Project Manager - Drugs & Alcohol

Manchester City Council; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance

Pension scheme

Enhanced parental and carers leave

Brilliant discounts (MCR+)

Learn and grow (training & apprentices

Good Employment Charter member

Volunteering leave

Job summary

Manchester City Council is seeking an experienced Project Manager to join the Healthcare Public Health & Prevention team. You will lead and coordinate projects within the substance misuse portfolio, plan activities, manage milestones, and provide governance updates.

You will work with partners across the Council, NHS Greater Manchester and providers to improve services and outcomes. The role requires building relationships, managing risks, and supporting a whole-system approach to reduce health

Qualifications

• Experience managing projects within public health or health inequalities.
• Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams and partners.
• Strong communication and governance skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate defined projects and workstreams within the substance misuse portfolio.
• Plan activity, manage milestones, identify risks and issues.
• Support partnership governance and provide updates on progress and outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Council, NHS Greater Manchester, providers and voluntary organisations to improve services.

Job description

Working Hours

• Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week


• Contract Type: Permanent


• Working Style: Hybrid Employees split their time between working remotely (e.g., from home) and working on-site (e.g., in an office)


• Closing Date: 11.59pm, 15 September 2026

Interview Format

In Person

This Role is Subject to:

• Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.


• 2 References – where possible we require 3 years' history.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager to join our Healthcare Public Health & Prevention team in the Public Health Directorate. This is a unique opportunity to manage and support projects that help reduce drug and alcohol related harm, improve outcomes for residents and tackle health inequalities.

Public Health leads work with partners to improve the health of Manchester’s population, protect people from threats to their health, prevent and reduce risks, and create the conditions that support better health. We use evidence, data and insight to shape strategies, services and programmes that make a difference.

In this role, you will lead and coordinate defined projects and workstreams within the substance misuse portfolio. You will help plan activity, manage milestones, identify risks and issues, support partnership governance and provide clear updates on progress, performance and emerging issues.

You will support a whole-system approach by working with colleagues across the Council, NHS Greater Manchester, commissioned providers, voluntary and community sector organisations, housing partners and people with lived experience.

You will also support the commissioning cycle for substance misuse services. This may include contributing to needs assessments, service reviews, service specifications, business cases, options appraisals and work to improve service quality, outcomes and value for money.

You will need to understand the needs of people affected by drug and alcohol use and be committed to working with others to improve services, reduce harm and support better outcomes.

You will be joining an experienced and established team of project managers, and Programme leads working to address health inequalities as part of health care public health and prevention

If you would like an informal chat to find out more, please contact Marie Earle, Strategic Commissioning Manager by emailing [e-mail].

We are looking for someone who can manage projects in a structured way, work well with others and keep a clear focus on improvement.

• Build trusted relationships with partners, providers and communities


• Communicate clearly and sensitively with different audiences


• Listen, collaborate and support shared problem solving


• Show empathy, sound judgement and a commitment to reducing inequalities

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it's an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand


• We work together and trust each other


• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly


• We own it and we’re not afraid to try new things


• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance- Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.


• A buzzing pension- You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.


• Enhanced parental and carers leave- Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.


• Brilliant perks- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.


• Learn and grow- We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.


• A Good Employment Charter member- We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.


• Up to 3 days volunteering leave- Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.


• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the \"Accessibility tools\" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirement for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans


• Current or former care leavers


• Have a disability or long-term condition


• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programme?

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.


• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.


• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [e-mail].

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.This is not arole we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for, see the top of the advert for details.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

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