We are current looking for a Programme Director for a 1 year fixed term contract to the end of 2025 to work with the Director of People, Culture and Transformation on the Society’s Transformation Programme (STAG). 

If this sounds like a role you would be interested in, please read on for more information. 

• Hours – 35 hours per week
• Location - Homebased with travel to Scottish SPCA locations as required 
• Salary – £54,017 per annum (BP10)
• Contract Type – Fixed Term Contract to end 2025

About the Scottish SPCA

As Scotland’s animal welfare charity, we have been on-hand to protect animals and prevent cruelty since 1839 – that’s over 184 years of creating a better world for all animals. We’ve grown to become a national charity which celebrates the strength of the human-animal bond and enriches the lives of animals and people. We are Scotland’s animal champions.

At the end of 2024 the Scottish SPCA will conclude year 2 of delivery against an ambitious 10-year strategic vision, setting out how we will ensure Scotland is the best place for animals to live by 2032. A core component of this vision includes adapting our services and extending our community reach across Scotland so that animals and people who need our help most can easily access them.  This role will play a key part in enabling this to happen successfully. 

Main duties and responsibilities:

The Programme Director will be responsible for managing a portfolio of key projects that form the Society’s Transformation Programme (STAG) and will work collaboratively with colleagues across the Society to adapt, expand and embed these services, ensuring delivery of the end-to-end implementation fit-for-purpose animal and community journeys.  

• Manage a cross-functional team of change and delivery colleagues, as well as internal SMEs and external stakeholders to ensure delivery of the STAG programme  end-to-end within scope, on time and to budget
• Responsible for, in conjunction with project sponsors and external suppliers, defining project objectives and deliverables across the full life cycle and delivering these to targeted cost, timescale and quality parameters.
• Responsible for effective co-ordination of the programme’s projects and management of their inter-dependencies including oversight of any risks and issues arising. 
• Work with colleagues to implement change effectively across the Society using a consistent change management approach – as defined in the SSCPA change management toolkit. 
• Ensure colleagues consistently adopt the SSPCA project management framework of record which will ensure that change delivery colleagues are accountable and can achieve success. 
• Lead (design and establish as necessary) appropriate governance fora to enable reporting, risk / issue escalation and decision making with appropriate stakeholders
• Design, prepare and lead team and supplier meetings and workshops, follow-up on agreed actions, and hold project managers, project sponsors and SMEs accountable.
• Manage day-to-day operational aspects of projects under remit as required; adapting as necessary while working with key internal and external stakeholders to establish and gain consensus on project goals, objectives, and deliverables.
• Maintain prompt, proactive, and transparent communication with all stakeholders (internal and external) to effectively drive project delivery.
• Provide daily task co-ordination, action tracking and project evaluation against agreed key milestones.
• Identify risks or barriers to success across each project/STAG and proactively develop solutions to manage these enabling the project/STAG to stay on track. 
• Ensure effective use of the Scottish SPCA’s project management technology– and other tools as appropriate to manage the programme.
• Build, maintain and develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and suppliers as appropriate. 
• Working with others, create a programme of training to appropriately embed the solution with all colleagues.
• Bring colleagues on the journey of change ensuring they understand the purpose, and outcomes of each of the key STAG projects.  
• Provide timely reports to our PMO on project progress.
• Provide written and verbal updates to STAG Steering Committee, Senior Leadership Team, & our Board of Trustees to ensure ongoing engagement, support and confidence, escalating risks and issues in a timely manner and requesting relevant interventions to ensure delivery success.  

What makes a good Programme Director? 

• Significant experience in programme, project and change management with a focus on business transformation & change 
• Experience of the practical application of a variety of project methodologies, and of simplifying in order to engage a broader audience
• Experience of facilitating workshops and/or delivering training with multi-functional audiences 
• Experience of complex programme budgets and definition of benefits
• Demonstrable relationship management experience with the ability to build engage with internal and external stakeholders and adapt as required
• Experience of improving processes and reporting to contribute to effective operational performance.
• Exceptional communication skills – ability to build a compelling case for change and to tailor messaging to a variety audiences across an organisation 
• Ability to engage, inform and influence senior stakeholders both in written communication and through briefings & presentations 
• Experience of managing change and delivery teams across a broad portfolio, ensuring adherence to relevant change governance, reporting & delivery to cost, quality & time. 

Please see full Job Description link for more detailed information on the role and person specification. 

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our core mission.

Scottish Charity No SC 006467