Project Manager – Children’s Services

City of York Council; York; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a highly motivated Project Manager to lead transformative projects in Children's Services. This role is pivotal in enhancing service delivery and ensuring effective collaboration among stakeholders. With a commitment to continuous learning and staff wellbeing, this opportunity offers flexible working arrangements and a supportive environment. If you have a passion for driving change and improving outcomes for children and families, this is the perfect role for you.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Health & Wellbeing initiatives

Flexible working practices

Community engagement opportunities

Continuous Learning & Development

Discounts and rewards

Qualifications

• Experience in managing complex transformation projects.
• Strong ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-profile transformation projects in Children's Services.
• Manage the full project lifecycle from initiation to closure.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Management

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Project Management Certification

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in driving service reform in a top-performing Children's Services team recently rated 'Outstanding' in all areas by Ofsted.

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Project Manager to initiate and lead high-profile and critical transformation projects across our Children’s Services.

You will be instrumental in delivering crucial service developments linked to the national Families First Programme, including:

• Family Help: Leading the development and implementation of effective early intervention and support services for families.
• Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams: Project managing the establishment and multi-agency collaborative child protection teams.
• Family Group Decision Making: Driving the adoption and effective delivery of family-led decision-making processes.
• My Life Plan for Children in Care and Care Leavers: Overseeing the development and implementation of improved planning for children in care and care leavers.
  
  

The successful candidate will be responsible for the full project lifecycle, from initiation and planning through to execution, monitoring, and closure. You will need to effectively engage and influence senior stakeholders, ensuring the co-creation of clear, effective, and sustainable solutions with the service.

The ideal candidate will possess experience in managing complex transformation projects, ideally within a public sector or children’s services environment. You will have excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to drive change and deliver tangible results within a high-performing setting.

This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of children's services in York, building upon an already outstanding foundation.

The Council is committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.

This role is suitable as a job sharing position.

If you are an internal candidate interested in applying for this job as a secondment opportunity, please discuss with your current line manager before submitting your application.

Hybrid working arrangements are available for this role. Each role at CYC is different and your working arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of the role and in collaboration with you and your needs as part of the recruitment process. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team.

As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.

City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Please note, we do not have a sponsorship licence to sponsor individuals for visas to work in the UK, therefore we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Niall McVicar (Head of Innovation and Children’s Champion) at [e-mail] .

Closing date: Thursday 22 May 2025 at 12 midnight

Interview date: w/c 2 June 2025