JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE DEPARTMENT REPORTS TO POST HOLDER GRADE AND ROLE PROFILE JOB PURPOSE
RDA Impact Evaluation Programme Manager Policy Based within the Policy Directorate Vacant B Upper
To programme manage and coordinate the implementation of the Impact Evaluation Framework and production of the next RDA Impact Report by the nine English RDAs and work with RDA Evaluation leads in their efforts to improve and embed their approach to evaluation of programmes, projects and policies.
ORGANISATION CHART DIMENSIONS • The post holder will have responsibility for leading on and coordinating the • • • •
production of the RDA Impact evaluation report on behalf of the RDA network. They will be expected to chair the RDA Evaluation practitioner group. They will work with RDAs and OffPAT to develop and improve approaches to Programme and project evaluation across the network. The post holder will be expected to support the RDA Evaluation Steering Group producing briefing material on behalf of the Chair. The post holder will have no direct staff management responsibilities but will have significant influence over high level teams and counterparts within RDAs
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES • • •
• • •
Project manage and influence the production of the RDA Impact Report on behalf of the network. Provide a point of contact for Departments, managing expectations and ensuring that clear lines of communication are established and maintained between the network and Whitehall Departments, NAO and other stakeholders with an interest in RDA evaluations. Ensure individual RDAs adopt and implement a consistent approach to evaluating the impact of their interventions to allow for easier comparative analysis. Work with and support evaluation leads within individual RDAs in embedding evaluation into the programmes and projects delivered by RDAs. Act as RDA information exchange for evaluation good practice, sharing this across the network
PLANNING AND ORGANISING • •
Excellent planning and programme management skills High levels of organisation
•
Well developed written and numerical reporting ability with the capacity to write reports and present data quickly, clearly and to tight timescales.
DECISION MAKING • Analysing information and data and compiling reports and briefing on behalf of • • •
the Evaluation Steering group. Chairing RDA Evaluation Practitioner Group. Supporting Evaluation Steering Group. Working with OffPAT on matters relating to identifying and promoting effective practice and consistency on matters relating to programme/project level evaluation.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS • •
•
High degree of interpersonal skills and the capacity to manage high level teams through influence rather than direct control. Ability to influence various stakeholders and officials from a position of trust both within RDAs and Central Government. The post holder will need to be able to develop and maintain the trust of key individuals in various RDAs to deliver key outputs to challenging deadlines. Ability to build and manage strong relationships across the nine RDAs.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED Essential: • Project management experience in a complex environment especially in a social/economic policy setting. • Experience of high levels of communication and negotiation at various levels • Demonstrable ability to strongly influence high level teams • Excellent organisational skills, especially the ability to take potentially disparate information and tell a coherent story. Desirable: • Understanding and experience of Governments approach and requirements of evaluation.
SPECIAL FEATURES The post holder will be an influencer both of policy and strategic direction. They will need to display outstanding professionalism and proficiency within this sphere of work.
WHERE DOES THIS ROLE NEED TO BE BASED Can be based within any of the RDA or the secretariat with regular travel to all RDA especially Northwest Development Agency in Warrington.
COMPETENCY PROFILE Building and Managing Relationships Communications
Effective Influencing Engenders Trust Leadership Planning and Organisation Thinking and Acting Ahead
SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT Minimum process: Panel Interview R Competency Assessment R
Additional relevant process: Presentation R Written report 0 Group discussion 0 In-tray exercise 0
JOBHOLDER SIGNATURE: IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR/ MANAGER SIGNATURE: DATE:
This role will be based within Policy Directorate.
Background Implementation of the Impact Evaluation Framework (IEF) is required so that the RDAs can understand, estimate and articulate the impacts of their interventions on their regional economies and can learn about what interventions work well and those that work less well. The RDAs made a commitment in the CSR07 Impact Report to carry out robust assessments of their impact and indicated that they “will establish a target of a high percentage of spend on projects or programmes being evaluated from 2004�. The first stage of the review was to rely on the PA/SQW assessment of the lessons to be learned from the application of the IEF whereas the second stage was to be informed by consultations with the RDAs on how they saw evaluation being taken forward individually or jointly with partners and other RDAs. As a result, each RDA is in the process of developing an evaluation plan which will allow for regional flexibility and proportionality as well as capturing and treatment of common data across the regions. These will be endorsed by the individual RDA Boards and will be submitted to DTI in early April. To ensure that our plans are actioned, RDAs have committed to ensure that the necessary resources for evaluation are built into the budgets for programmes and projects. They are also taking steps to ensure that evaluation is embedded in programme and project management procedures and training, and that our staff have the skills required to undertake and use evaluations. They have also agreed to set up a post to coordinate the preparation and submission to DTI of a further report on RDA impact in 2008 on behalf of the network. This post will also provide a point of contact for Departments, co-ordinate the identification and sharing of good practice with regards to evaluation at both programme and project level. The post holder will also work with all the other related work strands or groups which have linkages/dependencies to evaluation like OffPAT. The line management responsibility for this post will be based within NWDA at Warrington but the individual may be domiciled within any of the other RDA with regular
travel to other RDA offices especially NWDA. This post is initially for two years with a possibility of extension or permanency. Secondment would be considered.