Project Manager

Role Purpose

To manage and deliver key projects that drive the transformation of services and processes across the Council. Working closely with Programme managers and cross-functional teams to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with the Council's strategic transformation objectives.

Oversee project planning, manage resources, and mitigate risks to ensure successful implementation of change initiatives. Drive continuous improvement and foster collaboration to contribute to enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of Council services, contributing to the Council's transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.

Accountabilities

1.Oversee the end-to-end delivery of assigned projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and in line with the Council's transformation objectives.

2.Ensure Project outputs support and contribute to the Programme's objectives in collaboration with the Programme Manager.

3.Manage the allocation and utilisation of resources across the project, ensuring effective use of people, finances, and materials to achieve project goals.

4.Track project progress, ensuring milestones are met and providing regular updates to senior leadership and stakeholders on performance, risks, and issues.

5.Proactively identify risks and issues that may impact project delivery, implementing effective mitigation strategies to ensure projects stay on track.

6.Manage a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, ensuring their ongoing support and involvement throughout the project lifecycle.

7.Develop and maintain comprehensive project documentation, including plans, schedules, and status reports, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project goals.

8.Proactively identify opportunities for process improvements and contribute to the ongoing improvement of project management practices and methodologies, ensuring lessons learned are captured and shared for future projects.

About us

The design and transformation teams are dedicated to shaping, driving, and facilitating sustainable change and improvement for residents in Surrey. By partnering with, challenging, and supporting our stakeholders, we strive to achieve better outcomes for our residents, against a challenging financial context.

Our Design & Transformation service is a hub of innovation and improvement, driving strategic change across Surrey County Council. The team is structured into three key areas:

• Design  - focusing on service and business redesign
• Transformation  - delivering change programmes and projects
• Data  - enabling evidence-based decision-making

We work in a fast-paced, agile environment, collaborating across departments to deliver high-impact transformation initiatives. Our mission is to improve outcomes for residents, enhance efficiency, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.

About the Role  

As a Project Manager, you will manage and deliver key projects that support the safe and legal disaggregation of Children's, Education and Lifelong Learning services (with the potential to be deployed to other areas of D&T if needed), working closely with the Portfolio Lead, Programme Manager as well as LGR Programme Management Office to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with the Council's Devolution and Local Government Re-organisation objectives.

You will work with one of more of the workstreams in the D&LGR programme, to oversee project planning, managing resources, and mitigating risks to ensure successful implementation of change initiatives. You will drive continuous improvement and foster collaboration to ensure that we are ready to create safe, legally compliant and efficient unitary authorities by vesting day.

Key Responsibilities

As a Project Manager, you will:

• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of assigned projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and in line with the Council's transformation objectives.
• Ensure Project outputs support and contribute to the Programme's objectives in collaboration with the Programme Manager.
• Track project progress, ensuring milestones are met and providing regular updates to senior leadership and stakeholders on performance, risks, and issues.
• Proactively identify risks and issues that may impact project delivery, implementing effective mitigation strategies to ensure projects stay on track.
• Manage a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, ensuring their ongoing support and involvement throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project documentation, including plans, schedules, and status reports, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project goals.

What We're Looking For

• Degree qualified, or significant vocational experience demonstrating development through involvement in a series of progressively more demanding relevant work/roles.
• Professional qualification, or ability to evidence knowledge and understanding of project management principles and practice.
• Proven written and oral communication and interpersonal skills with good negotiation and influencing skills and the ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners/professionals.
• Proven problem-solving skills, and the ability to exercise high levels of initiative to devise and implement workable solutions.
• Proven ability to manage a range of projects simultaneously through to completion.
• Significant practical or professional experience and understanding of business, supporting service teams and/or providing support to the public.

Shortlisting Criteria

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• A self-starter with the ability to work independently on tasks and proactively sharing progress updates
• Strong analytical abilities and vision with excellent communication and engagement skills.
• A good understanding of the national local government policy agenda
• A track record of managing complex change projects and programmes in a public sector setting
• Strong leadership skills and be able to manage effective relationships across the organisation in a complex stakeholder environment
• Good stakeholder engagement and management skills, at all levels of the organisation
• A collaborative approach to delivering change

Connect2Surrey is a trading style of Surrey & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Surrey County Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Surrey is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.