Job Description

Job Title:ProgrammeDirector, Active Cities and Towns

Reference:SUS2355

Salary:Grade K: £45,023 - £49,146 per annum

(dependent on relevant skills and experience)

Hours:37.5 per week

Fixed Term:contract to 30 June 2021

Base:Sustrans Scotland office in Edinburgh

Purpose of Job:

To lead the Active Cities and Towns programme at Sustrans being responsible for the management and delivery of all our work to help deliver the vision of the Scottish Government’s ‘2017-18 Programme for Government (PfG): A Nation with Ambition’, which is‘to make Scotland’s towns and cities more pleasant and safe for walking and cycling‘.

As a key stakeholder and delivery partner of Scottish Government, Sustrans will be working closely with Transport Scotland (the SG’s transport delivery agency) and other partners.

As programme lead the postholder is responsible for ensuring the provision of effective programme governance, the maintenance of appropriate detailed plans, programme budgets and risk and issues management.

Management Structure:

The post-holder will report to the Project Sponsor, who is the National Director, Scotland and a governance structure that includesa Programme Governance Group who provide strategic oversight of the ACT programme.

The post-holder will oversee and task staff in different areas of the business who are assigned to carry out work in support of the ACT progamme, though they have a direct line management reporting structure to the Deputy Director, Scotland.

With the Project Sponsor, the ACT Programme Director will report on progress to Sustrans Executive management team and the Board of Trustees of Sustrans.

Key Relationships:

Internal:National Director, Scotland

Deputy Director, Scotland

Programme Governance Group

Heads of Delivery, Sustrans Scotland

Sustrans Executive management team

Board of Trustees of Sustrans

Various senior Sustrans staff, leading in: Fundraising,

Senior Leadership Team, Scotland

Other teams and staff based in Scotland including but not restricted to Policy & Communications, Finance, Business Support.

Head of Infrastructure Delivery, London

External:Key civil servants in Scottish Government and Transport Scotland.

Scottish Government departments and Transport Scotland delivery teams working to help realise the PfG vision.

Sustrans project delivery partners in Scotland: local authorities, regional transport partnerships, national parks, Scottish Canals, community development trusts, etc.

Third Sector organisations collaborating with Sustrans to deliver the PfG vision.

Key Responsibilities:

Programme Management

  • To manage and lead the Active Cities and Towns programmein Scotland and to be accountable for the delivery of its principle outputsaimed at realizing the vision of the 2018 Programme for Government.
  • To work with the existing external consultant scoping the ACT Programme to ensure effective programme governance is set upincluding: formation of a programme delivery team that meets regularly, preparation of the programme plan, design and preparation of risk and issues logs, communications plan, stakeholder analysis, and any other documentation or programme structures necessary to ensure the programme’s success.
  • To ensure ongoing maintenance and effectiveness of the programme governance including maintenance and implementation of the risk and issues logs, communications plan, stakeholder analysis, regular programme reports for the steering group, as well as any other documentation or programme structures necessary to ensure the programme’s success.
  • To ensure that programme deadlines are kept and review periods assess the progress of the project.
  • To lead the programme to its planned and successful conclusion and preparethe final review reportfor sign-off by the Board of Trustees.
  • To lead the programme over and across all of Sustrans areas of work in Scotland: thematic and geographical.
  • To manage the programme budget efficiently and accuratelywith budgetary management.
  • To grow Sustrans relationships with its stakeholders and delivery Partners.

People management

  • To task manage the 5 Heads of Delivery to assist them and supervise their work delivering the practical projects that constitute the ACT programme.

Communication and marketing

  • To ensure that the ACT programme communicates effectively with key stakeholders to ensure its potential for success.
  • To contribute towards raising the profile of Sustrans, by representing the charity at meetings, activities and events, as required in the absence of the National and / or Deputy Director.
  • To support and comply with the charity’s guidance on branding, tone of voice and key messages, positively contributing towards raising Sustrans’ profile.

Training and personal development:

  • To attend essential Sustrans training as required by the Charity.
  • To ensure own personal development by working to objectives set as part of the Charity’s appraisal process.

Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

  • To support and comply with the organisation’s policy for the management of Health and Safety.
  • To support and comply with the organisation’s policies for the management of safeguarding.
  • To support and comply with the organisation’s policy and procedures relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and apply principles of best practice in own role.

Other

  • To perform any other duties consistent with the nature and grade of the role as agreed with the line manager.

Working Conditions:

The postholder will be based the Sustrans office in Edinburgh, though there is also opportunity to work from home as appropriate. There will be the occasional need to travel to other locations and Sustrans offices around the UK andfor overnight stays away from home.

Special Note:

This job description does not form part of the contract of employment, but indicates how that contract should be performed. The job description may be subject to amendment in the light of experience and in consultation with the jobholder.

Compiled by: HR and Support Services Director

Date:February 2018

Programme Director, Active Cities and Towns(SUS2355)

Person Specification

Criteria / Essential
Qualifications, education and training /
  • Educated to degree level or equivalentor equivalent experience

Experience /
  • Significant experience of successful delivery of complex programmes at a senior level
  • Substantial experience of building strong relationships with key programme stakeholders
  • Substantial experience of delivering programmes to time, budget and meeting agreed outputs and outcomes.
  • Experience of setting and achieving strategic direction and objectives
  • Experience of delivering varied strategic work streams
  • Experience of high level budgetary management, ideally in a grant setting
  • Experience of strategy development
  • Experience of managing teams of staff at senior level
  • A proven track record in networking at strategic and senior levels, including with civil servants
  • Experience of client management
  • Substantial experience of people management.
  • Experience of organisational development

Skills and abilities /
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills with people at all levels in an organisation
  • Strong effective leadership skills
  • Ability to provide strategic leadership, ensuring that the overall vision is maintained alongside the daily operations of the organisation.
  • Demonstrable capability for strategic thinking.
  • Proven ability to work collaboratively with external consultants, senior colleagues and organisational partners
  • Excellent persuasion and influencing skills
  • Ability to facilitate, maintain and manage good working relationships.
  • Ability to make compelling presentations and written submissions.
  • Ability to write reports for external clients
  • Research skills.
  • Ability to develop fresh approaches and innovate as appropriate.

Knowledge /
  • Good working knowledge and understanding of networks
  • Good knowledge of the national and local political and governing structures in Scotland

Other /
  • A commitment to the ideals of Sustrans

Criteria / Desirable
Experience /
  • Experience of working at a strategic level with external stakeholders (e.g. government)

Knowledge /
  • An understanding of Sustrans mission and values.