Junior Project Manager

Co-op; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in Manchester is looking for a Junior Project Manager to join their Transformation team. In this hybrid role, you will manage various projects, from tech implementations to major change initiatives, collaborating across departments. The ideal candidate will have project management experience and a proactive approach to learning. The role offers professional development opportunities and competitive benefits including a bonus and generous holiday allowance.

Benefits

Annual bonus based on performance

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension with up to 10% employer contributions

Access to subsidised onsite gym

30% discount on Co-op products

Virtual healthcare services

Training and support for development

Cycle-to-work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in project management or similar role, understanding of project lifecycle.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects or workstreams, managing scope, budget, timelines, and risks.
• Define requirements with internal partners and shape outcomes.
• Prepare project documentation and reports for governance.

Skills

Project management experience

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Budget management

Tools

MS Office

Project management tools

Job description

Junior Project Manager
£42,000 to £47,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 6A)
Manchester city centre - in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and the office (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).

We’re looking for a Junior Project Manager to join our Transformation team and help deliver some of Co-op’s most complex and exciting projects. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with project management experience who’s keen to grow their career. In this role, you’ll lead projects or manage workstreams within larger programmes, working alongside project managers and senior project managers and getting plenty of support to learn and develop.

Why this role matters

You’ll work on a wide variety of projects across different areas of our business—from tech implementations to major change initiatives. You’ll engage internal partners, manage timelines, identify risks, and make sure projects deliver real business benefits. It’s a role that offers exposure to senior leaders, hands‑on experience across our different business areas, and the chance to build strong foundations for a future in project management.

What you’ll do

• Lead projects or workstreams within larger programmes, managing scope, budget, timelines, and risks
• Work with partners across the business to define requirements and shape outcomes
• Prepare project documentation and reports for governance forums and senior leaders
• Monitor budgets (up to £0.5m) and ensure projects deliver agreed benefits
• Use project management tools to track progress and maintain accuracy
• Apply different methodologies where appropriate (Waterfall, Agile, etc)
• Support change management activities and help embed new ways of working
• Learn from senior project managers and continuously develop your skills

What you’ll bring

• Experience in project management or similar role, with a good understanding of the project lifecycle and project management principles
• Familiarity with different project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile)
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex information to non-technical audiences in an engaging and compelling way
• Ability to build positive relationships and work collaboratively with a wide variety of internal partners across the business
• Ability to organise, prioritise, and manage competing priorities
• Commercial awareness and understanding of budgets and business benefits
• Confidence using project management and reporting tools, as well as MS Office
• A proactive approach and willingness to learn and grow

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work. We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you. Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion.

Please note that we may close applications for this role early.

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.