Senior Manager - Portfolio & Programme Management

Acuity are currently looking for experienced management consultants / project managers to further develop the ‘Corporate Transformation’ Service Line.

Acuity is the advisory business from the Atkins Group. We help clients with big infrastructure and energy ambitions to deliver them successfully. Combining deep business acumen with the engineering expertise of Atkins, we offer seamless, end-to-end advisory services that build greater value, and ever rewarding partnerships.

Acuity advisory services help clients achieve genuine benefits from their investment and change programmes. We advise at senior levels on complex business problems, but we also take a hands-on role, to ensure the solutions aren't just conceived, they are delivered. Our ethos is to stand side-by-side with our clients until the real-world benefits of their investment and change programmes are realised.

Acuity Middle East operates a number of Services Lines; Cities & Urban Infrastructure, Corporate Transformation, Portfolio, Program & Asset Management (PPAM) and Transport.

Acuity are currently looking for experienced management consultants / project managers to further develop the ‘Corporate Transformation’ Service Line, grow our pipeline and lead the delivery of projects across the region with a focus on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The role will be based in the MENA region, and the successful candidate will be reporting to the Director of Corporate Transformation. If successful there will also be opportunity to work across other Services Lines within Acuity.

Portfolio & Programme Management provides a number of Sub-Services to our clients:

1. Portfolio & Programme Management Maturity Assessment
2. Portfolio & Programme Prioritisation & Optimisation
3. Portfolio & Programme Management Office Establishment & Operations
4. Portfolio & Programme Delivery Management
5. Capability Building & Knowledge Transfer

Responsibilities

• Expected business responsibilities include:
• Define the strategy and business plan for the Portfolio & Programme Management service line by working closely with the MD of Portfolio / Programme & Asset Management
• Define the Portfolio & Programme Management service offering and sub-service offerings
• Develop go to market strategy, approach and supporting material
• Build a pipeline of Portfolio & Programme Management opportunities
• Leverage existing network of clients and build new relationships within target market
• Recruit and manage a team of Portfolio & Programme Management and management consultancy professionals
• Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring, while giving feedback and constructive criticism
• Oversee and manage the delivery of Portfolio & Programme Management projects
• Manage and grow existing accounts demonstrating strong account management practices
• Represent Atkins Acuity in and speak at relevant seminars and conferences
• Accurately assess required level of effort for a task/project based on experience and manage, prioritise and plan what activities/tasks need to be completed in-order to meet objectives

Technical Responsibilities

Expected technical responsibilities include

• Plan and execute multi-million dollar projects including multiple delivery partners
• Lead a Portfolio / Program Management Office (10 to 12 team members).
• Prepare Project Charters to deliver multiple project workstreams based on workstream timeline and resources.
• Manage end to end project management deliverables within the specified time, cost and resources.
• Manage and drive large scale change management process for organization transformation
• Perform design and/or redesign of business processes & procedures to improve operational efficiency
• Execute critical root cause analysis to drive strategic change by improving the current processes & procedures standing
• Manage the processes & procedures change, and train & guide teams on processes & procedures improvements
• Ensure full integration of all processes & procedures in alignment with best practices
• Processes & Procedures value stream mapping
• Build road maps for a range of processes & procedures design deliverables including, but not limited to, strategic alternatives, value stream analysis, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), business architectures and process standards
• Develop PMO’s risk management and mitigation procedures

Basic & Technical Competencies

• Shall be qualified with a degree (preferably Business Management or Engineering)
• 10 to 12 years of relevant experience in Portfolio & Programme Management in a management consultancy / advisory services capacity
• The ideal candidate should be someone who has worked in a Management Consultant capacity preferably with a Big Four Consultancy or Global strategy houses or international management consultancies in the Middle East region.
• Strong analytical, organizational, multi-tasking, presentation, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Proven experience of planning & reporting tools, including MS Project, Primavera – P6, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint
• The Candidate must possess excellent working knowledge of project management best practices.
• Compliance best practices in management and improving business processes
• Excellent commercial and financial acumen related to project budgeting and cost estimation
• Self-motivated and determined to pursue continuous improvement, which is essential to processes & procedures development
• Ability to structure a large amount of information within a process framework
• Strong data management and detail oriented

Sector exposure and experience of the following areas

• Infrastructure development & Construction
• Transport, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management
• Public administration
• Municipal services and urban development
• Knowledge and experience in the following:
• Developing standard PM methods, reporting and dashboarding structures
• Developing issue and change management frameworks, processes and procedures
• Portfolio & Programme Management Framework & Process Development 
• Production of Portfolio & Programme Management Policies & Procedures
• Engage in Organization / Project Transformation exercises
• Maturity modelling, KPIs, stage gating, reporting templates, and PMO audit programme development

Core Behaviours

• Demonstrate drive, enthusiasm and commitment to projects while projecting a professional image
• Excellent planning and organisation skills
• Able to make decisions, act on own initiative and operate in a proactive manner with a positive attitude
• Function confidently and competently within client environment and has a positive impact on clients’ perception of Acuity
• Planning and Organizational agility: Accurately scopes length and difficulty of projects, setting realistically aggressive objectives and goals. Compensates for roadblocks and looks ahead to see impact on dependent activities.
• Consistently achieves high quality standards and requires limited direction and supervision
• Shows flexibility in tasks and location, and deals well with ambiguity
• Excellent communication skills – written and spoken English is essential (Arabic preferred)

Rewards and Benefits

We offer an excellent package which includes:

• A competitive tax free salary
• Accommodation allowance
• Transportation allowance
• 22 days annual leave (based on a 5 day working week)
• Medical and life insurance cover
• Company gratuity scheme
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Annual flight allowance to point of origin
• Employee Well-Being Program – 24 hour free advice on financial, legal and family care specialists and also access to personal health, fitness and nutrition consultants