Programme Support Officer

Job Title: Programme Support Officer    
Contract Type: Permanent 
Salary: £34870.79 (£38542.29 is achieved after 12 successful performance in the role) 
Working Hours: 35 hours per week, full time 
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday  
Location: Liverpool, Speke  
If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description. 
Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates. 
The difference you will make as a Programme Support Officer
The Programme Support Officer (PSO) is an important role in supporting the effective functioning of the Programmes Team and successful delivery of the Business Transformation change portfolio across Riverside. The PSO is integral to ensuring the smooth execution of portfolio and programme activities, providing proactive support in project and programme administration.   
About you 
We are looking for someone with 
•  Strong understanding of project management principles and practices
•  Experience of supporting large or complex projects and programmes
•  Excellent planning and organisational skills
Why Riverside? 
At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.  
We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us. 
Working with us, you’ll enjoy: 
•  Competitive pay & generous pension  
•  28 days holidays plus bank holidays 
•  Flexible working options available 
•  Investment in your learning, personal development and technology 
•  A wide range of benefits 
Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:  
We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.  
Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview. 
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered.  
Role Profile  
•  Provide day-to-day administrative support to Project and Programme Managers
•  Provide effective support for allocated projects and programmes, working as part of relevant project teams as required
•  Assist in the planning, execution and monitoring of programme activities to ensure they align with the Project delivery framework, organisational goals and timelines
•  Work closely with Project Managers and PMO colleagues to develop and manage plans, schedules and budgets for new and existing projects and programmes
•  Support the management of delivery plans via our Project Portfolio Management (PPM) system
•  Prepare and support the maintenance of all project documentation (artefacts)
•  Support in the development of Project and Programme Communications 
•  Ensure that monthly project status reports are completed on time, to the expected quality, and in the required format, validating the quality with PMO and collating these documents for leadership review
•  Facilitate Programme meetings and maintaining associated documentation, including but not limited to, formal governance meetings and informal project meetings
•  Collaborate closely with the Programmes Team and wider business colleagues to provide accurate and timely reporting
•  Support management of scope, ensuring change control processes are followed and decisions are centrally logged with PMO
•  Work closely with the PMO Finance & Benefits Analyst and Finance Business Partners to ensure financial tracking is established and monitored
•  Support risk identification, analysis and implementation of mitigation plans. Maintaining the Risk & Issue log to ensure risks are captured in the correct format
•  Acting as a Change ambassador by supporting people in the business with the Governance Framework and driving good practice.
•  Continuously reviewing ways of working to foster collaboration, promote continuous improvement, and ensure dependencies across teams are identified and managed.
Person specification 
Knowledge, Skills and Experience 
You are a self-starter, who works well independently, must be exceptionally organised, and can accomplish tasks effectively.
Essential 
•  Strong understanding of project management principles and practices
•  Experience of supporting large or complex projects and programmes
•  Excellent planning and organisational skills
•  Strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem solving
•  Excellent verbal and written communication skills: effective presentation skills, report writing and the ability to convey complex information to non-experts
•  Excellent planning and organisation skills, ability to balance conflicting deadlines and multiple priorities
•  Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact effectively and influence a wide range of people
•  Capacity to absorb and translate complex information
•  Strong intuition, able to follow through delivery of work without step-by-step instruction
•  Innovative and creative thinking, able to take a problem and provide solutions
•  Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels, establishing good working relationships and engendering confidence at all levels
•  Understanding of risk management principles.
•  Can facilitate administration of project meetings with multiple attendees, capturing complex detail and maintaining action logs
•  Ability to prioritise tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously
•  Dependability and reliability with excellent timekeeping
•  An all-round excellent communicator able to listen, negotiate and harmonise project priorities across multiple stakeholder
•  Trustworthy and professional