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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and deliver complex digital projects that drive real change and impact.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation focused on modernising systems and improving user experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with potential for career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a difference by managing high-profile projects and influencing key stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Proven project management skills and ability to lead diverse teams.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Do you thrive on leading complex digital projects that make a real difference, driving delivery from vision through to successful, benefits-focused outcomes? Can you bring teams together, tackle risks head-on, and influence senior stakeholders to keep high-profile projects on track and delivering results? We have an exciting opportunity for five Senior Project Managers to join our Project Delivery and Portfolio Management team.
As a Senior Project Manager, you will lead and oversee the delivery of moderate to high-complexity projects, managing project teams on a day-to-day basis. You will be accountable for achieving clearly defined objectives within agreed time, cost and quality constraints, and play a key role in project governance and stakeholder engagement to ensure agreed outputs are delivered and benefits realised.
- 3 x Fixed Term Appointment/Loan/Secondment for 18 months
- 1 x Fixed Term Appointment/Loan/Secondment until 30/09/2027
- 1 x Fixed Term Appointment/Loan/Secondment until 28/02/2027
Appointments will be awarded in merit order, with the 3 highest-scoring candidates offered 18-month Fixed Term Appointments, the fourth-ranked candidate offered a Fixed Term Appointment until 30/09/2027 and the fifth-ranked candidate offered a Fixed Term Appointment until 28/02/2027. There may be opportunities to extend or make these positions permanent.
Programmes Overview
These roles sit across three APHA programmes, each with a distinct focus and delivery context.
- Digital & Operational Services (DOS) Programme: The DOS Programme delivers digital and infrastructure improvements, modernising systems to strengthen cybersecurity, meet Government and Defra policy requirements, and improve user experience and operational efficiency.
- Borders and Trade Programme: This role sits within APHA's Borders and Trade Programme, which is preparing the organisation for changes arising from the UK and the EU's commitment to pursue a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.
- Delivering Sustainable Futures (DSF) Programme: DSF is APHA's core programme of transformation activity. The programme will help us become 'One APHA' by modernising and unifying how we work.
Project Leadership & Delivery
You will lead, shape and deliver complex projects, applying best-practice project management to achieve agreed outcomes within defined time, cost and quality constraints, providing clear direction to project teams to ensure delivery remains on track.
Planning, Controls & Performance
You will translate strategic objectives into clear delivery plans with defined milestones, maintain effective project controls and use digital tools and data analysis to understand progress against plans.
Benefits Realisation
You will deliver agreed project outcomes and benefits, ensuring a suitable Benefits Realisation Strategy is in place.
Budget & Resource Management
You will manage project budgets, monitoring expenditure against forecasts and working with delivery teams to control spend effectively.
Stakeholder Management
You will identify, build and manage effective relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring appropriate senior-level engagement and acting as the primary point of contact for senior and strategic stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
Risk, Governance & Assurance
You will identify and manage risks, issues, dependencies and interdependencies, putting appropriate mitigations in place and escalating where necessary.
Disability Confident
We are a Disability Confident employer and will give a fair interview process to applicants with disabilities. We will provide accommodation during the interview process if required.
Senior Project Manager in Preston employer: Animal & Plant Health Agency
Contact Detail:
Animal & Plant Health Agency Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Project Manager in Preston
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Senior Project Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common project management scenarios. Think about how you’d tackle risks or manage stakeholder expectations. We want you to shine and show them you’re the perfect fit for leading complex digital projects!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to research the company’s current projects and challenges. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your understanding of their needs. We’re all about making a real difference, so show them you’re ready to jump in!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Project Manager in Preston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in leading complex digital projects. Use the language from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of successful project outcomes you've delivered. We want to see how you've tackled risks and influenced stakeholders in your previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your experience and skills quickly.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details and can process your application efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at Animal & Plant Health Agency
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the projects you've managed in the past. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you faced, how you tackled them, and the outcomes. This will show your depth of experience and ability to lead complex projects.
✨Master Stakeholder Engagement
Since stakeholder management is key for this role, prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with senior stakeholders. Highlight your communication strategies and how you influenced decisions to keep projects on track. This will demonstrate your capability to manage relationships effectively.
✨Showcase Your Risk Management Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've identified and mitigated risks in previous projects. Use specific examples to illustrate your proactive approach to risk management and how it contributed to successful project delivery. This will highlight your strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
✨Align with Their Vision
Research the organisation's goals and values, especially regarding digital transformation and operational efficiency. During the interview, express how your vision aligns with theirs and how you can contribute to their objectives. This shows that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in making a difference.