Project Manager for innovative, mass market, local transport service with community focus yet global potential

Transcription

1 Summary Simply Connect Project Manager Manchester Description of role: September 2016 Project Manager for innovative, mass market, local transport service with community focus yet global potential We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to delivery with the support of our our business team the Simply Connect project in Greater Manchester. This is initially a single post, based in Manchester, UK, with the post holder expected to work with a growing team as the scheme develops. The post holder could eventually work with colleagues in the global Simply Connect organisation, taking a wider view across various scheme deployments in the UK and internationally. About Simply Connect With Simply Connect, we have re invented how we travel locally, within the context of Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Our unique approach puts us at the heart of new ways of thinking about better, more sustainable, more efficient ways to travel in our day to day lives. Simply Connect is a multi modal journey management platform, based around the deployment of large numbers of professionally driven, shared, small vehicles, operating without fixed routes or timetables, that offer door to door journeys at a few minutes notice. By using the opportunities of ICT, Simply Connect offers users a reliable, responsive and relevant service, for just above bus fares, with a differentiated yet high quality user experience, and which is suitable for everyone on almost all journeys. Simply Connect anticipates 15+% of the total local transport market in towns and suburban areas, with 10% modal shift from the private car (based on verified modelling). In addition to excellent commercial returns, Simply Connect will deliver dramatic macro economic, social and environmental benefits. The business structure comprises multiple local community focused businesses each acting in their own interests within a mutually supportive framework. Built around collaboration with partners, the structure is accessible to all involved with travel in a locality, including existing transport operators (all modes), public sector and 'trip ends' (the destinations of journeys). The same ethos permeates our culture and 'product' design. Simply Connect' initial launch will be in Greater Manchester, then in an eastern English rural county. Other locations are actively seeking to engage with us. We are attracting increasing interest, recently gaining UK Government Ministerial mention. Company You will be engaged by Simply Connect Ltd (SCL), a Scottish SME. This is the core delivery arm of Simply Connect, with IP holding by our sister company, Sustainable Environment Ltd (SEL) that has developed the Simply Connect community focused Smart Mobility/MaaS concept. There are currently three Directors: Neil Brown, who established the company and is CEO, Galen Brown who is Lead Sustainable Environment Ltd 2016 Page 1 Operations Manager

2 Technologist for ICT delivery, and Giles Bailey with broad experience in strategies re new mobility as well as marketing: each expects to retain roles as the company grows. SCL will be the delivery company for the initial launch location (Manchester) and potentially also for subsequent (yet still early stage) launch locations. Once well established, locally owned/funded Community Interest Companies (CICs) will be formed in each of these locations, taking on all responsibility for their local operations. SCL then retains the role of driving forward overall system expansion in multiple locations, together with a unifying governance role of the Simply Connect 'family'. The Project Board for the Manchester launch comprises a wide range of organisations in the Manchester area, each represented at high level. Amongst advisers on the Project Board, some are expected to take a more 'hands on' roles as the project grows. Having previously had financial support from Innovate UK and DfT (Department for Transport, UK), we are now engaging in first round investment (via a professional investment platform), with this funding to be raised by the time of appointment. Role We have been described as being very unusual for a young company in having a market already committing to buy our services: we now need the capacity to make this a reality. The Project Manager in Manchester is a new, key delivery role that is needed to successfully implement the service. You will, in essence, be responsible for all scheduling, organising, liaising on key aspects to move the scheme to reality with the support of other members of the business team. This is a very hands on role and you will need to be pro active in specifying needs and resources as well as scheduling and managing tasks, other colleagues and obtaining further resources. This is both a project control as well as project delivery role. That is, as well as preparing and owning schedules and plans, the post holder will be expected to pro actively assist in delivering agreed parts of the project and assisting other members of the business team. Once Simply Connect in Manchester is well established, the local CIC will be established (see above sections). We anticipate that the post holder may then be retained within the original company (SCL), so take a wider geographic remit, and may also want to fulfil a wider programme management role within the overall Simply Connect operations, or may retain focus in Manchester. We are open to individual discussion on this aspect. Accountable for Lead Simply Connect project management in Greater Manchester; Create, schedule, own and manage processes and protocols for the Simply Connect scheme, as they relate to partners and contractors; Delivery of agreed aspects of the Simply Connect Manchester scheme; Ensure that Simply Connect develops as an inclusive and equitable business Major activities Your key functions will include: Sustainable Environment Ltd 2016 Page 2 Operations Manager

