Interim Project Manager - Public Sector

ZipRecruiter; London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public sector organization is seeking an Interim Project Manager to oversee significant projects within their Change Portfolio. This role involves full ownership of project execution, stakeholder engagement, and compliance with governance standards. Candidates should possess relevant project management qualifications and demonstrable experience in managing complex public sector projects. The position offers a hybrid working arrangement and a competitive daily rate.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Project Manager in defence, security, or policing is essential.
• Proven track record of delivering complex projects in public sector environments.
• Strong presentation and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage projects ensuring delivery within time, cost, and quality parameters.
• Facilitate project documentation, logs, and reporting; oversee budgets.
• Collaborate with teams and manage dependencies effectively.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Project governance

RAID management

Budget management

Documentation

Communication

Education

PRINCE2 Practitioner

Agile PM

APM PMQ

Tools

Microsoft Project

Visio

Job description

Job Description

Interim Project Manager - Public Sector (Inside IR35)

Location: London - Hybrid Working Available
Contract Length: 3 Months Initially
Day Rate: £400 - £500 per day (Inside IR35)
Start Date: ASAP

Our client, a respected public sector organisation, is seeking an Interim Project Manager to lead the delivery of critical projects within their Change Portfolio.

Purpose:

You will take full ownership for the execution and successful delivery of allocated projects from the Change Portfolio Board. This includes stakeholder engagement, developing project documentation, and ensuring compliance with corporate governance, project, financial and procurement procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage projects on a day-to-day basis, ensuring outcomes are delivered within agreed time, cost, and quality parameters.
• Develop project plans, produce reports for boards and committees, and provide regular project updates to key stakeholders.
• Maintain project documentation, logs, RAID items, and registers aligned with governance frameworks.
• Oversee project budgets and ensure financial compliance and reporting.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers to manage dependencies and avoid duplication.
• Facilitate project start-up activities including definition of scope, deliverables and resource planning.
• Support the close-down process, including lessons learned reviews and contribution to improved practices.

Essential Experience:

• It is essential to have worked as a Project Manager in defence, security or policing
• Proven experience delivering multiple complex projects in large-scale public sector or similar environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work with senior stakeholders and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement, project governance, RAID management, and reporting.
• Experience managing budgets, suppliers, and project resources.
• Confident communicator, both verbal and written, with strong presentation and influencing skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Visio, and core project documentation tools.

Qualifications & Professional Development:

• Project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2 Practitioner, Agile PM, APM PMQ).
• Additional certifications such as MSP, MoR, or ITIL are highly desirable.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and CPD.