Planning and Projects Officer

Job Introduction

Diabetes UK is developing a new organisational strategy to take us beyond 2019 and to ensure we have robust business planning, performance management and project delivery to enable the strategy to be achieved. 

We have an exciting opportunity for a Planning and Projects Officer to help support the Head of Strategy and Planning at this key time and in particular to support on the following key projects.

• Developing a new organisational strategy, and running the charity’s business planning process for 2019;
• Embedding a new organisational performance framework, with reporting and analysis of performance data to enable senior managers and the Board to drive improvement; and
• The development of a corporate programme and project management approach across the organisation.

Role Responsibility

Supporting strategy development and business planning;

• To project manage the business planning and strategy development process, ensuring key deadlines met, documentation produced, and risks and issues managed
• To support the development of templates and guidance for a new approach to business planning based on best practice, and the charity’s requirements
• Liaise and communicate with senior stakeholders to support the completion of templates
• To support effective cross-organisational working and change, resolving problems as they emerge within the context of the agreed process and with management support
• To develop and manage a programme of engagement and communication with stakeholders, across all levels of the organisation, tailored to the appropriate audience

Co-ordinating performance and risk management:

• To manage and maintain key reporting systems and processes for performance, and risk management;
• To produce high quality, visually clear reports on complex and technical issues for senior and Board audiences;
• To liaise with colleagues to collate information and identify trends and improvement areas on performance and risk issues;
• To report on and provide analysis of data trends to support organisational improvement;
• To horizon scan, critically review and analyse good practice in performance and risk management from other organisations to inform the organisation’s approach, identifying and proposing improvements where appropriate

Improving programme and project management:

• To co-ordinate the internal project to develop a corporate approach to project and programme management, ensuring effective communication, maintaining reports and documentation and managing key dependencies to ensure the project achieves its vision
• To co-ordinate and support a cross-organisational task group of programme and project managers
• To support the development of tools, templates and user-friendly guidance, based on good practice and organisational requirements, to support improved project and programme management
• To liaise and effectively communicate with existing programme and project managers and senior managers
• To horizon scan, critically review and analyse good practice in project and programme management from other organisations to inform the organisation’s emerging approach

The Ideal Candidate

The best person for this job will be able to:

• Work with a high level of initiative and be confident to make recommendations for improvement
• Communicate effectively, at all levels and across the organisation
• Demonstrate excellent presentation, guidance and report writing skills, tailored to appropriate audiences
• Demonstrate strong data analysis and reporting skills
• Seek out good practice to advise and input into decision making on key activities
• Comfortably manage multiple deadlines and activities, prioritising work and acting on initiative

The best person for this job will have experience in:

• Supporting cross-organisational change projects to deliver successful outcomes
• Analysing and reporting on data using Excel based systems to enable organisational decision making and improvement reporting
• Engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, communicating effectively and producing high quality reports and presentations tailored to audiences
• Ideally, the development of effective and engaging tools, templates and approaches to support organisations in business planning and/or project and programme management

The best person for this job will be:

• Enthusiastic, positive and driven with a can-do and solution-focused approach
• Inherently collaborative with an enthusiasm for working with a range of stakeholders to maintain relationships and achieve outcomes
• Able to command respect and create a sense of community amongst the key stakeholders
• Of sound judgement and decision-making ability

Package Description

What we can offer you: 

• Generous annual leave starting at 25 days plus bank holidays 
• A Cash Healthcare Plan (giving you up to £1,600 towards a range of out of pocket health expenses like new glasses, dentist, chiropractor or osteopath appointments) 
• Early finish Friday and flexible working 
• Discounts on gym membership and days out 
• Employee assistance programme to give you support on any issues that come up in life  
• Annual Season ticket loan 
• Very active social scene including sport teams, gardening and other activities 
• Generous pension provision, life assurance and permanent health insurance 

About the Company

Diabetes is the most potentially devastating – and fastest growing – health crisis of our time, requiring ongoing high-quality care and support. There are currently 4.5 million people in the UK living with diabetes, and 11.9 million more at increased risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Those diagnosed face the risk of life-changing, and life-limiting, complications, unless they are given the very best care and the support they need to manage their condition well. As a society we need to work together now – and take action now – to fund critical research, improve healthcare and treatment, and prevent yet more people developing this potentially life-threatening condition. 

Diabetes UK is a forward thinking and commercially focused organisation, and is the leading charity for the 4.5 million people with the condition in the UK.

As we continue to improve our processes, through continual development and change, this is an exciting time to join us. With established funding streams and following on from the success of our previous five-year plan, we are in a strong position to continue developing and responding to changing environments.

We rely heavily upon the expertise and motivation of our staff in order to work towards our many aims and meet objectives. We aim to be an equal opportunity employer; the organisation recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. We gladly make the adjustments required for people with disabilities to join us. Our diverse functions mean that we can offer you a wide range of rewarding career opportunities.

Diabetes UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable and expects all staff and volunteers to actively support this commitment. 

Diabetes UK recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. 

We have a vision of a world where diabetes can do no harm – if you’d like to be part of that, why not join us? 

To Learn more about the work we do - Click here

Diabetes UK