Head of Programs and Transformation

A senior professional the Program Director /Head of Programs is responsible for managing a team of professional Project/Program Management Team and driving project/Program delivery excellence throughout their assigned portfolio by applying a broad range of recognized project/Program management methodologies. This includes team leadership covering both project/Program delivery and support. Accountable for the successful delivery of major complex projects/Programs that span Commercial and/or Technology managing integrated project teams in a matrix organization.

Duties

• People and Talent Management:
  • Effective leadership and development of a team of project/Program Managers.
  • Ensure disciplined project management throughout the project management function.
  • Identify development activities to ensure professional development of team members to support building individual and team capability and robust succession plans within the project management function.
  • Effectively exploit and develop the knowledge of people from all functions.
  • Map Programs or work and understand clearly the different role profiles, team structures and competencies required to deliver the goals and objectives of the project.
  • Create inclusive and coordinated project environments to maximise the effectiveness of teams to achieve project success and for individuals to develop.
  • Work closely with the Site Management Team to ensure alignment of the site goals and activities, pursue, develop and implement best practice and continuous improvement processes and procedures throughout the business.
• Project/Program Management:
  • Accountable for the initiating, planning, monitoring & controlling, communicating and close‑out phases for all assigned projects, which includes the completion of Product Lifecycle Process Gates where applicable. Apply best practise and operate in accordance with relevant Smith Detection Program Excellence Centre (PEC) processes.
  • Lead the activities of integrated project and/or cross‑functional teams to achieve successful completion of projects/Programs to their committed delivery dates within budgeted costs and in accordance with relevant PEC processes.
  • Execute projects/Programs in accordance with the standardised business rhythm that coordinates the activities of project/Program management, finance and project controls teams. Accountable for ensuring that project records are maintained within defined software tools/databases.
  • Ensure that assigned projects/Programs have a minimum number of artefacts (e.g. Work breakdown Structure, Cost Breakdown Structure, Responsibility Assignment Matrix, RACI Matrix, time scheduling, resource planning, risk and change management controls, etc) commensurate to the project categorisation.
  • In coordination with the site financial managers, be accountable and responsible for the financial reporting elements of the portfolio deliverables; ensuring financial data is updated, controlled, aligned with Sales and Finance, in order to be presented by team members as requested.
  • Accountable for the establishment of cost and schedule baselines and the maintenance of such baselines through forecast updates and the management of scope. Ensure that the PEC defined risk and change control process is applied across the portfolio in accordance with the business rhythm.
  • With support from Project Controls conduct monthly variance analysis for explaining and interpreting impact against the baseline and the completion and tracking of corrective/preventative actions. Chair monthly project/Program reviews or ad‑hoc as required.
  • Act as a role model and mentor to project/Program management team members. Provide ad‑hoc support based on their experience.
  • When required, act as a Deputy for the Head of Market/Global Programs Director. This will include duties such as supervising activities of team members and leading or providing representation at reviews or meetings.
  • Embrace and act as a champion for collaboration across Global Programs and wider global Smiths Detection business. Responsible for integrating assigned Commercial and/or Technology projects/Programs where necessary to maximise effective end‑to‑end delivery.
  • Typical duties specific to Commercial orientated projects/Programs include:
    • Deliver competitive customer tenders working in accordance with the Bid and Pursue Program Lifecycle Process with emphasis on the preparation of a compliance matrix and providing a clear account of associated risks.
    • Manage the teams to define and derive opportunity requirements to enable cost effective and winning proposals are tendered with ensuring any bids that the business wins have a delivery profile and cost base that is achievable.
    • Work closely with the Sales team on the bid strategy, bid preparation, proposal support to customer and contract negotiation.
    • Negotiate and reach agreement with customers or end users on aspects such as project/Program deliverables, specifications, detailed requirements, budget/contract value or schedule.
    • Responsible for completing project/Program Kick‑off and Sales to Project/Program Management Handover.
    • External stakeholder management during project/Program execution, acting as a key customer interface and delivering in accordance with customer expectations, but robustly managing scope as per defined contractual requirements. This includes progress reporting, change management, risk and issues management and contract closeout.
    • Finance management covering revenue recognition and reporting.
    • Accountable for successful handover to service.
  • Typical duties specific to Technology orientated projects/Programs include:
    • Initiate and control feasibility or science and technology studies in accordance with the PEC Technology Development Management Process.
    • Lead the planning and execution of product development, enhancement or sustaining projects defined by an approved business case prepared by Product Management.
    • Work closely with Product Management to deliver project/Program outcomes in accordance with the business case or to manage adjustments in a controlled manner. Initiate product release activities and support the handover to Manufacturing resolving issues as required.
    • Support the resolution of field service issues or product complaints.
    • External stakeholder management emphasis will be collaborating with suppliers and the achievement of defined objectives.
• Commercial:
  • Assuring that best industry practise project/Program management is employed and through customer reporting provide confidence that projects/Programs are being monitored and controlled in a professional manner.
  • By delivering projects/Programs to scope the team will satisfy our customer commitments, provide innovative products to the marketplace and maximise shareholder return.
• Policies and Procedures:
  • Ensure portfolio compliance with company policies for Ethics, Health, Safety and Environment.
  • Promote and lead business change in support of the in‑progress initiative to standardise and integrate Program Lifecycle Management, Product Lifecycle Process and Technology Development Management Process into a PEC process framework for application across the global business.
  • Contribute to regular maintenance of the PEC process framework to ensure that it accurately reflects Smiths Detection project/Program management practices or identified improvements.
  • Follows a proactive approach to developing an understanding of company policies and procedures and in the first instance uses resources such as training material, procedure documents and process guidelines as a go‑to source.

