Planning and Performance Manager, SEO, Perm, Liverpool

Job purpose:

You will lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of organisational planning, performance and reporting arrangements that support the delivery of strategic objectives and business outcomes.

You will provide leadership and expert advice on organisational planning, performance management and portfolio oversight, ensuring that plans are aligned to strategic priorities, supported by robust performance measures and informed by evidence-based analysis.

Working across directorates and corporate functions, the role will maintain an integrated organisational planning framework that identifies key milestones, dependencies, risks, assumptions and resource requirements, providing senior leaders with the insight and assurance needed to make informed decisions and drive delivery performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Portfolio Management

• Lead the development and maintenance of integrated organisational plans that support the delivery of corporate objectives and priorities
• Ensure organisational plans clearly identify milestones, dependencies, risks, assumptions, deliverables and success measures.
• Coordinate planning activity across business areas to ensure alignment between operational delivery, strategic priorities and resource availability.
• Support prioritisation and decision-making by providing analysis of organisational capacity, competing demands and delivery impacts.
• Maintain oversight of organisational commitments and delivery portfolios, ensuring progress is monitored and reported effectively.

Performance Management and Reporting

• Lead the development and maintenance of the organisational performance framework, ensuring meaningful performance indicators are in place to measure delivery and outcomes.
• Produce high-quality performance reports and management information for senior leaders, governance boards and stakeholders.
• Provide analysis, forecasting and insight to support evidence-based decision-making and effective organisational performance management.
• Identify emerging issues, trends and risks and provide recommendations to improve performance and delivery confidence.
• Ensure performance information supports organisational accountability, assurance and continuous improvement.

Governance, Risk and Assurance

• Establish and maintain planning, performance and reporting standards, processes and controls across the organisation.
• Monitor delivery risks, dependencies and issues, escalating concerns and recommending corrective action where appropriate.
• Support organisational governance processes by providing accurate and timely planning and performance information.
• Work with colleagues across governance, programme management, finance and business areas to ensure effective organisational assurance arrangements are maintained.

Resource Planning and Business Improvement

• Work collaboratively with Finance, Programme Management and operational teams to identify future resource requirements and capacity constraints.
• Support workforce and resource planning activity through analysis of current and future organisational demand.
• Promote the use of planning and performance management best practice across the organisation.
• Lead or contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance organisational planning, reporting, governance and performance capability.
• Act as a subject matter expert on organisational planning, performance management and portfolio oversight.

Essential criteria

Ability:

• Ability to develop and maintain integrated plans and performance frameworks within a complex organisational environment.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information clearly to a range of audiences, including senior leaders.
• Ability to identify risks, dependencies, delivery challenges and emerging issues and recommend appropriate action.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and influence stakeholders across organisational boundaries.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands and manage multiple workstreams effectively.

Experience:

• Experience of leading organisational planning, business planning, programme management office (PMO), performance management or related governance functions.
• Experience of developing, maintaining and monitoring plans that include milestones, dependencies, risks, assumptions and resource requirements.
• Experience of producing management information, performance reports and strategic analysis to support decision-making.
• Experience of working with senior stakeholders to improve planning, performance and delivery outcomes.
• Experience of establishing processes, frameworks or controls that improve organisational performance and governance.

Technical:

• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills, with the ability to turn information into meaningful insight and recommendations.
• Knowledge of organisational planning, performance management and reporting methodologies.
• Experience of using Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Power BI and presentation tools, to analyse and communicate performance information.
• Understanding of governance, assurance, risk management and performance reporting principles.
• Ability to develop and maintain planning and reporting standards that support organisational delivery and decision-making.