Senior Project Manager

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA); Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Shared Cost AVC scheme

28 days annual leave

EV car benefit scheme

Healthcare plans

Discounted gym membership

Costco membership

Job summary

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead one or more projects within the Bus Reform Programme. You will drive delivery from planning through implementation, coordinating with senior leaders, partners and stakeholders to keep the programme on track and within budget.

Reporting to the Head of Bus Reform Programme Delivery, you will manage dependencies, mitigate risks, oversee project planning and reporting, and develop budgets and

Qualifications

• Experience delivering multi-disciplinary projects in a complex programme.
• Proven track record of delivering projects on time, within budget and scope.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and building relationships.
• Senior project management experience.
• Experience of contract management and supplier procurement.
• Experience of managing people (appraisals, performance management, recruitment).
• Excellent organisational, written, and verbal skills.
• Ability to translate complex technical subjects into practical action plans.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Degree-level project management qualification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure project management activities align with assurance frameworks.
• Support the Directorate in fostering collaboration, drive, inclusivity and innovation.
• Build an internal stakeholder network to understand project activity.
• Provide direction and coordination of activities, ensuring resources are allocated.
• Establish and maintain relationships with local authorities, employers, trade unions, and government bodies.
• Ensure programme outcomes are delivered within budgets and timeframes.
• Lead the production of project planning and reports.
• Review emerging activity to identify opportunities for improvement, alignment or collaboration.
• Lead the production of project resource and budget forecasts.

Skills

Senior project management

Stakeholder management

Contract management

People management

Negotiation

Communication

Planning and reporting

PM qualification

Education

Degree-level project management qualification or equivalent

Job description

The Bus Reform Programme is one of the most ambitious transport initiatives ever undertaken in our region. It will transform the way people travel by delivering a simpler, more reliable and more affordable bus network that better connects communities to jobs, education and opportunity.

We're looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager to play a pivotal role in making this vision a reality. Leading one or more projects within a key Bus Reform workstream, you'll drive delivery from planning through to implementation, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest standards. Working closely with senior leaders, partners and stakeholders, you'll manage complex dependencies, mitigate risks, and provide leadership and guidance to Project Managers, helping to keep the wider programme on track.

Reporting to the Head of Bus Reform Programme Delivery, you'll be at the heart of one of the UK's most significant transport transformation programmes, helping to deliver bus franchising and create a lasting legacy for the millions of people who live, work and travel across the West Midlands.

Please note, this is a 2 year FTC.

What you will be doing

• Ensure project management and activities align and meet established assurance and compliance frameworks
• Support the Directorate in creating a culture of collaboration, drive, inclusivity and innovation
• Build an internal stakeholder network to support an in-depth understanding of existing and emerging project activity
• Provide clear direction and co-ordination of activities, ensuring that tasks are resourced accordingly
• Establish, develop, and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, employers, business representative organisations, trade unions, and relevant government departments and agencies
• ensure programme outcomes are achieved within set budgets and timeframes
• Lead on the production of project planning and reports
• Proactively reviewing emerging activity in projects to identify areas for improvement, alignment or collaboration that better serves the programme
• Lead on the production of project resource and budget forecasts

What’s essential

• Significant experience delivering multi-disciplinary projects in a complex programme
• Proven track‑record of successful delivery of projects to time, budget and scope
• Experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams and building strong relationships
• Demonstrable senior project management experience
• Experience of contract management through the procurement and management of suppliers
• Experience of managing people including appraisals, performance management, disciplinary, recruitment and selection
• Excellent organisational, written, and verbal skills
• Ability to research and synthesise complex technical subjects into practical, cost-effective, and timely action plans and solutions
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills
• Suitable project management qualification to degree level or equivalent experience

Location.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane with at least 1 day a week spent in the office.

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributionscheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing,andmortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costcomembership through the WMCA.
• Boundlessunlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• EyeCare Scheme,offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters, your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours.

Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.

• Collaborative - We work as one organisation, building trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and customers to create the biggest impact for our region.
• Driven - Focussed on impact - leading with clarity, care and courage to deliver meaningful results for the West Midlands.
• Inclusive -Every voice matters - we create belonging, fairness and psychological safety so everyone can thrive.
• Innovative- We think future and act smarter - embracing curiosity, creativity and continuous improvement to shape the future.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We're a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying

Sponsorship / Right to work requirements

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, however, Skilled Worker visa sponsorship will only be considered for roles that meet our defined business-critical criteria and relevant sponsorship requirements. This role does not meet that threshold and we are therefore unable to offer sponsorship. Applicants must have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying.

Attached documents

JD - Senior Project Manager.pdf