Lancashire Fire & Rescue and Arras
Using Arras as an interview panel member
"Thanks for your input - its something we couldn't have done"
Situated in the services headquarters, the Operational Risk Management department is responsible for providing support functions across the regional division. Including planning, performance review, risk management and operational response the department also develops policy and procedures as well as assisting the service in complying with statutory regulation.
Project office management requirement
In order to secure ongoing performance the Service took the decision to appoint a Project Office Manager to implant a structured programme management approach.
- As a new role a job specification had to be created
- A visit to the headquarters was required to understand the context of the role
- A presence on the interview panel was deemed necessary to test applicants' level of experience
Joining the interview panel
A consultant from Arras People visited the Headquarters and met with the hiring manager – the manager for Planning, Audit and Review. The purpose of the visit was to:
- Understand the objectives of the organisation and the performance measures
- Identify where the drive for best practice approach was coming from
- Experience the working environment and ascertain current ways of working
Following the visit, Arras People were able to compile a comprehensive job specification and work alongside the clients HR team to advertise, shortlist and supply candidates. The success of this process led to an invitation being extended for Arras People to join the interview panel in order to advise the team on the project/programme credentials of the interviewee's.
Testing the applicant's project/programme management experience
The interview assessment day was held in early October. The interview panel was comprised of three managers from the Service and a consultant from Arras People. The Service managers assessed candidates personal skills, team fit and relied on the Arras consultant to test the applicant project/programme management experience, skill and capability.
Two closely matched candidates were shortlisted and the role was offered to the successful candidate by the end of the day. He/she accepted and is looking forward to taking up the role at the end of November.
Specialist focus on programme and project office recruitment
With a specialist focus on programme and project office recruitment, Arras People have been interviewing and recruiting project office people since 2002. If an organisation doesn't have the expertise to run a project office recruitment campaign with confidence, Arras' own PMO consultants can join your interview panel.
Interviewing PMO candidates includes a thorough PMO competency based interview technique, Arras can provide question and answer scenarios, competency levels for different roles within the PMO and devise the interview format - all tailored to your organisation and the type of PMO you operate.
Department of Health
Arras People is a preferred supplier for programme and project management recruitment to the Department of Health, under the OGC Commercial Resources Framework (awarded 2009), contract and interim programme and project management professionals can be supplied using Arras People.
Procurement PM
Wycombe District Council have worked with Arras People for a number of years; using cost effective project management recruitment solutions to bring on board project professionals on a contract basis. A procurement and tendering project manager was required for a fixed term to drive through a new leisure facility project. Coming on board at the tendering stage, the project manager worked with the council's procurement specialists to manage the OJEC process through to completion.