagues
- Strong communication, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
Desirable criteria
- Acts as a role model, using motivational skills to inspire others
- Ability to foresee potential challenges and explore alternative options
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive assurance experience or appropriate experience from a different area within a project environment
- Significant experience of senior stakeholder management, influencing, collaborating and appropriately challenging leadership
- Successful track record in portfolio or programme management with multi-year cost profiles, often in range of >£10m using recognised methodologies
- Experience of dependency, risks and issues management
Desirable criteria
- Worked in the NHS or other large organisation
- Experience/knowledge of UK Government financial controls
- Experience of formal mentoring, coaching and development of colleagues
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Formal project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, AMP, Agile PM)
- IPA Accredited Assurance Review Team Member or seeking accreditation
Desirable criteria
- Masters or post-graduate in leadership, management or change management discipline
- Qualified in e.g. Management of Portfolios Practitioner, Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner, APM Registered Project Professional, P3O Practitioner
- Formal qualification in a change/project related discipline (e.g. Change management, Better Business cases)
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Andrew Peacock
- Job title
- Portfolio Assurance Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
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