The Project Operations Manager (POM) is a key role in the Project Operations team.The POM works with engineering teams supporting Job Leaders and Project Directors with the planning and financial management of their projects, and the Discipline Leaders with efficient resourcing and utilisation of their groups, under the guidance of the Project Operations Team Leader and support of the wider team.
As a Project Operations Manager you will oversee and implement financial operations within the engineering teams to ensure consistency of approach and to identify, help manage and mitigate exposure to commercial risk.
Responsibilities
- Provide guidance and regular reporting to Job Leaders (JLs) and to keep jobs on track with planned resourcing and in profit, and to escalate where any risks are perceived
- Provide support and regular insight to Discipline Leaders (DLs) to allow them to maintain an appropriate team for their workload, and to allow the business to understand resource commitment and availability.
- Hold close, trusted relationships with the engineering teams and wider support teams and make sure communication routes are open and conversation is regular in order that appropriate action can be taken as early as possible.
- Provide continuity and a point of contact so a regular cycle of monthly checking, meeting and reporting is in place and observed by the teams.
- Build commercial awareness and support within discipline drawing on a deep understanding of process, budgets and approval processes, in order to create an increasing financially sustainable business proposition.
Leadership
Manage Project Operations Coordinator(s) where relevant and provides coaching and mentoring for them and the wider teamPrioritise work and set deadlines for both self (and Project Operations Coordinator(s) where relevant)Build and maintain strong relationships with other key stakeholders within business servicesBuild and maintain other internal and external relationships to allow growth of role and influence of teamRepresent Project Operations at meetings and within the wider business, contributing to wider operational meetings and improvement projectsContribute to team projects, under guidance of Team LeaderCarry out peer reviews within the Project Operations teamLook for improvement opportunities to drive positive changeAdvocate for best practice, hold position of trusted advisor, strive for and celebrate excellent performanceUnderstand wider business structure and roles and responsibilities of different business services teamsProject Setup
Create promotional projects for projects on Single Discipline Low Risk register and convert to liveSupport JLs with the creation of plans / plan templatesSupport JLs & PDs with conversion of projects from Promotional to Live making sure contingencies, taxes, directorship and PD time accounted for in fee allocation, and fees are allocated to disciplines and workstagesClose down associated bids in liaison with Project Operations Data Administrator, ensuring fees won are accurately recorded and marry up with the live project.Attend kick-off meetings in order to understand project delivery and anticipated risksProject Maintenance
Support JLs and PDs with plan adjustmentsReview portfolio performance with JLs in monthly or bimonthly 1-1 sessions particularly in relation to scope / deliverables and planned cost - advise on potential adjustments needed to plan, fee / contingency, and profit targets, and review planned vs actual costsAttend PD Reviews led by Regional Accountant (RA), provide planning and fee / contingency management guidance where neededReview existing Investment (I) projects / T (Technical) projects and support with any changes or updates requiredSupport DLs with review in week three of the accounting cycle of planned vs actual costs, mitigate forecast losses as far as possibleProject Close Out
Support PDs with the release of contingency, make workstages dormant as required and remove planned costs from plansProject Accounts
Attend project accounts meetings at month end, support JLs and PDs with plan and fee adjustments, and support conversations around additional fees requiredMonitor sub-consultants’ costs, support JLs with planning adjustmentsSupport JLs with liaison with Finance Housekeeping regarding misposted timeReview and update P projects and plans for PDs within the Cost CentreCreate promotional (P) plans and link to P projectsMaintain bids (checking start dates, fees and probabilities) and ensure plans are linked and missing data is completed, contacting others in the project team as necessaryClose bids (mark as won) and associated plans.Job Leader Reviews
Hold regular reviews with JLs to discuss job progress, understand deliverables, scope and programme and consider the fee and resource required to deliver the job, advise on any adjustments to be madeSupport JL with change management and fee / scope / programme negotiations with PDsReview planned versus actual cost bookings, contact JLs and follow up actionsAssist JLs with adjustmentsParticipate in regular group resourcing meetings, supporting and providing guidance where necessary to Discipline Leader and wider team, and helping them to identify available resourcesEnsure capacity reporting tool (RUBO) is up to date, paying specific attention to anticipated P projects starting within the monthSupport DLs with review of headcount and liason with HR to set up new starters / other leave / leavers / errorsReview Non Project (Z) time allocations with Discipline Leader (DL), and populate / amend Z plans with support from wider Project Operations team, in line with agreed budgetsReview utilisation reports and planned vs actual cost reports with DL and provide guidanceProvide escalation route to DLs through Team Leader and Discipline DirectorsWork with DLs with regular (yearly or six monthly) reviews of utilisation targets and cost ratesProvide one-off data / report requests as and when neededTraining
Provide ERP support and training to engineering teams, other team members and wider business support teamsProvide Dashboard training for engineering teams as necessaryProvide input when creating guidance and updates manuals and documentationQualifications
Degree or similar qualification in a relevant field (Business Management, Finance, Project Management)Highly numerate, able to manipulate large sets of data and provide analysis which can be easily understoodAble to understand complex business concepts and explain them to othersExcellent verbal and written communication skillsAble to produce insightful reporting at a high standardExperience
Experience of working in engineering, design or professional consultancy in a similar field
Solid experience using databases and ERP systems, preferably Deltek Vision / Vantagepoint, and of extracting information, reporting and analysis
Advanced experience using MS Excel and preferably Power BI
Proven influence in business commercial operations
Delivery
effectively uses time to ensure cost efficient and appropriate quality, helps others to do the sameis able to brief others on what is required, ensuring they have understoodeffectively communicates in meetings and in personcan demonstrate track record of improvements to systems and processesinvolved with setting guidance and oversees the output of other team membersLeadership
shows enthusiasm for both own and others' rolescreates a positive atmosphere and psychological safety within the teamraises concerns and makes potential suggestions, raises to an appropriate levelpicks an appropriate way to approach different people and teams to get the best out of themshows resilience, commitment, and respectsupports the team leader in the management of the teamasks for but also provides guidance from / to the teamadvocates for the team in active discussions with other business services roles and the engineering communitydemonstrates an understanding of the Buro Happold brand and servicesprovides training to both team members and technical teams as a subject matter expertbrings in expertise from outside the team drive improvementTechnical
is a super user of our ERP and business systems and can demonstrate improvementsactively works to improve own skills both in role and through agreed trainingis able to work autonomously and also oversees the quality of others' workactively seeks feedback and demonstrates growthA place for everyone
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.
Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.
We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another.Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.
Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.
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Location London,Bath, Manchester , Leeds, EdinburghJ-18808-Ljbffr
