Systems Implementation Project Manager

Three Bridges Recruitment LTD; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Social purpose

Hybrid work model

Fixed-term (2 years)

Job summary

Three Bridges Recruitment LTD is partnering with a leading charity to appoint an Implementation Project Manager on a 2-year fixed-term basis, overseeing a major HR/Payroll/Finance SaaS rollout.

You will lead external partner and vendor delivery, manage data migration, testing, and cutover planning, and collaborate with Finance, HR and Payroll teams to ensure smooth go-live and BAU operations.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable track record of taking HR/Payroll/Finance implementations from design to live running.
• Hands-on payroll go-live experience with parallel payroll reconciliations.
• Experience managing software suppliers and third-party implementation partners.
• Data migration across multi-functional datasets.
• Strong cross-functional stakeholder engagement and governance experience.
• Formal certification (PRINCE2, Agile, APM) applied to delivery.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage external implementation partner and software vendor against SOW, scope and milestones.
• Own data migration strategy across HR, payroll and finance data cleansing and mapping.
• Lead end-to-end testing: System, Integration, UAT and payroll reconciliation.
• Run Design Authority to ensure configuration aligns with contracted requirements.
• Manage cutover planning, go/no-go readiness reviews and business continuity.
• Engage Finance, HR, Payroll and operations to drive readiness and BAU transition.
• Maintain RAID logs, decision registers, budgets, and progress reporting for governance bodies.

Skills

Full lifecycle HR/Payroll/Finance

Payroll go-live

Vendor management

Data migration ownership

Cross-functional collaboration

PRINCE2/Agile/APM

Job description

Three Bridges Recruitment is delighted to partner with a leading charity to appoint an Implementation Project Manager on a 2-year fixed-term basis.

The organisation is embarking on a major Business Improvement Programme, replacing ageing legacy systems with a modern, integrated SaaS platform covering HR, Payroll, and Finance.

Reporting directly to the Finance Director and acting as the organisation's dedicated implementation lead, you will own the delivery of this multi-phased transformation. Working in tandem with an external implementation partner, you will ensure a seamless, controlled go-live that safeguards frontline delivery and business-as-usual operations.

Why Work Here?

• Meaningful Social Purpose: Lead a flagship project that underpins essential services supporting individuals across Scotland.
• Flexibility: Hybrid working model with 3 days in the Edinburgh office (you choose the days) alongside a flexible working framework (core hours 10:00-12:00 & 14:00-16:00, with flexible bandwidth from 07:30 to 18:30).
• Project Longevity: A rare 2-year fixed-term programme offering stability, continuity, and significant strategic visibility at Executive and Board level.

Job

• Supplier & Partner Oversight: Direct and manage the external implementation partner and software vendor against agreed Statement of Work (SOW), scope, deliverables, and milestones.
• Data Migration: Devise and own the data migration strategy across HR, payroll, and finance-driving data cleansing, extraction, mapping, trial runs, opening balance reconciliations, and formal business sign-offs.
• Testing & Quality Assurance: Lead the end-to-end test strategy (System, Integration, and UAT). Own parallel payroll running to statutory reconciliation standard before cutover approval.
• Design & Scope Governance: Run the Design Authority to ensure configuration directly traces back to contracted requirements, firmly holding the line against out-of-scope customisation.
• Implementation & Cutover Planning: Maintain critical-path timelines, integrate cutover rehearsal plans, lead go/no-go readiness reviews, and execute business continuity planning.
• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Engagement: Partner closely with internal workstream leads across Finance, HR, Payroll, and operational service managers to guide business readiness, training, and smooth transition into hypercare and BAU.
• Programme Governance: Maintain robust RAID logs, decision registers, budget tracking, and progress reporting for the Steering Group and Executive Sponsor.

You

• Full Lifecycle Experience: Demonstrable track record of taking at least one full-lifecycle HR/Payroll or Finance system implementation through to live running and post-go-live stabilisation.
• Hands-on Payroll Expertise: Direct experience managing a payroll go-live-including parallel payroll run reconciliations and statutory reporting.
• Vendor & Commercial Management: Proven ability to manage software suppliers and third-party implementation partners, maintaining commercial control, milestone acceptance, and change control.
• Data Migration Ownership: Practical experience managing complex data migrations across multi-functional datasets.
• Cross-Functional Working: Strong working knowledge of HR, payroll, and finance processes to constructively challenge technical partner proposals.
• Methodologies: Formal certification (e.g. PRINCE2, Agile, APM) applied pragmatically to real-world delivery.

At Three Bridges Recruitment, two of our values are "striving for brilliance" and "relatability". We want every applicant to receive an excellent experience and ensure that this role is right for you.