Our mission is to break down the barriers of today to release the potential of tomorrow. Join us today and release yours.

There are two things that we want to share with anyone considering joining us.

Firstly, we’ve got big ambitions for our colleagues and the future of the organisation. These include our vision that inclusion and accessibility drive every conversation we have and every decision we make. We want our workforce to fully represent the communities and customers we serve, because a diverse business is a better business. We value every colleague, their diversity and the contribution that they make. When we say you’re welcome at Openreach, we really mean it.

Secondly, the one thing the pandemic has taught us is that a lot of current and future colleagues, where and when possible, want to embrace hybrid working. Therefore, we are introducing smart working at Openreach. Smart working means having the flexibility to choose, as a team, how and where you work depending on your team’s deliverables and needs; when you are at your shared core location to connect with others and when not. It may not be for every role, and, as part of the recruitment process, you’ll have the chance to discuss smart working and how it might work for the job you are applying for.

About this role

A significant senior leader, this is a critical role with accountability for the delivery of a portfolio of large, complex and often externally funded, infrastructure build projects across a defined region - circa £30m p.a. The individual leads a sizeable team of Professional Project Management Staff (15-30 direct FTE,  plus up to 150+ indirect build agents), and is key to the implementation of Openreach’s business critical Fibre First Strategy.

The role holder manages significant risk on behalf of Openreach and BT Group and will have exceptional leadership and project management skills and is responsible for contractually compliant end to end structure delivery of their individual major programmes portfolio. 

You'll also build and maintain brilliant relationships with internal and external Stakeholders, providing critical progress & performance updates up to director level internally and Chief Executive level externally. 

You'll have the following responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of complex infrastructure projects (up to £30m p.a), taking responsibility for prioritisation of projects and resource management to ensure outputs are in line with business targets. 

• Maintain an in-depth and up-to-date understanding of all subcontract arrangements with 3rd party suppliers. Working closely with Partner Management ensure that all 3rd Party Suppliers are complying with these arrangements whilst working on the portfolio

• End to end delivery of structures & outcomes for the defined portfolio assuring high quality outcomes, delivered on time, to quality and within the agreed cost envelope.  Portfolio can contain up to 1200 structures p.a.

• Wholly accountable for monitoring and driving key metrics e.g. Cost to Complete, Cost per Premise and total capex budget in year. With plans put in place to rectify if required. (OR exposure on BDUK bids can be multi millions if mismanaged). 

• Full accountability for project, contractual and financial governance within project. Including ensuring effective Departure from Estimate management and full compliance with OR Financial governance, e.g. implementation of Sarbanes Oxley

• Develop and manage the team (10 – 30 Direct FTE, up to 150 3rd Party), building a winning unit with a culture that is passionate about delivering in a quality way, avoiding wastage and failure and taking ownership of issues.

• Ensuring full compliance with Openreach Health and Safety governance e.g. License to Work/ H+S Training/ AMS checks 

• Establish effective working relationships within Openreach influencing and making key decisions to ensure that all necessary resources and contributors are fully behind the delivery. Understand the different areas of the business and their challenges / opportunities. (Operating up to FND senior leadership team level). 

• Supplying subject matter expertise to national transformation programmes. You will be a visible sponsor, leading your teams in the delivery and embedding of change programmes to further revenue, customer and people improvements for the region, working alongside the Business Optimisation, Area Manager / Patch manager and Change programme owners. 

• Be the lead operational input into all major programmes work winning within your region, with particular focus on securing further LFFN work. A £740m opportunity nationally. 

You'll have the following skills & experience

• Proven track record and demonstrable experience of working as a Senior Project/ Programme Manager in a portfolio role as well as managing multi stream projects or programmes from initiation through to full project acceptance

• Proven experience managing successful project teams and ability to manage operational risk

• Experience of actively managing a P&L to successful outcome

• Experience of translating strategic plan into an understandable list of tangible actions 

• Renowned for creating sustainable performance through their personal leadership and ability to build brilliant teams

• Team player, adept at holding others to account through a challenging and supportive leadership style, whilst consistently delivering on their own commitments

Benefits

As well as offering a competitive base salary, you’ll also have a rewarding bonus scheme, access to equity schemes and an attractive pension offer.

We value different perspectives, skills and experiences. Diversity makes sense for us, our customers and our ambitions. We’re creating an inclusive working culture where people from all backgrounds can succeed.

About Openreach

Openreach Limited runs the nation’s digital network. We play a key role in British society, helping homes, schools, hospitals, broadcasters, government, businesses and more connect to the world.

We're a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group, and our customers are the 640+ communications providers who sell phone, broadband and Ethernet services to homes and businesses. And we’re on a mission - to make the country’s digital network services faster, better and more affordable.

Our people are experienced, resourceful and innovative, working on vital projects that help support the nation at work, in learning, on the move, at rest, at play, in emergencies and much more.

So if you’d like to be a part of an exciting organisation that’s making a real difference, why not join us today? You can read more here about working at Openreach.

How to Apply

It's easy to apply online; you just need a copy of your up-to-date CV and to follow the step-by step process. Don't worry if you need to make changes - you'll have the opportunity to review and edit your work on the final page. We look forward to receiving your application!