Project Manager

The starting salary for this position is £45,680 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

The role is offered as a 24-month fixed-term contract or secondment opportunity.

This role is open to both internal and external candidates. If you are an internal candidate interested in applying for a secondment opportunity, please seek line manager approval before applying.

We are excited to be hiring a new Project Manager (PMO Lead) to join our fantastic Customer Transformation Programme team. The team is based in Woodhatch Place, Reigate however we support hybrid working, which means you won't be required to be in the office 5 days a week. You'll be joining a team with a great culture, purpose and drive to make sustainable change.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the team

The Customer Transformation Programme team forms part of the Design & Transformation function for Surrey County Council and works in a matrix style with teams from across the organisation. We are responsible for delivering an organisation-wide customer transformation programme, which will create a step change in how the organisation operates to support our customers, and how customers can engage with us. Through this transformation, we are acutely focused on meeting the needs of residents, alongside responding to efficiency challenges.

About the role

You will be working as part of a dedicated, enthusiastic and supportive team where you will oversee all aspects of the Project Management Office for a new programme. In this role, you will coordinate programme governance and reporting, define and implement best practice project management processes, and develop and maintain essential tools, templates, and guidelines.

You will provide guidance and support to project teams, identify and implement process improvements, and monitor project performance metrics. You will also be involved in conducting regular reviews and audits of project documentation, coordinating successful delivery with the programme team, and overseeing Programme Support Officers and other staff within a matrix structure.

You will engage with senior leaders to address risks and issues, conduct analyses to support decision-making, and liaise with the programme's change partner to ensure timely delivery and accurate presentation of artefacts.

Shortlisting criteria

We are looking for an enthusiastic, well organised person with an authoritative and credible approach. You will have excellent communication and organisational skills, be ready for a challenge and be able to drive through change. Good analytical skills with an attention to detail are also key for this role, as is the ability to manage priorities effectively.

To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and answers to the questions below will clearly evidence:

• Experience of working in a lead role within a busy PMO or project / programme environment
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of project and programme methodologies and documentation, and their application
• Effective time management skills with the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines, and to profile complex activities across differing timescales
• Experience of managing or supervising staff, and of working in a complex / matrix environment
• Experience of working with and providing support to senior managers

As part of your application you will be asked to answer the following questions:

• Please can you tell us about your motivation for applying for this position?
• Please tell us about your experience of working in a Project Management Office environment?
• Please outline an example of where you have worked with competing priorities and how you managed this?
• What are the most important skills and attributes a Project Management Office lead should have?

This advert will close at 23:59 on 30th June 2024.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.