3 Project delivery Refine, own and with the support of the wider business team act to deliver the (already developed) project plan to ensure Simply Connect is delivered on time, to specification and on budget Liaison with the agreed local Simply Connect service clients, transport operators, government partners, contractors, etc in order to develop and deliver a robust project plan People leadership Lead the day to day delivery of the project within the local Manchester context with the support of the other members of the business team Pro actively engage staff at all levels, including acting on feedback Work closely with colleagues across the organisation and with external stakeholders to develop the Simply Connect organisation in a clear, fair, equitable and efficient manner. Key Performance Indicators Develop and meet sets of objectives and scorecard KPIs for the project delivery function Areas of authority for decision making Key decision making powers: Ensure establishment of and act upon the project delivery plan for the Simply Connect Manchester service Maintain Simply Connect s overall corporate ethos, standards and policies Establish working arrangements with a range of Manchester partners and national stakeholders Constraints Decisions must be in line with evolving Simply Connect corporate strategy (in Manchester and later globally) and be consistent with the culture and needs of an early stage start up Employees Nil at start, expected to grow to circa 4 by year 2. Key interfaces and relationships Accountable to Simply Connect CEO Close working relationship with Senior Management team in Greater Manchester pilot, and in other locations as developed Direct reports: team to be built over a period of time as the Simply Connect scheme in Manchester is developed, launched and grows. Key interfaces: The Simply Connect Board in Manchester (and the Global Board during scheme build up) Local stakeholders and funders in Greater Manchester Transport operator partners Governmental and private suppliers developing the local scheme Personal qualities: skills, experience and capabilities Sustainable Environment Ltd 2016 Page 3 Operations Manager

4 We need someone passionate about developing and delivering Simply Connect, and has diverse and real project management experience in order to ensure successful project delivery. This person inherently needs to have the flexibility, resilience, tenacity, 'hands on' approach and personal tact to work in a small company with a great vision, whilst also providing the local day to day visibility to make a success of the role and of the company. They will also need the sound judgement to make decisions for a newly established business. This will include building their own project delivery team, as funding becomes available. We wish to appoint someone who shares our ethos, who both appreciates fully and has personal belief in Simply Connect, and is committed to achieving the beneficial outcomes arising from implementation. Strong experience in specifying and controlling tasks for a new business An ability to pro actively make decisions and drive a project forward based on senior team overall direction Strong understanding of commercial and operational needs in a 'new to the world' business Ability to work with a team An ability to lead staff and to commission and control contractors Some understanding of the mobility sector/industry and an ability to learn quickly about fast paced changes in this industry Proven track record of outcome focused project management delivery and knowledge of best practice in controlling projects and risks Communication skills. The post holder will need to be able to engage with local stakeholders and team members and communicate project status as well as clearly define risks and project requirements including making difficult trade offs We are open to recruiting from those with a wide range of backgrounds, yet anticipate you will bring the 'full on' energy necessary to bring an SME through a successful growth phase. In addition to solid, proven successful expertise, it is essential that the post holder has absolute integrity with demonstrable proof of doing what they commit to in a timely and quality manner. Prior demonstrable success in similar roles, perhaps in growing their own SME to much larger scale, is strongly desirable. This does not preclude those with proven success from either larger corporates or public sector roles, as long as their inherent dynamism and flexibility can be shown. A strong record of delivery via project control is essential. Direct experience in transport, ICT, retail, hospitality or related fields is desirable, but not essential. Location Salford, Greater Manchester. Some home based working may be feasible. Salary and terms These are negotiable: we are open to proposals for packages that reflect our own position as a growing business within which you may expect to play a major role and receive commensurate rewards. We are undergoing two funding rounds in quick succession: only the first of these will be completed prior to the post holder's appointment, with the company's future predicated on success on achieving the latter funding round as well. As such, initial contracts will be for 3 months, but we anticipate extending this to permanent roles for appropriate candidates. Sustainable Environment Ltd 2016 Page 4 Operations Manager

5 Further details For any clarification, or to apply, please contact connect.com Applications should take the form of a full cv, plus appropriate covering letter. The applicant should also outline in no more than 250 words what challenges they would expect to find in project managing the Simply Connect proposal as outlined and how these could be dealt with. Subject to suitable candidates we would hope to fill this role in early autumn Sustainable Environment Ltd 2016 Page 5 Operations Manager