Project Executive in Plymouth

Are you passionate about making a difference in the area in which you live and work? Devon Chamber of Commerce is seeking a high-calibre professional to join its team and do just that.

The Organisation

Devon Chamber of Commerce is a 211-year-old membership organisation and, as the only accredited Chamber in the county, is recognised as the premier business group representing all sizes of business. Providing a range of member benefits, events, training and support to our members, comprising everything from small start-ups to major international corporate brands, the Chamber works in partnership across the public and private sectors to make our area the best place in which to do business. The Chamber is entering an exciting period in its development with new members joining every week and is expanding its outreach and influence with key strategic partners across the region.

This is a senior delivery role with full operational responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Greater Devon Local Skills Improvement Plan. Working under the strategic leadership and vision of the Director of Programmes and Innovation, the postholder will lead delivery of LSIP activity at pace, ensuring that plans translate into visible action, strong employer voice and measurable impact.

The role combines project leadership, partner management, stakeholder engagement and compliance. You will work closely with employers, education providers, strategic authorities and external delivery partners to ensure LSIP priorities are implemented effectively and in line with Skills England requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Project delivery and coordination

• Take full responsibility for coordinating and driving forward LSIP delivery activity across Greater Devon, ensuring milestones, outputs and KPIs are achieved.
• Lead the practical implementation of both the current LSIP and the development and mobilisation of the next LSIP cycle.
• Work at pace to move from planning into delivery, ensuring that agreed priorities result in tangible programmes, interventions and employer engagement.
• Maintain oversight of all LSIP workstreams, ensuring alignment with the strategic direction set by the Director of Programmes and Innovation and the LSIP Governance Board.

• Manage working relationships with external delivery partners, short term and long-term service providers, consultants and commissioned organisations supporting LSIP delivery.
• Coordinate partner activity to ensure quality, consistency and timely delivery of agreed outputs.
• Contribute to the development of briefs, scopes of work and performance monitoring for externally delivered activity.
• Lead structured engagement with SMEs, micro businesses and larger employers to ensure their voice is clearly represented in LSIP priorities and solutions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with employer representative bodies, sector groups, training providers and community partners.
• Work closely with further education and higher education providers to ensure LSIP priorities are understood and reflected in curriculum planning and provision.
• Represent the LSIP and the Devon Chamber of Commerce in meetings, forums and events, presenting clear and confident updates.

• Take full responsibility for the planning, coordination and smooth delivery of LSIP related meetings, workshops, roundtables and events across Greater Devon.
• Ensure events are purposeful, well attended and clearly linked to LSIP evidence gathering, priority setting and solution development.

• Maintain detailed project plans, trackers and risk registers, ensuring strong governance and version control.
• Prepare reports, briefings and executive summaries for the LSIP Governance Board, strategic partners and the DfE.
• Coordinate data, evidence and narrative required for monitoring returns, funding claims and DfE reporting.
• Ensure all activity is compliant with funding requirements and internal governance processes.

• Work closely with colleagues across the Devon Chamber of Commerce to ensure alignment with wider programmes and strategic priorities.
• Contribute to a culture of collaboration, responsiveness and continuous improvement across the team.

Person specification

• Proven experience of leading or coordinating complex, multi-partner projects or programmes.
• Experience of working with external delivery partners or service providers and overseeing commissioned activity.
• Strong understanding of the post 16 skills system, including further education and higher education sectors.
• Demonstrable ability to work at pace, manage competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with confidence working with employers, providers and public sector leaders.
• High standard of written and verbal communication, including report writing and presentations.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with attention to detail and accountability for outcomes.
• Competent IT user, including Microsoft 365 applications.
• Experience working with grant-funded projects or publicly funded programmes.
• Understanding of local and regional economic development structures (e.g. LEPs, local authorities, devolution).
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation processes for projects.

Additional information

• The role may involve occasional early mornings and evenings to support stakeholder engagement.
• Appointment is subject to right-to-work checks and satisfactory references.
• The contract may be extended subject to funding decisions.
• The Chamber is an equal opportunities employer.