Innovation Programme Project Manager (Digital & Data)

The Methodist Church in Britain; Portslade by Sea; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Annual leave

Wellbeing support

Training and development

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Brighton and Hove City Council is seeking a Project Manager in the Digital, Data & Innovation service to lead the Turbocharging Innovation Programme. The role involves turning pilot initiatives into deliverable projects, including business cases, agile delivery and benefits tracking, in collaboration with service leads, Finance, Procurement and digital specialists.

The fixed-term post runs to March 2028, with a potential extension to 2030 dependent on programme funding.

Qualifications

• Robust project management expertise.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to navigate complex, ambiguous environments with empathy and assurance.
• Curiosity.
• Relationship-building skills across diverse teams.
• Commitment to advancing public services.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain evidence-based business cases with service leads, Finance and digital specialists, covering options, costs, benefits, savings, resources and risks.
• Lead work from scoping and business case through approval and implementation.
• Assess pilot evidence and appraise options to develop proposals for approval.
• Coordinate review and approval of proposals through council governance.
• Help services define problems, understand user needs and develop testable solutions.
• Develop and maintain delivery plans with milestones, resources, responsibilities and dependencies.
• Facilitate agile ways of working, including iterative planning, rapid feedback and continuous learning.
• Identify risks, remove blockers and give teams the frameworks and guidance they need.
• Work with Procurement, Legal and technical specialists on procurement and contracting, and manage supplier delivery.
• Establish benefit baselines with service leads and Finance, test savings assumptions and track results.
• Report regularly to stakeholders and leadership, highlighting decisions needed and escalating risks and issues.
• Coordinate implementation readiness, including information governance reviews, testing, training, communications and handover to service delivery.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Empathy

Relationship building

Public service ethos

Job description

Brighton and Hove City Council is seeking a Project Manager in the Digital, Data & Innovation service to lead the Turbocharging Innovation Programme. The role involves turning pilot initiatives into deliverable projects, including business cases, agile delivery and benefits tracking, in collaboration with service leads, Finance, Procurement and digital specialists.

The fixed-term post runs to March 2028, with a potential extension to 2030 dependent on programme funding.