Project Manager (Children's Services) - INTERNAL APPLICATIONS

This is vacancy is open to North Northamptonshire Council Internal applicants only

Are you a dedicated project manager who is passionate about supporting service improvement and innovative change within Children's Services?

How we deliver transformation support to our services is changing, and we have an exciting opportunity to recruit a Project Manager to support design and deliver projects within the Children's Directorate. You will report to the Programme Manager for this service, and will be accountable for the delivery of a variety of key projects to support transformative change across the service area.

You need a background in Project Management and will be well versed in associated methodologies, processes and documentation. It would be advantageous to have experience in Education and SEND services projects.

Above all, we are keen to attract people who, with solid experience of improvement methodologies and a proven track record of applying them, embrace the values and behaviours of North Northamptonshire Council to support services to innovate and implement improvements which positively impact our service users.

What will you be doing?

You will be supporting the Children's Services Directorate to deliver projects working alongside the Programme Manager, Change & Engagement Manager within our team, as well as Service Leads and key partners across the County.

Defining, developing and delivering large scale projects. You will be part of an in-house project management change capability, providing organisational learning, capability, resilience and value for money.

You will be accountable for the planning, coordination, facilitation and monitoring of change and improvement projects; and for developing capacity and capability to embed service improvement tools and techniques supporting the continuous modernisation and redesign of services.

Taking responsibility for the day to day running and delivery of the projects, resulting in new ways of working and identified business benefits being realised. Planning and the development of training programmes where applicable; and the building of collaborative relationships in which to challenge, influence and empower managers and staff to enable them to produce more effective, innovative and high quality service delivery and partnerships.

Engagement with all stakeholders both internal and external, developing and maintaining effective strategic links; influence, challenge and empower staff to change and improve their services. Managing business analyst resource during delivery of a project where applicable, and working across various locations in North Northamptonshire where required.

Coordinating, leading and taking accountability for the delivery of workstreams; applying project management methodologies, tools and techniques to deliver rapid, demonstrable and sustainable improvements.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details of main job accountabilities and essential qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience needed for this role.

• Graduate level or equivalent professional qualification or relevant proven experience.


• Advanced knowledge of business process/business improvement/project management acquired through degree or equivalent management experience.


• PMO3, MSP, PRINCE2 or equivalent programme/project management qualification or equivalent by significant experience.


Minimum levels of knowledge, skills and experience required for this job:

• The ability to create project management products utilising a range of software and tools


• Experience and knowledge of ICT capabilities to meet business needs.


• Knowledge and experience of project/change management concepts and methodologies and when to appropriately utilise them.


• Awareness of the National and Local Government agenda, current issues and challenges.


Skills

• Ability to successfully manage significant change and improvements in working practices.


• Able to manage stakeholder relationships within complex projects and collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create conditions for successful partnership working. Ability to manage and resolve conflict.


• Ability to enable others to develop vision and translate that into realistic plans.


• Strong group facilitation skills and excellent organisational and time management skills, ability to plan and deliver objectives within an agreed timeframe.


• Ability to build rapport and credibility with senior managers, members and Corporate Directors.


• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills along with interpersonal skills to gain the respect of multi-professional teams, enthuse and motivate individuals and teams.


• Evidence of management and delivery of defined business benefits.


• Experience of working in a dynamic and complex environment, handling multiple projects, developments including risk and issue management.


Experience

• Political sensitivity and a demonstrable ability to recognise, influence and manage the communications consequences of sensitive issues.


• Experience of budget management including responsibility for financial planning.


• Experience of successfully leading, managing, coaching and developing diverse project teams in delivering demonstrable and sustainable transformation and service change & improvements.
  
  We are a new unitary council, established in April 2021; we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country. Our vision for North Northants is to be 'A place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life'.


Our priorities are:

• helping people live active fulfilled lives


• caring for our young people, providing them with high quality education and opportunities


• enabling a thriving and successful economy


• leading on a green and sustainable environment


• ensuring our communities are connected so they can shape their lives and where they live


• providing modern public services


Our values, as chosen by our staff, are - Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive and Trustworthy.

Your differences make us different - Achieve Together.


• a competitive salary


• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.


• opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council


• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days


• agile and flexible working arrangements to help you with a healthy work-life balance.