Strategy Delivery Manager

The Strategy Delivery Manager is a new, additional role created to aid the strategic delivery of the Digital Assessment Initiative. The Digital Assessment Initiative is one of the IB's key strategic transformation initiatives focused on transitioning the external examinations of the Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) from paper based to digital format. Reporting into the Strategy Delivery Senior Manager, the incumbent will drive and manage vendor delivery and release management across two of the four project delivery workstreams. The role requires close collaboration with a variety of internal stakeholders, ensuring seamless coordination, proactive and efficient communication, and strict adherence to project timelines. The Strategy Delivery Manager will be responsible for managing vendor performance, mitigating risks, and ensuring the accountability of internal deliverables which align with internal and external dependencies and timelines, especially during the critical phases of trials, release, testing, and technical resolutions.,

• Project Management: Lead project management efforts across the school readiness and support and assessment development workstreams, ensuring balanced support and focus on the vendor. Deliver timely and accurate reporting and communications for a variety of audiences, including senior executives.
• Vendor and Cross-Team Coordination: Oversee daily communication, follow-ups, and coordination between the vendor, the assessment team, and other relevant workstreams and program of work.
• Vendor Management: Manage vendor performance, ensuring timely delivery, meeting project expectations, and holding them accountable to agreed deliverables and project plan.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the IT and assessment delivery teams to ensure integration across all streams and coordinated project execution.
• Issue and Risk Management: Identify and escalate risks associated with vendor and other interdependent streams, coordinating mitigations and resolutions with the program manager. Identify resolution options and recommendations when issues arise.
• Project Scheduling: Manage project schedules, track deliverables, ensure documentation is up-to-date, and ensure signoffs occur promptly. This includes coordination during test and school trial phases.
• Accountability: Drive accountability within the project team and with the vendor and ensure consistent communication with key stakeholders.
  
  Extensive Project Management experience navigating complex multi-workstream programmes.
• Confident manager of third-party vendors, particularly in high-pressure environments requiring coordination across multiple teams.
• Sufficient technical knowledge to understand the scope of technical requirements in order to ask the right questions at the right times of the vendor and facilitate appropriate project planning and response to issues, in close collaboration with relevant workstreams leads, business analysts, project managers and architect.
• Expert risk identification, mitigation, and escalation skills.
• Prior exposure to the education, assessments development, or edtech sectors is highly advantageous, but not essential for success.
• Knowledge of release management processes and the management of projects with complex technical and trial-related interdependencies, defining clear project plans to support these.
• Deep understanding of strategic planning and project management methodologies.
• Proficiency in project management software and tools.
• Strong data analysis skills, with the ability to derive insights and drive decisions.
  
  In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including:
• 10% employer pension contribution (3% employee contribution required)
• Enhanced family friendly benefits
• 25 Days annual leave, plus public holidays, with the choice to buy up to 5 days additional annual leave
• Life assurance 4x annual salary
• Flexible working hours
• Paid volunteering leave
• Excellent continuous professional development
• 1.5 % Flexible benefits allowance
• Health and wellness schemes
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discounts on a range of products, including days out
• Cash back opportunities available from a wide range of retailers
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free on-site car parking