Project Manager

Project Manager - Permanent Position - North West Based

About the Role:

We are working with a public sector client who are seeking a dynamic and experienced Project Manager to oversee and deliver multiple business transformation and IT projects. The successful candidate will ensure that all assigned projects produce the required products to the highest standard of quality, within specified time and resource constraints (financial, people, IT infrastructure).

Key Responsibilities:

• Project Management: Accountable for managing large, complex strategic projects from inception through to closure and handover to operational teams.
• Governance: Ensure appropriate project governance and tools are in place, adhering to guidelines and delivering agreed solutions.
• Risk and Issue Management: Execute effective risk and issue management for all projects.
• Budget Management: Demonstrate full control of all project costs, including hardware, software, and resource costs.
• Compliance: Ensure all projects comply with legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Service Improvement: Continually improve project delivery standards and feed into revised standards.
• Service Design: Integrate service design and user needs into project delivery where applicable.

Key Activities:

• Manage multiple concurrent projects using Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Produce accurate plans and estimates in project inception documents (PIDs) and proposals.
• Develop and present business cases for additional resources as required.
• Plan, monitor, and report progress against project plans.
• Responsible for change control and configuration management.
• Produce and maintain all project documentation, including kanbans, highlight reports, budget trackers, and post-implementation reviews.
• Ensure all relevant testing documentation is complete.
• Plan, prepare, and deliver presentations.
• Gather additional information to fully understand project requirements.
• Matrix manage resources for project requirements gathering and scoping.
• Analyse and interpret complex information to identify and deliver long-term solutions.
• Negotiate acceptance of proposed solutions with senior stakeholders and partner organisations.
• Run Project Definition Workshops to clearly define project outcomes.
• Engage, mobilise, manage, and motivate resources in a matrix management structure.
• Utilise planning and prioritisation skills to delegate work efficiently.
• Maintain focus on project deadlines amidst interruptions and conflicting demands.
• Facilitate and manage project initiation, including outcomes, scope, roles, responsibilities, and key milestones.
• Assess proposed change control impacts on finances, resources, scope, and risk.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and keep them informed of project status.
• Identify and record project issues or risks and develop contingency plans.
• Escalate risks for inclusion on the departmental risk register.
• Monitor and report project costs and forecasts.
• Procure IT hardware and software and oversee implementation.
• Work with regulatory bodies to translate requirements into agreeable plans.
• Prepare post-implementation reviews and feed results into future activities.
• Identify staff development needs and escalate to the Service Design Manager.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Significant experience in managing the full project life cycle within a local government environment.
• Proven experience in delivering projects using Agile methodology.
• Experience in leading teams to successful project implementation.
• Managing people, third-party suppliers, budgets (up to £0.6M), project plans, issues, and risks.
• In-depth experience in project risk and issue management.
• Proven experience in identifying, managing, and tracking benefits realised from change activities.
• Experience in incorporating risk assessment and monitoring into decisions, proposals, and processes.
• Proven experience in working with and influencing senior stakeholders and third-party suppliers.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to produce high-quality written and verbal presentations and summaries.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet challenging deadlines.
• Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of industry standards, including Government Digital Standard (GDS) Design Principles and good practice.
• Commitment to corporate and service objectives and values.