At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformative projects that enhance services for children and families in Surrey.
- Company: Surrey County Council, committed to innovation and community impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team focused on continuous improvement and strategic transformation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the community while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Strong organisational skills and a passion for driving positive change.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Role Purpose
To manage and deliver key projects that drive the transformation of services and processes across Surrey County Council's Children, Families & Lifelong Learning (CFLL) Directorate. Working closely with Programme Managers and cross-functional teams to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with the Council's strategic transformation objectives. Oversee project planning, manage resources, and mitigate risks to ensure successful implementation of change initiatives. Drive continuous improvement and foster collaboration to contribute to enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of Council services, contributing to the Council's transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
Key accountabilities
- Oversee the end-to-end delivery of assigned projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and in line with the Council's transformation objectives.
- Ensure project outputs support and contribute to the programme's objectives in collaboration with the Programme Manager.
- Manage the allocation and utilisation of resources across the project, ensuring effective use of people, finances, and materials to achieve project goals.
- Track project progress, ensuring milestones are met and providing regular updates to senior leadership and stakeholders on performance, risks, and issues.
- Proactively identify risks and issues that may impact project delivery, implementing effective mitigation strategies to ensure projects stay on track.
- Manage a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, ensuring their ongoing support and involvement throughout the project lifecycle.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive project documentation, including plans, schedules, and status reports, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project goals.
- Proactively identify opportunities for process improvements and contribute to the ongoing improvement of project management practices and methodologies, ensuring lessons learned are captured and shared for future projects.
The Children's Social Care (CSC) Transformation and CFLL Savings team operates in a dynamic, agile environment, delivering strategic transformation initiatives across the council. Emphasising continuous improvement, the service requires team members to proactively identify opportunities for collaboration, optimisation, and efficiency gains. Effective communication and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders are essential for the successful delivery of transformation initiatives. The team is committed to excellence, innovation, and strategic alignment, focusing on delivering value and driving positive change across the organisation.
Project Managers work within a matrix programme team, collaborating with colleagues across the Commissioning for Transformation function. They manage and deliver key projects within CFLL, demonstrating agility and flexibility. They quickly and credibly embed themselves into new areas of work, applying their project management, strategic thinking, and leadership skills across all project management disciplines. Project Managers may lead small to medium scale projects under the oversight of a Specialist Programme Manager or Programme Manager, depending on the scale and complexity of the work.
The Project Manager role demands significant effort and responsibility, overseeing the end-to-end delivery of key projects that drive the transformation of services and processes across the council. They navigate complex stakeholder landscapes, manage resources, and ensure alignment with the council's strategic transformation objectives. By applying strategic foresight and meticulous planning, they ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget. Their work fosters continuous improvement and innovation, significantly contributing to the council's sustained success and operational excellence.
Analysis, Reporting & Documentation
- Assess or conduct analysis, presenting results and putting forward recommendations on managing more complex situations to support decision making.
- Analyse and make recommendations for improvement or development of existing systems, processes or policy.
Service Delivery
- Maintain, develop and review systems, processes, procedures and working methods to maximise service delivery, quality, efficiency and compliance.
- Provide specialist/professional advice and recommendations within defined policy/strategy and procedures to support informed decision making.
Planning & Organising
- Plan workloads and secure resources to enable the team/s to achieve a quality service.
- Lead projects and reviews within a defined area of work as directed by manager to support and enhance service delivery.
Finance/Resource Management
- May assist with budget/resource/funding management in accordance with the organisation's policies and procedures.
- May have delegated responsibility for a budget(s).
Work with others
- Liaise, communicate and build relationships with other internal departments, customers, partner organisations, agencies and/or contractors to support and represent the team/service.
People Management
- May manage a team operating in a well defined specialist area or oversee the delivery of a range of support services to a service or function.
- Monitor and support the performance management and development of team members to ensure that individual contributions are maximised.
- And/Or operate as an individual responsible for the delivery of a high level and complex service.
Values: To uphold the values and behaviours of the organisation.
Equality & Diversity: To work inclusively, with a diverse range of stakeholders and promote equality of opportunity.
Health, Safety & Welfare: To be responsible for ensuring health & safety policies, procedures and legislation are implemented, communicated and managed including making sure that health and safety responsibilities are fully understood and carried out by employees within their service area. To have regard to and comply with safeguarding policy and procedure as appropriate.
Project Manager in Woking employer: Connect2Surrey
Surrey County Council is an exceptional employer, offering Project Managers the opportunity to lead transformative projects that enhance services for children and families in a dynamic and collaborative environment. With a strong commitment to continuous improvement, employees benefit from professional growth opportunities, a supportive work culture, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on the community. Located in Surrey, the council fosters innovation and strategic alignment, ensuring that every team member contributes to driving positive change across the organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Manager in Woking
✨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 Project Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the council's transformation objectives. We want you to show how your skills align with their goals. Tailor your responses to highlight your experience in managing resources and driving continuous improvement.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your STAR technique for answering competency questions. We recommend structuring your answers around Situation, Task, Action, and Result to clearly demonstrate your project management skills and achievements.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind. We believe this shows your enthusiasm for the role and reinforces your commitment to contributing to the council’s transformation initiatives.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Manager in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your project management experience and how it aligns with the Council's transformation objectives. We want to see how your skills can drive positive change!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of projects you've managed successfully. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact, as this will help us understand your capabilities better.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to read and free from jargon. This will help us focus on what really matters – your qualifications!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and is considered promptly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Connect2Surrey
✨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 examples of how you delivered on time and within budget, as well as how you navigated challenges. This will show your potential employer that you have the experience and skills needed for the role.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management Skills
Since this role involves managing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, prepare to share examples of how you've successfully engaged and communicated with different parties. Highlight your ability to build relationships and ensure ongoing support throughout project lifecycles.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Abilities
Be ready to discuss how you've identified risks and implemented effective mitigation strategies in previous projects. Use specific examples to illustrate your proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement, which are key aspects of the role.
✨Align with the Council's Strategic Objectives
Research Surrey County Council's transformation objectives and be prepared to discuss how your project management experience aligns with their goals. Showing that you understand their mission and can contribute to their strategic initiatives will set you apart from other candidates.
