Senior Project Manager

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are looking for a Senior Project Manager to enhance our team based at our Service Headquarters in Exeter. You'll join us on a full-time, permanent basis, and in return, you will receive a competitive salary of £45,411 - £48,474 per annum.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the largest non-metropolitan Fire and Rescue Service in England. We provide prevention, protection and response services across the counties of Devon and Somerset.

Our vision is that together, we will work to end preventable fire and rescue emergencies, creating a safer world for you and your family. Keeping people safe is what we do, and we owe our fantastic reputation to our highly skilled and motivated workforce.

About the Senior Project Manager role:

As a crucial member of our team, your role will be centred around the strategic delivery of defined programme priorities through the application of your exceptional project management skills, expertise, and personal qualities. You will take full ownership of project deliverables, ensuring strict compliance with established timelines, quality benchmarks, and cost constraints. Additionally, your responsibilities will extend to managing and discerning the project's impact on program benefits, as well as efficiently identifying and overseeing organisational resources to guarantee successful delivery. In certain instances, you may take on direct line management responsibilities to further enhance project outcomes. The role places a strong emphasis on collaborative teamwork, where you will play a pivotal part in supporting the Programme Manager's initiatives to develop the team.

Key responsibilities of a Senior Project Manager:

• Influencing and guiding Project Board in the determination of measurable objectives to be achieved by the project, including vision of outcome of the project and the impact on services, sections involved and ensuring these are compatible with the overall corporate objectives of and/or relevant individual directorates.
• Planning and managing the implementation of the designated specific projects and maintaining the relationship with the business owners to deliver the project in accordance with the agreed milestones.
• Establishing an appropriate project team, ensuring that the skills available are continuously monitored to meet the planned stages of the project and / or supplemented by additional resources.
• Ensuring third party plans (e.g. contractors, internal suppliers, Estates, ICT, HR) are incorporated into the designated project phases ensuring the overall direction and timescale are maintained.
• Developing, utilising and maintaining comprehensive project documentation using recognised project methodology and DSFRS applications (e.g. SharePoint, Verto).
• Managing reporting requirements through Integra, MIS, and project reports. Identify and secure any short-term funding and identify how longer-term funding will be achieved and by whom. Where other funding is received by the project, manage reporting requirements to the extent required to ensure continued funding.
• Managing, directing and motivating the internal project resources, maintaining a good overview of each project activity, identifying, raising and resolving issues encountered in order to ensure the effective delivery of the programme.
• Coordinating the project management of work undertaken by other DSFRS functions as part of the formation of a "virtual team"

What we are looking for in our Senior Project Manager:

• Proven ability to manage complex projects
• Excellent working knowledge of project management methodologies e.g. Prince 2
• Good level of computer literacy to include MS software packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Project) and other management related software.
• Proven ability to effectively lead and manage a successful team.
• Qualified to Prince 2 Practitioner / Professional level or equivalent level of skills and experience.
• Degree or evidence of degree level ability.
• Proven experience of working through complex problems to a satisfactory conclusion.
• Experience of risk assessment and management within a project environment.
• Significant exposure to projects where new technology or operating models have been implemented.

Closing date: Thursday 8 February 2024.

If you feel you have the skills and experience to become our Senior Project Manager please click 'apply' today, we would love to hear from you.

You must be eligible to work in the UK.

How to apply:

You will be required to complete an application form and submit a supporting statement. As part of your supporting statement please ensure you provide evidence of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification. The evidence provided will be used to shortlist applications received.

Our values

As a Service and as individuals: 

• We are proud to help
• We are honest
• We are respectful
• We are working together

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recognise and celebrate the vast diversity of the local communities that we serve, and we aspire for this to be reflected in our workforce. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, experience and beliefs, who share our values to consider working for us.