Programme Manager at Lobster Ink

What you will do in this role

The Programme Manager is responsible for managing the overall client experience, working with the Learning Solutions Manager and the client to determine their course objectives in the creation of learning programs, and negotiating the best outcome for both the client and the business.

Key Responsibilities

Client Management

• Overall custodian of profitable and performance driven client relationships on specific portfolios or clients.
• A trusted advisor and confidant to clients.
• Represents Lobster Ink at decision making levels.
• To build and sustain loyal client relationships so as to develop opportunities for growth of new and existing business.

Team Management

• To lead a team of Project Managers and mentor them to improve their levels of responsibility and accountability, while managing their day-to-day performance.
• To provide strong guidance to the Project Managers to ensure that deadlines and budgets are consistently met.
• To oversee that the Project Managers deliver detailed recon reports in an accurate and timely manner and facilitate training sessions around these recons to ensure the team learns how to improve on them.
• To encourage innovative thinking across the department and push team members to implement more effective ways of working that improve the timing and delivery of production outputs.
• Lead initial project briefing and costing.
• To host regular training sessions with the Project Managers.

Project Management

• Create initial proposal in partnership with Learning leads.
• Building project costing and initial timing outline.
• Deliver initial project development approach and refine with Project Managers.
• Initiate the project briefing process and ensure the correct process is followed.
• To lead initial client meetings, and assist team members with resolving project challenges and responding effectively to changing client needs.
• To manage all Project Managers on client production negotiations that impacts on scope change.
• To provide project updates to the Director of Operations and Sales Managers.
• Actively monitors project risks/issues, escalates in timely manner and drives teams to effective solutions.

Skills / Competencies

• Solid financial/commercial acumen and a strong focus on logistics (for scheduling and resourcing).
• Must have the ability to lead and work with people within cross functional teams.
• The ability to oversee and mentor the Project Managers in juggling multiple clients and projects at any given time.
• A hands-on and professional approach with both clients and team members.
• Confident communicator (good public speaker with excellent digital communications etiquette).
• The ability to plan and strategize at a senior level.
• Strong proposal writing and negotiation skills.
• High attention to detail.

Who you are:

• Excellent client relationship, interpersonal and communication skills.
• A systematic thinker who is confident, self-motivated, articulate and practical.
• A very high level of resilience and the ability to perform consistently under pressure.
• An aptitude for identifying and solving customer problems.
• Able to quickly build rapport, credibility, and trust with prospective customers.

Minimum experience required

• Minimum of 5-8 years’ experience as a Producer / Account Director/ Senior Project Manager with a proven track record in client engagement and retention.
• Management experience of a team is essential.
• Strategic as well as hands-on project/account management experience is essential.
• Agency experience would be an advantage but not compulsory.
• Strong leadership presence and leadership skills will be a differentiator.

Minimum qualifications/education

• A Bachelor's degree or similar.
• Production, project management or education background.
• Qualification or certification in marketing, or project management.
• Six Sigma Project Management Qualification would be a differentiator.