Qualifications

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Educational requirements:

• Internationally recognised professional qualification in project/Program management (equivalent to IPMA level B/C) essential.
• Degree qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline (Business/Project/Program Management or Technology/Engineering) desirable.

Knowledge:

• Extensive knowledge of project/Program management methodologies (e.g. Waterfall, PRINCE2, Agile etc) gleaned from a mixture of experience, exposure and training.
• Good level of understanding of planning methodologies/techniques and other aspects of project controls such as earned value management.
• Awareness of complex integrated technology‑based sensor systems and the critical roles that the technology and products play in the market.
• Awareness of the main priorities of typical cross‑functions and how they operate and support the delivery of major technology projects/Programs (such as R&D, Legal, Finance, Supply Chain, Service etc).

Skills:

• Extensive experience operating as a project/Program manager essential. Direct experience of engineering/technology or construction/infrastructure environments desirable. Can demonstrate experience of the complete project lifecycle and degrees of project complexity.
• Experience managing a portfolio and line management experience desirable.
• Strong verbal and written communication and people management skills.
• Proven problem‑solving skills combined with extensive experience leading integrated teams to benefit the delivery of projects/Programs.
• Developed experience of baseline planning and scheduling, forecasting and estimating, cost/schedule integration techniques.
• Exposure to resource management and integration with Integrated Business Planning.
• Experience in critical path analysis, reporting, risk management tracking and the completion of corrective action plans.
• Experience of or exposure to the use of estimating, scheduling, risk and change software tools such as: SAP, Primavera, Oracle ERP, MS Project, Pertmaster, Active Risk Manager, Cobra, Power BI.
• Capable of driving continuous improvement across all aspects of areas of responsibility adopting both formal and informal approaches.
• High level of experience of product development covering product introduction, enhancement and sustaining and/or managing a customer in a commercial environment.

Competence and Abilities:

• Ability to demonstrate strong leadership and interpersonal skills with a natural passion to deliver against commitments.
• Ability to communicate at all levels of the organisation recognising the level of details that is required for a particular audience.
• Significant ability to build and manage a multicultural team in a matrix environment and influence people outside of direct reporting relationships.
• Advanced vision, attention to detail, highly organised and proven ability to work under own initiative developing methods and procedures for new assignments.
• Significant ability to influence and act as a champion for project/Program governance, particularly those related to project/Program management.
• Lead the production and control of baselined, fully logic linked, cost and resource loaded plans, with appropriate milestones utilising approved work breakdown structures and techniques.
• Capable of producing special reports for the Senior Leadership Team within short timescales and comfortable working with ambiguity.
• Leading the application of change activities from proposal through to integration into the Performance Measurement Baseline.
• Must be willing to undertake occasional business trips at home and abroad.

Additional Information

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world‑leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

The total compensation for this position ranges from $140,422 - $210,634 $/yr (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, & abilities of the applicant and the alignment with the internal team & market data). This role offers a competitive Business Profit Plan. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental & vision insurance; 401(k) with company match; paid time off; and other benefits. For details, please visit the Rewards & Benefits tab on our main careers page at

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.

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We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

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