Head of Projects & Change

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Wolverhampton; Hybrid; GBP 66,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector pension fund in the UK is looking for a Head of Projects & Change to lead transformation initiatives and manage a team focused on project delivery. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, proven project management experience, and the ability to develop change frameworks. This role offers a competitive salary and hybrid working conditions.

Benefits

Flexible working environment

Professional development opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience in programme, project, or change leadership.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale transformation initiatives.
• Experience in developing and embedding change frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Fund’s Projects & Change function.
• Design and embed project management frameworks.
• Oversee transformation initiatives and ensure appropriate governance.

Skills

Project management

Change management

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Professional qualifications in programme or change management

Job description

Overview

Head of Projects & Change

£66,939.00 - £70,283.00

Full Time (Hybrid)

The West Midlands Pension Fund is seeking a visionary and strategic Head of Projects & Change to lead the delivery of transformation across one of the UK’s largest pension funds.

About the role

Reporting directly to the Director of Finance, Resources and Transformation, you will lead the Fund’s Projects & Change function, ensuring the effective design, prioritisation and delivery of all change initiatives. From major systems implementations to business process improvements, you will oversee the planning and execution of projects that support our employees, members, and employers, all aligned to the Fund’s corporate strategy.

You will be responsible for defining and delivering the Fund’s Projects & Change strategy and roadmap, ensuring initiatives are resourced effectively, risks are well managed, and demonstrable benefits and value for money are achieved. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape and embed a strong culture of change management and programme delivery at scale.

What the day will look like

Responsibilities include:

• Lead and manage the Fund’s Projects & Change function, ensuring high-performing, customer-focused services.
• Design and embed project and change management frameworks that reflect best practice and support effective delivery.
• Oversee a portfolio of transformation initiatives, ensuring appropriate governance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Provide strong leadership and direction to the Projects & Change team, ensuring resource planning, professional development, and high service standards.
• Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure strategic alignment and effective prioritisation of projects and change initiatives.
• Act as an escalation point for project risks and challenges, ensuring effective resolution.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration across the Fund.

About you

We are looking for an experienced leader with a strong track record in project and change management within complex organisations. You will bring:

• Significant senior-level experience in programme, project, or change leadership.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale transformation initiatives, including technology and process change.
• Experience in developing and embedding change frameworks and ensuring adoption across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong strategic planning, organisational, and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing abilities, with the credibility to engage at all levels.
• A collaborative, adaptable, and resilient leadership style, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.

Professional qualifications in programme or change management would be an advantage, as would experience within pensions, financial services, or other regulated environments.

Why choose the West Midlands Pension Fund?

At West Midlands Pension Fund, we manage over £21bn of assets and provide pension services to more than 340,000 members and 800 employers. This is a senior leadership opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the Fund’s future, delivering projects and change that will have lasting impact.

We offer a flexible working environment, professional development opportunities, and the chance to lead meaningful transformation within a respected public sector organisation.

How we support our colleagues

In addition to our comprehensive benefits package, we encourage a diverse workforce. Our agile, inclusive environment allows you to manage your wellbeing and work/life balance. You also have 24-hour access to an employee assistance programme.

As a new employee of our Senior Leadership team, you will receive a robust interactive 8-week induction plan providing you the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders across the fund. You will also be enrolled onto a range of professional training courses including an introduction to the LGPS and team building to encourage collaborative working, allowing you to thrive in your new role.

For more information, please email [e-mail] or to apply for this post please visit the following website: wmjobs.co.uk

Our working arrangements

All council roles are allocated to either a fixed, field or flexible work style. Some roles are agile which enable and empower employees to maximise their performance and productivity, whilst maintaining a healthy work life balance. Roles with a fixed workstyle work in a fixed permanent council location. Roles with a field workstyle are usually allocated where employees are required to be out working in the community with a minimum requirement for \'touch down\' space at any council location. Roles with a flexible workstyle have a flexible base location to meet the needs of the business and employees can work from a mixture of home or any council office, partner/client, or external location, as required to meet service requirements.

Please refer to the Job Description for further information on the workstyle assigned to the role you are applying for.

For more information about working for our organisation including the culture of the Council, the Council plan and vision, staff equality forums, core HR policies and much more please click here.

Diversity

We are committed to building a workforce that is reflective of the diverse community we serve. We want to attract the best applications from people of all backgrounds and underrepresented groups because we strongly believe in adding value through diversity, inclusion, and equality. Our employees enable us to deliver services that are accessible, inclusive, and reflective of Wolverhampton residents.

Our status as a Disability Confident Employer showcases our commitment to people with disabilities or health conditions, advocating for their opportunities and potential.

We\'ve received the Stonewall Gold Award, emphasising our dedication to the LGBT+ community by nurturing an inspiring, inclusive, and equal workplace.

As of March 2023, the RACE Code Quality Mark signifies our active engagement with racial equality. These recognitions validate our continuous efforts towards fostering an inclusive work environment that respects and values our diverse employees.

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the essential criteria for the post.

We encourage, inspire and value an inclusive culture here at the council where employees can flourish, thrive and be themselves. We have four staff equality forums for employees to join. These help to ensure our employees have a voice, they feel empowered to speak up and where everyone is treated with respect - Learn more about the staff equality forums here.

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders

We are committed to the fair treatment of all our employees, potential employees, or users of our service regardless of offending background. The Council uses the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for any vacancies that require a DBS check to obtain information about applicants to assess their suitability for employment in positions of trust. We do not discriminate unfairly against any individual on the basis of a conviction or any other information revealed as a result of a DBS disclosure - Learn more here

Employment Information & Support

If you are considering applying for an apprenticeship or a role where the salary is (Grade 2-5), and would like to visit us to learn about the application, interview process and what it is like to work for the council, please click on this link to find out more - Learn more here

Attached documents

• Join Us.pdf
• Job Description and Person Specification