Project Manager Level 3

inploi; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Manchester is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead the operational management of their ICT department, focusing on delivering innovative digital solutions to improve services for residents. The role demands expertise in project management, strategic thinking, and stakeholder engagement while fostering a collaborative team environment. This position offers a chance to make a significant impact in a vibrant city.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Local government pension scheme

Enhanced parental and carers leave

Access to discounts on various services

Diverse learning opportunities

Commitment to work-life balance

Volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Significant experience of project management and technology.
• Experience of leading teams and providing management support.
• Proven ability in managing relationships with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed project schedules and manage risks.
• Turn strategic ideas into practical plans.
• Provide leadership and direction to the team.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Management

Strategic Thinking

Communication Skills

People Management

Education

PRINCE 2 practitioner or equivalent

ITIL Foundation level or willing to work towards

Job description

Working hours: 35 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: 12 August 2025
Interview method: in person

This role is subject to:

• 2 references - where possible, we require 3 years' history
• Qualification - PRINCE 2 practitioner or equivalent

Join our ICT team as a Senior Project Manager in our ICT department - a service delivering the day to day operational management for all Council ICT systems, supporting digital objectives and transformational initiatives.. This is an exciting time to join the department as we've just launched our new Digital and ICT Strategy, and will be looking to reshape our ICT offer to take advantage of new technologies and techniques to deliver more for our colleagues and the citizens of Manchester.

Our ICT and Digital strategy sets out our vision for Manchester City Council:

• To be a digital-first and cloud-first organisation.
• Realign the ICT and Digital Service into a more strategic and influencing function.
• Deliver secure, stable, and compliant operational services.
• Innovate and influence new ways of working through modern technology.
• Establish a customer focused ICT & Digital service with a seamless technology offer.

This role is focussed on supporting our Corporate Core directorate, though you may be asked to work on ICT programmes across the council. Within Corporate Core, we will be delivering a number of new programmes, which will:

• help Manchester residents stay in their homes, or return there more quickly after illness;
• help ensure all Manchester children are getting access to the education they need;
• ensure the ICT systems in place to support our colleagues give them what they need when they need it.

To do this, we need someone with significant experience of project management, and technology. You will have extensive experience of ICT projects, and technology in general. You will be highly skilled at stakeholder management, and be able to demonstrate influencing skills. You will have experience of leading teams, both of direct reports and matrix managed, and providing management support and mentoring.

In addition, you will be experienced in managing internal and external resources, and managing suppliers to deliver to our needs. Most importantly, you will be excited about using technology to improve the lives of Manchester residents and staff.

For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Terry Lindsay, at 0161 234 1328 / [e-mail] to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

Essential requirements for the role:

●Project Management: Ability to develop detailed project schedules including the ability to develop and monitor project progress through the use of GANTT charts and other effective mechanisms. Ability to identify, assess and manage risks to the success of the project. Experience of working on projects within a project environment and to a structured project methodology
●Strategic Thinking: Evidence of thinking cross-functionally and cross-organisationally, beyond one’s own professional areas of specialism is important as is the ability to conceptualise new, collaborative ways of achieving shared goals.
●Planning and Organising: Ability to maintain focus and objectivity under various conditions and skill in managing and maintaining a multi-priority workload, progressing various ideas and plans concurrently.
●Communication Skills: Well-developed influencing and persuasive skills and ability to offer a persuasive argument both with internal and external stakeholders in order to achieve key project milestones whilst retaining a positive attitude. Proven ability in managing relationships with project stakeholders at all levels of seniority through effective communication.
●Strategic Planning: The ability to turn strategic ideas and objectives into practical, well organised plans with a focus on results, standards and objectives on time to quality, within budget and to re-prioritise, plan and organise own and others’ work effectively to ensure these are met.
●People Management: Effective development, management and staff motivation, providing strong leadership and direction to the team. Proven ability to secure and direct resources to fulfil work requirements over a wide area of service.
●Finance: Excellent financial planning skills to develop short, medium and long term financial plans with an ability to budget proactively with large, high-risk or volatile elements being identified and cross-referenced to operational activity.
●Commissioning Skills: An awareness of the role of commissioning in effective and efficient service delivery.

Desirable requirements that would be useful in this role:

●PRINCE 2 practitioner or equivalent
●Qualified to ITIL foundation level or willing to work towards
●Proven experience of successfully managing and delivering a wide range of complex ICT Projects within a diverse workload to a structured project management process.
●Change Management experience in a large complex organisation undergoing change
●Experience leading multi-functional and multi-skilled teams.

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 requirements 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

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].

What we will need from you if you're successful

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.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Proof of Manchester Residency: For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
• Police Vetting: Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information
• Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

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

Other relevant information

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. Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.

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