Job Profile for Project Manager

Job Details

Job title: Project Manager

Salary/Grade: SMG1

Service: Programme Management & Delivery Team

Reports to: Senior Programme Manager

Job purpose

• As part of the Programme Management & Delivery Team, the Project Manager provides professional project management support across the Fit for the Future programme and other strategic projects delivered during periods of organisational change, including Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

  The role supports the successful planning, delivery and governance of a portfolio of complex projects that contribute to the organisations transformation objectives. Working closely with senior leaders, programme leads and stakeholders, the Project Manager ensures projects are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and aligned to strategic priorities.

  The postholder applies appropriate project management methodologies, supports effective change management, manages risks and dependencies, and ensures robust reporting and assurance arrangements are in place. The role requires flexibility, resilience and strong collaboration skills to operate effectively in a fast-changing environment.

Principal Accountabilities

• Lead and manage complex projects within the Fit for the Future programme and other corporate and service-led change initiatives, including those arising from Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and strategic objectives.
• Apply professional project management expertise to plan, control and deliver projects using appropriate methodologies, providing advice, challenge and support to senior officers and project teams to enable successful outcomes.
• Establish and maintain effective project governance arrangements, ensuring compliance with corporate project management standards and providing clear, accurate reporting to project boards, programme boards and senior stakeholders.
• Lead engagement with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, influencing at senior levels to secure commitment, manage expectations and resolve issues in a complex and changing organisational environment.
• Lead and coordinate project-level change and transition activities, including implementation planning, impact assessment and readiness for change, particularly in the context of transformation programmes and LGR-related activity.
• Own and actively manage project risks, issues and interdependencies, exercising professional judgement to resolve matters and escalating strategically significant concerns through appropriate governance routes.
• Manage project budgets, resources and external suppliers as required, ensuring value for money and effective use of organisational resources.
• Act as a senior project management practitioner within the PMDT, contributing to the development of project management capability, consistency of approach and continuous improvement across the organisation.
• Provide flexible project management support across the PMDT portfolio, adapting to shifting priorities and emerging requirements during periods of organisational change.

Corporate Accountabilities

• To take responsibility for maintaining own health and attendance. 
• To support, contribute and comply with quality and governance procedures as directed by management.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in all areas of employment and service delivery.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Safeguarding Procedure in all areas of employment and service delivery.
• Any other duties as required to support the business, including maintaining business continuity and during civil emergencies. All staff may on occasions be called upon to support the Council to deal with emergency situations affecting the community we serve. In the event of an emergency or a rehearsal for such an event, you may be required to attend at times and at locations outside of the normal hours and duties of the post and to adopt duties directed by the Chief Executive or their nominated representative for the duration of the emergency.
• Any other associated duties detailed by Head of Service or his representative.
• To advise Line manager if, at any time, the above duties and responsibilities cannot be performed.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

(Tested at application and interview stage)

Experience and Qualifications

• Proven experience in project management.
• Degree qualified in appropriate field of study or equivalent by work experience.
• Relevant Professional qualification e.g., APM, Prince 2
• Strong understanding of change management principles and methodologies, with demonstrated experience leading organisational change initiatives.
• Experience of managing programmes, risks, and budgets
• Experience of leading professional teams.
• Experience of undertaking procurement processes in a public sector environment.

Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent client-facing and internal communication skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Experience of using project management tools and software to manage projects.
• Advance time management and analytical skills.
• Strong organisational skills including multitasking skills.
• Experience of using Microsoft Office.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and effectively manage competing priorities.

Competencies

(Tested at interview stage)

Communicating Effectively

Demonstrate the effective use of the range of communication methods available: written, spoken, electronic, and use these methods in appropriate ways suitable to the context and situation

• Present spoken communication in a polite, friendly and respectful manner seeking to ensure mutual understanding
• Listen well and seek clarification and understanding, avoiding jumping to conclusions or making assumptions
• Present information and ideas in a clear and understandable way which avoids jargon
• Seek to understand the communication needs of colleagues and customers, being mindful of equality issues and the diverse needs of the range of people we work with
• Choose the most appropriate method of communication for the situation, seeking to avoid using one fixed style or approach

Performing efficiently and effectively

Promote good performance, developing clear, structured and efficient ways of managing workload and delivering results.  Staff should challenge themselves and others to perform well, and to adhere to the Council’s performance management systems

• Ensure that all work carried out by you is in line with business and service plans and supports the overall aims and ambition of the Council
• Plan your workload effectively, reporting achievements and problems to appropriate managers and project leaders
• See tasks and objectives through to completion
• Approach challenges with drive and enthusiasm
• Strive for continuous improvement in your work and manage your learning and development to enable you to perform to the best of your ability
• Create novel solutions to improve services and ways of working and challenge conventional practices
• Seek out income generating opportunities and efficiencies and aim to provide more for less to achieve the best possible value and high standards of service delivery
• Be enthusiastic about the Council’s services and look for opportunities to promote and sell them

Using and managing resources efficiently and effectively

Demonstrate the effective and efficient use of the full range of resources used in and by the Council including time, finances, staffing, equipment, information, materials, buildings, etc.

• Take responsibility for managing your time, seeking efficient ways to carry out your work, maximising your output and minimising wastage
• Use and acquire materials effectively and efficiently minimising wastage, recycling where possible, and striving for cost effectiveness
• Seek out ways to improve the use of resources

Engaging with the customer

Understand the needs and requirements of their customers, to provide excellent customer service, and to involve customers in the improvement of services

• Provide a helpful and friendly service to customers, both internally and externally
• Take responsibility for following up on enquiries and solving customer issues
• Make efforts to fully understand the customer’s needs and avoid assuming that “we know best”
• Ensure that you have a full understanding of the needs and requirements of the customer
• Seek feedback from internal and external customers on the effectiveness and efficiency of the service you provide

Working well together

Actively foster good working relationships with colleagues and customers in order to collectively achieve the Council’s direction and ambition

• Co-operate and work well with colleagues at all levels of the organisation, seeking collective responsibility for the achievement of goals
• Demonstrate consideration and respect for other’s feelings and opinions and avoid judging and making assumptions
• Maintain positive working relationships with external contacts in order to maintain the reputation of the Council
• Seek to actively solve problems and avoid passing the issue on to others or leaving the problem unresolved
• Demonstrate self-awareness of your style of working and develop flexibility and adaptability in order to work well with others

Other conditions

• This position does not require a DBS check 
• This position is not politically restricted

Job Profile updated
June 2026

Values and behaviours

Our values and behaviours are an integral part of who we are; they are the guiding principles that should inform how we work together, support each other and make decisions.

Our organisation thrives on the dedication and passion of its people and it’s important that we embody these values and behaviours and they become a part of our organisational DNA.

Our vision

We will be ambitious, support each other and work together in new ways to achieve outstanding results

Our core values