Capability and Project Manager

Jobtailor; Swindon; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Swindon is seeking a dynamic senior professional to lead the PD&I capability and talent development programme, including managing apprenticeships and career pathways. You will build strategic relationships with stakeholders, HR, and external partners, and drive priority projects ensuring governance, risks, and benefits are realised within time, cost, and quality constraints.

The role requires ability to influence decisions, manage change and lead teams while maintaining BPSS

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams, coaching, and developing capability; able to act as role model.
• Experience engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience delivering medium-scale projects or major workstreams in public-sector or research contexts.
• Knowledge of project delivery standards such as PDCF, PRINCE2, Agile PM Foundation.
• Degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent professional experience.
• Ability to build relationships, influence decisions, and manage ambiguity.
• BPSS certification or pre-condition of employment.
• Eligibility to work in the UK (sponsorship may be required).

Responsibilities

• Lead the PD&I capability and talent development programme, including managing apprenticeships
• Develop professional pathways, learning interventions, and succession planning activities
• Build strategic relationships with stakeholders, HR, and external partners
• Lead priority projects and improvement initiatives to agreed time, cost, quality, and benefit objectives
• Manage project governance, risks, resources, and change
• Promote professional excellence, continuous improvement, and high performance
• Lead talent development programmes, apprenticeships, career pathways, and professional development activities
• Line manage colleagues within talent development programmes, supporting learning, performance progression

Skills

People leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Project delivery

Change management

Risk management

Governance

Continuous improvement

Performance management

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

• Lead the PD&I capability and talent development programme, including managing apprenticeships
• Develop professional pathways, learning interventions, and succession planning activities
• Build strategic relationships with stakeholders, HR, and external partners
• Lead priority projects and improvement initiatives to agreed time, cost, quality, and benefit objectives
• Manage project governance, risks, resources, and change
• Promote professional excellence, continuous improvement, and high performance
• Lead talent development programmes, apprenticeships, career pathways, and professional development activities
• Line manage colleagues within talent development programmes, supporting learning, performance, and career progression
• Support capability maturity and professional excellence across the Project Deliver and Improvements directorate

Requirements

• Experience of leading and managing others, motivating, coaching and developing skills and capability; ability to act as a role model
• Experience engaging with and influencing a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Experience delivering medium-scale projects or major workstreams in research or public-sector environments
• Experience working in line with recognised project delivery standards such as the PDCF of the Civil Service
• Project Management Qualification such as Agile PM Foundation, PRINCE2 Foundation, APM PMQ, or equivalent
• Demonstrable experience embedding project management methods within projects and/or programmes
• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience in a professional projects environment
• Ability to build productive relationships and influence decisions
• Ability to create and present a compelling vision, set direction, and adapt to ambiguity and change
• Ability to recognise, anticipate, and effectively deal with conflict
• Baseline Personnel Security Screening (BPSS) is a pre-condition of employment
• Ability to work in the UK; sponsorship may be required for eligible candidates

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in leading talent development programs, managing apprenticeships, and fostering professional pathways while ensuring project governance and stakeholder engagement. Proficient in delivering projects within public-sector environments, adhering to recognized project delivery standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Project Management Qualification
• Experience Leading and Managing Others
• Stakeholder Engagement and Influence
• Medium-Scale Project Delivery
• PDCF Compliance

Hard Skills

• Project Management
• Talent Development
• Apprenticeship Management
• Professional Pathways Development
• Change Management
• Risk Management
• Governance
• Continuous Improvement
• Performance Management
• Conflict Resolution

Soft Skills

• Coaching
• Motivating
• Building Relationships
• Vision Setting
• Adaptability

Certifications & Qualifications

• Agile PM Foundation
• PRINCE2 Foundation
• APM PMQ
• Baseline Personnel Security Screening

Industry Keywords

• Public Sector
• Project Delivery Standards
• Capability Maturity
• Professional Excellence
• Succession Planning