IT Project Manager

Harris Federation; Croydon; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual loyalty bonus

Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension orLG

26 days' annual leave + holidays

Wellbeing Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work

Discounts

Hybrid working (2 days from home)

Job summary

Harris Federation is seeking an IT Project Manager to lead a diverse portfolio of infrastructure and software projects across our network of schools. You will collaborate with internal teams, academy leaders and external partners to plan, coordinate and deliver projects on time, within budget and to agreed specifications from initiation through to handover.

You will drive infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity and digital transformation, manage risks and dependencies, and ensure stakeholder

Qualifications

• Degree level or equivalent experience required.
• PRINCE2 Practitioner certification or equivalent.
• APM PMQ or equivalent project management qualification.

Responsibilities

• Manage IT projects from initiation through to delivery, ensuring timescales and budgets are met.
• Support development and delivery of the annual IT project programme.
• Lead infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity and digital transformation initiatives.
• Plan, coordinate and monitor project activities, risks and dependencies.
• Maintain project documentation and secure necessary approvals.
• Manage project budgets and ensure cost-effective delivery.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to define requirements, timelines and success measures.
• Support procurement activities & vendor tender processes.
• Facilitate smooth transition of completed projects into operation.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (or higher)

PRINCE2 Practitioner

APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)

Job description

We are seeking an IT Project Manager to lead the successful delivery of a diverse portfolio of infrastructure and software projects across the Harris Federation. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in enhancing technology services that support students, teachers and staff, helping to create outstanding learning environments.

Working closely with internal teams, academy leaders and external partners, you will be responsible for planning, coordinating and delivering projects on time, within budget and to agreed specifications. From project initiation through to operational handover, you will ensure solutions are implemented smoothly and deliver lasting value to our schools.

If you are passionate about driving change, building strong stakeholder relationships and delivering projects that make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing IT projects from initiation through to successful delivery, ensuring timescales and budgets are met
• Supporting the development and delivery of the annual IT project programme
• Leading technology projects including infrastructure upgrades, lifecycle refreshes, cybersecurity and digital transformation initiatives
• Planning, coordinating and monitoring project activities, risks and dependencies
• Maintaining project documentation and securing necessary approvals
• Managing project budgets and ensuring cost-effective delivery
• Coordinating with stakeholders to define requirements, timelines and success measures
• Supporting procurement activities, including vendor selection and tender processes
• Facilitating the smooth transition of completed projects into operational use
• Collaborating with IT teams, academy leaders and staff to understand and meet technology needs
• Working closely with IT Operations, Estates, Finance and Procurement teams to align project delivery
• Communicating effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle
• Supporting change management activities and helping users adopt new systems and processes successfully

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to degree level, or equivalent experience
• Project management certification such as PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ), or equivalent
• At least three years' experience managing IT projects, ideally in infrastructure, security, data or digital transformation
• Experience working on projects with budgets in the hundreds of thousands to millions of pounds
• Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams and manage priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve IT-related challenges
• Confident engaging with stakeholders at all levels and translating technical details into clear business language
• Experience in risk management, budgeting and procurement

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.