Programme Manager - Marine Vessel Replacement - C2

This opportunity is only open to applicants who are currently 'Priority Movers'. Applications from individuals not currently on the Priority Mover list will be rejected and not considered.

The Vessel Replacement Programme Manager is responsible for successful scoping, planning and delivery of the Marine Directorate Vessel Replacement Programme, which currently forms part of the wider cross-Government Programme Luna (established to take forward the direct award of vessels to Ferguson Marine, subject to ongoing due diligence).

The role provides programme leadership across a complex public sector infrastructure and economy programme, establishing governance, managing interdependencies, navigating delivery uncertainty and ensuring delivery of strategic outcomes. The Programme Manager is responsible for leading the project team to achieve specified outcomes, providing advice to decision makers and stakeholders whilst building and maintaining commitment from a wide range of stakeholder groups.

The post sits within Marine Directorate and is responsible for the delivery of the Vessel Replacement Programme, which will replace the Marine Research Vessel Scotia and Marine Protection Vessel Minna.

The programme represents an investment of approximately £170 million and is critical to maintaining Scotland's marine science, environmental monitoring and fisheries enforcement capability. The role will lead programme governance, business case development, gateway reviews, stakeholder engagement, assurance, reporting, risk management and benefits realisation.

The postholder will work closely with Programme Luna colleagues, Finance, Procurement, SGLD, technical marine specialists, operational colleagues and external delivery partners. They will lead a small project team and provide professional programme management expertise where specialist technical expertise already exists within the wider team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead delivery of the Vessel Replacement Programme from business case development through to vessel entry into service.

• Ensure, demonstrate and champion alignment with corporate/business strategy and local business planning.

• Establish the appropriate governance and setting and monitoring performance and control standards

• Coordinate programme gateway reviews and assurance activities.

• Collaborate across the Luna Programme to manage the dependencies between projects in the programme

• Oversee risk and issue management and ensuring mitigations are in place

• Securing and deploying the appropriate resources and skills

• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including operational, technical, commercial, procurement, finance and legal specialists.

• Oversee contractor and stakeholder engagement arrangements across multiple organisations.

• Manage programme reporting and provide high-quality advice to senior leaders and Ministers where required.

• Ensure alignment with wider Scottish Government strategic objectives, including Blue Economy and sustainability ambitions.

Experience:

Programme Managers should have significant experience of managing programmes or complex projects and experience of planning and governance arrangements to ensure investments deliver intended outcomes.

In addition, applicants should demonstrate:

• Experience managing large-scale infrastructure projects, capital projects or complex delivery programmes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex stakeholder environments.
• Experience developing business cases, governance structures, benefits management approaches and delivery plans.
• Experience working on complex public sector infrastructure projects or programmes that require cross-boundary collaboration.
• Experience navigating delivery uncertainty and managing significant programme risks and issues.