Head of Programme Management Office

East Kent is on an exciting journey, and the Programme Management Office is at the very heart of transformation of the Trust. EKHUFT faces significant demographic pressures, the Trust is forecasting increasing demand on its services, with the local population expected to grow by 6% over the next 20 years and a 36% increase in people aged 75+ in Kent.
The Programme Management Office leads the way in developing, delivering and overseeing change in the Trust that will meet these challenges, while continuing our path to being a financially sustainable organisation. The role of Head of PMO is critical in bringing the whole Trust together to deliver our most challenging efficiency and improvement opportunities.
As Head of PMO you will be responsible for building an effective, proactive and flexible delivery assurance function to support complex multifaceted programmes. At its heart, the PMO is focussed on facilitating the successful delivery of East Kent's cost improvement programme while taking steps to build a common approach to all major change activity across the Trust., As an experienced delivery leader, you will provide leadership in programme management and ensure best practice assurance standards are applied to successfully deliver both cost and wider improvement initiatives. Further you will act as a central point for problem solving key issues across the organisation that are blocking delivery through the use of structured methods and your own personal influence.
Such methods include establishing and maintaining robust programme management processes (including reporting), supporting key governance forums, facilitating the resolution of strategic issues and interdependencies and providing flexible targeted support to facilitate delivery. The Team is expected to challenge, review and support Managers and Clinicians and be able to influence senior colleagues within the organisation.
Sound financial literacy is an important part of the role and the Head of PMO will be expected to make a positive contribution to the analysis, development and delivery of financial sustainability plans. You will develop close and effective ways of working with other Finance Teams, confidently reflect cost improvement performance in senior governance forums and support the Trust to create a pipeline of realistic and impactful future efficiency opportunities., The Programme Management Office is primarily responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of the Trust's Cost Improvement Programme (CIP). Enabled by the PMO, the trust has made significant progress in the current financial year and on track to achieve a significant reduction in the Trust's deficit. The Trust's long-term Financial Sustainability Plan sets the direction for future years with opportunities around further transformation, digital enablement and continued service improvement. As one of the top priorities of the Executive Team, the PMO team is building its capacity and capability to seize these opportunities and therefore a fantastic time to join to build and lead the team into this exciting next phase.
The PMO leads the delivery of these objectives by:
· Working in Partnership: Developing high performing, interdisciplinary partnerships at all levels so that momentum is maintained, issues are addressed proactively and that there remains a steady stream of improvement opportunities.
· Strong Executive Engagement: As trusted advisers to the Trust leadership, the PMO ensures that risk and issues can be quickly escalated and resolved.
· Clear Standards and Governance: Putting in place best practice Project and Programme Management standards and robust governance that provides assurance over the impact of interventions against objectives and on quality and patient outcomes.
· Sound Financial Methodology: Working closely with Finance Leads, PMO leads and the nominated SROs for each project to ensure there is a defined and agreed methodology underpinning the monthly quantification of delivered savings.
· Improvement Culture: Supporting the Trust to think innovatively, spot opportunities and build wider capability to ensure efficiency and improvement remain a Trust wide focus.
Reporting directly to the Director of Continuous Improvement, the post-holder will be responsible for:
Leadership and Stakeholder Management
· Leading the PMO function and overseeing the delivery, monitoring and reporting of a portfolio of major improvement programmes within the Trust.
· Providing an NHS leading assurance function for delivery of the Trust's cost improvement programme and Financial Sustainability Plan.
· Developing close working relationships with Trust Senior Leaders, Programme and Project leads and their teams, clinical teams and corporate departments to ensure successful delivery.
· Leading senior stakeholders in regularly reviewing the continuing relevance of projects based on a clear understanding of cost, risk and benefits.
· Supporting the wider Executive in leading the improved visibility and positive change narrative around cost improvement and culture of efficiency.
· Championing the implementation of the portfolio across the organisation and providing overall lead and direction. You will promote an energised culture focused on collaborative working in the interests of the organisation and portfolio as a whole.
· Fulfilling line management responsibilities in line with Trust policies and procedures
Portfolio Management
· Supporting multiple cost improvement schemes through the provision of expert programme management capability. These schemes will by their nature be complex and have a number of material sub projects / components with significant savings returns.
· Leading the prioritisation of projects and cost improvement schemes for entry to portfolio in line with strategic objectives.
· Ensuring the portfolio evolves to reflect changes in business priorities and that it is sufficiently balanced to optimise delivery. Secure the provision of resources needed from internal / external providers.
· Overseeing the tracking of progress against plans, ensuring appropriate processes are in place to flag issues, risks and concerns with the relevant stakeholders
· Utilising knowledge of system, data, operational performance to contribute ideas, challenge existing ideas and support development of innovative solutions to challenges faced.
· Demonstrating a methodical and structured approach along with extensive change management, quality improvement and programme management skills and the ability to manage all aspects of the full project lifecycle.
· Managing complex dependencies that change working practices from clinicians, operational staff and managers helping to realise more efficient services across East Kent.
Governance and Reporting
· Maintain oversight of portfolio progress. Support governance boards for taking decisions on portfolio development in response to escalated risks or opportunities. Gain executive approval for the overall delivery strategy and implementation.
· Working alongside Finance leadership to secure Trust wide agreement to the quantification of financial benefits and the process of monitoring and report on delivery against these.
· Ensuring the Quality Impact Assessment process is robust and effective. Each cost improvement project requires a Quality Impact Assessment that has been reviewed and approved by the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer and Chief Medical Officer.
· Develop and maintain the Programme Management Office control assurance documents.
· Present on the progress of the financial improvement pipeline and delivery to be reported at different forums including: Finance Improvement Board, Finance and Performance Committee and Internal Audit and Governance Committee.
Financial Planning and Analysis
· Drive innovation and ideas generation within the Board, taking an active role in developing new programmes to improve efficiencies. Investigate/research and use best practice from within the NHS and beyond to inform improvement programmes.
· To maintain a healthy pipeline of cost improvement opportunities that is enhanced through regular ideas generation with Trust Care Groups.
· To produce in advance of the new financial year a board approved cost improvement plan (that meets the required Trust cost savings target) based upon cash releasing efficiency opportunities.
· Directly support the Director of Finance and other Executive Directors in the delivery of pay and non-pay Grip and Control activities, ensuring processes are working efficiently and effectively and maintaining the appropriate level of organisation wide challenge.
· Liaise with Finance Managers to ensure project finances and savings logic reconcile with financial values captured in the development pipeline.
· Reporting against the cost-improvement plan and ensuring that appropriate mitigating action is taken.
· To manage both the PMO and associated programme budgets.
· Deliver cost improvement delivery assurance training sessions to managers, clinicians and other stakeholders.

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.