JOB DESCRIPTION Service area: Education Directorate - School Development Service Responsible to: Assistant Director of Education Responsible for: The Project Manager will be responsible for developing and leading all aspects of the PEACEPLUS Theme 3.1 Shared Learning Together Programme. The Project Manager will be responsible for managing and leading all employees within the Team. Job Purpose: The Education Authority has a duty under legislation to encourage, facilitate and promote Shared Education and works in partnership with DE to fulfil its statutory duties to encourage and facilitate Irish-Medium Education and encourage, facilitate and support Integrated Education. The Shared Education and Sectoral Support Team leads the implementation of projects and initiatives which support these statutory duties and co-ordinates liaison with a range of sectoral support bodies, in relation to sector specific educational issues. The overall purpose of the role is to develop, lead and manage a team to deliver on the PEACEPLUS Advancing Shared Partnerships through Inclusive Relationships in Education (ASPIRE) Project which will contribute the advancement and embedding of Shared Education across Northern Ireland and Shared Learning within the border counties in ROI. The Project Manager is accountable for ensuring that project delivery is focused on meeting the needs of children and young people, in relation to these specified outcomes stipulated by the project. They must provide leadership of transformational change and the implementation of strategy, policy and processes to support the specified duties. The Project Manager will work in collaboration with the Project Partners, Leargas & the Early Years Organisation to facilitate a high-quality cross-border/cross-community project that will have a laser sharp focus on Peace Building and Reconciliation. This will involve the delivery of regular and sustained shared learning for children and young people combined with a focused professional learning programme for educators. Leadership and management responsibilities: The PEACEPLUS Project Manager will have the following leadership responsibilities: Setting Vision and Strategy - Work with the SRO, Assistant Director to establish, maintain and communicate a clear and compelling strategic direction for the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Project. - Contribute to the development of a strategic plan for ASPIRE and lead on the development of the project-specific operational plan. - Translate the vision of partnership organisations into project-specific direction. - Lead the project, and all related processes and procedures. - Contribute to the development and implementation of new policies in line with strategic direction. - Contribute to the management of the Project, attending meetings as required by the SRO & Assistant Director. - Challenge conventional approaches, harness new approaches and technology and maximise efficiencies. - Maximise the use of digital technology to contribute to the strategic vision and legacy of the project Managing the Organisation to Deliver - Manage project delivery effectively to ensure that the service achieves the highest possible standards of performance and focuses on the needs of internal and external customers. - Agree project performance targets with the SRO, Assistant Director and provide regular progress reports to programme boards and committees . - Develop, agree and implement a robust annual operational plan for the project in collaboration with the partners and service leads within EA. - Delegate responsibilities and deploy staff according to their skills and abilities to meet the needs of the project. - Regularly monitor and review plans and make adjustments based on project and programme area need. - Manage and continuously improve the project to ensure delivery against performance targets, and to ensure that best value for money is achieved. - Ensure that the project contributes to overall EA Directorate and Corporate performance as appropriate, and provide update reports as required. - Ensure that the SRO, Assistant Director receives high quality project-specific advice and updates when required. - Apply resources effectively across the project to maximise the delivery of front-line support for educators and children & young people. - Consider effective models of project delivery in order to maximise value for money. - Ensure compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and statutory performance requirements. - Manage the project budget in accordance with all relevant financial policy and procedures in collaboration with the designated financial controller and SEUPB regulations. - Monitor the financial position of the project and report regularly to the SRO, Assistant Director & programme board - Follow agreed measures to deliver the project within budget, and take immediate corrective action as required. - Contribute effectively to quality and performance management systems and ensure that the project is being managed as per the requirements of these systems. - Ensure that employees within the project team are provided with clear structure, roles and responsibilities and are supported to work in an integrated way. - Investigate all complaints and adverse incidents where outcomes are below expected standards. - Establish effective and rigorous quality assurance systems to maintain high standards throughout the duration of the ASPIRE Project. Leadership and Management - Work closely with the SRO & Assistant Director to provide the project with leadership and direction ensuring that performance standards are achieved. - Promote the ethos and values of the partner organisations and ensure that the project is focused on customer needs. - Foster a culture by role modelling core values and leadership behaviours to staff in the project while promoting all aspects of partnership working. - Lead, manage and communicate change and improvement initiatives within the project. - Lead, manage and develop staff within the project. - Encourage staff involvement and engagement in the strategic development and operational delivery of the project. - Actively encourage teamwork and self-development, and create opportunities to maximise individuals’ potential, stimulate innovation and creativity. - Promote a positive culture of performance management within the project through individual and team accountability. Foster a culture of constructive feedback and learning, and a genuine commitment to regular and effective appraisals. - Prepare and deliver reports on behalf of the project as required. Building Relationships and Working with Others - Build and maintain effective, professional and respectful stakeholder relationships. - Ensure efficient and effective internal communication with staff in the project. - Work closely with partner organisations, the SRO, Assistant Director/Director and colleagues to lead/manage and monitor change. - Build and maintain effective working relationships and clear lines of communication with other educationalists within partner organisations. - Develop and maintain clear lines of communication and effective working partnerships with relevant external stakeholders and project user groups. - Lead on/manage engagement with staff, schools and the public on major changes in the project that may affect them. - Work with external agencies; for example, Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs), to identify opportunities for joint working that might bring greater consistency across the sector, and/or improve efficiency and effectiveness of project delivery. Project-specific responsibilities The post holder will be expected to make a significant contribution to the development and implementation of project specific targets; promote efficiency and effectiveness throughout the project; and lead the activities of the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Project Team through effective team management. The Project Manager will be based in one of the Education Directorate’s offices within EA. This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the responsibilities and is not intended to be exhaustive. Other reasonable duties may be assigned by the SRO/Director/Assistant Director in consultation with the post-holder. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the Head of Service is expected to promote good relations and equality of opportunity, and to pay due regard to equality legislation at all times To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.