Project Manager

Luton Council; Luton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Luton Council is seeking an experienced Improvement Project Manager to lead the Children’s Services Improvement Programme. You will coordinate multiple projects, manage plans, risks and reporting, and work with partners to ensure outcomes, value for money and efficiency.

The role requires strong stakeholder engagement, analytical skills and the ability to mentor colleagues. A PRINCE2/Agile background and willingness to travel within the borough are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering complex change projects in the public sector.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies and best practices.
• Ability to travel within the Borough as required.
• Understanding of governance, reporting and benefit delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate multiple improvement and transformation projects.
• Develop and manage project plans, risks, issues and reporting.
• Maintain stakeholder engagement across the Council and external partners.
• Provide guidance, support, training and supervision to colleagues.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Data analysis

Communication

Autonomy

Education

PRINCE2 Practitioner

Agile Practitioner

Tools

MS Project

Job description

This role is available until end of March 2027. Internal candidates who are permanent employees of Luton Council will be appointed on a secondment basis, while external candidates and other eligible applicants will be appointed on a fixed-term contract until end of March 2027. Current Luton Council employees applying for this opportunity must obtain written approval from their manager before applying (an email will suffice). A copy of this approval must be included with the application. Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

What You'll be doing

Luton Council is looking for an experienced Improvement Project Manager to play a key role in delivering projects that support the Children's Services Improvement Programme. The role will lead and coordinate multiple improvement and transformational projects, ensuring they are delivered effectively, on time, within budget and to a high standard. The postholder will manage project plans, risks, issues and reporting, while maintaining a strong focus on outcomes, value for money and efficiency. Working collaboratively across the Council and with external partners, the Improvement Project Manager will build effective relationships, maintain stakeholder engagement and support the resolution of complex issues. The role will also provide project updates to senior management and governance forums to support informed decision-making. The postholder will use their professional expertise to provide guidance, support, training and supervision to colleagues, promote best practice and contribute to wider business and improvement priorities.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a positive and lasting contribution to improving services and outcomes for children, young people and families in Luton.

The successful candidate will be an experienced project professional with a strong track record of managing complex change and transformation projects, ideally within a public sector environment. You will have strong knowledge of project management methodologies, with experience of managing risk, change and stakeholder engagement, and of developing and delivering project plans, business cases and supporting documentation. You will be confident analysing complex information and data, identifying trends and presenting clear, meaningful reports to support decision‑making.

Strong communication and relationship‑building skills are essential, with the ability to consult, challenge, influence and negotiate effectively with colleagues, partners and stakeholders. You will be highly organised, able to work autonomously and manage competing priorities, while also working collaboratively to mentor and develop others.

You will have a good understanding of equality considerations and their impact on service delivery, alongside knowledge of public sector consultation and tendering processes. A PRINCE2, Agile Practitioner or equivalent project management qualification/experience, together with experience using project management software and tools, is desirable.

The role requires the ability to travel within the Borough and attend meetings outside normal working hours when required. Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person's criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.

Applicants for this public‑facing post will need to demonstrate the ability to converse, and provide effective help or advice, fluently in spoken English.

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