Project Support Manager in London

Organisation: JBAF Consulting / NHS

Location: London (Hybrid)

Duration: 8 months

Level: Band 6 Equivalent

Company Overview

JBAF Consulting is a strategic advisory firm specializing in the end-to-end delivery of embedded solutions across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. We bridge the gap between high-level strategy and operational execution. As a trusted partner to the NHS, we integrate into clinical and operational teams to drive measurable outcomes, operational resilience, and rigorous stakeholder alignment.

Role Description

We are seeking a high-caliber Project Support Manager with extensive experience in structured project management environments. This is a pivotal role designed for a professional who does more than track tasks; you will be the custodian of project governance and the driver of operational delivery. Operating at a Band 6 equivalent, you will provide the critical management framework for multiple healthcare workstreams. You will act as the primary interface between clinical leadership and operational management, ensuring that project methodologies are applied consistently, risks are proactively mitigated, and delivery remains on the critical path.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Management & Clinical Delivery

• Portfolio Oversight: Lead the structured coordination of assigned healthcare projects, ensuring all workstreams align with overarching NHS clinical objectives.
• Performance Control: Manage specific project workstreams, utilizing data-driven insights to monitor performance metrics and implement recovery plans where deliverables are at risk.
• Strategic Architecture: Partner with Clinical Leads to transform conceptual ideas into formal project plans, conducting desk-based research and leading rigorous post-implementation evaluations.

• Technical Secretariat: Lead the governance function for high-level steering groups, managing the action-decision log to ensure executive accountability.
• Information Management: Design and maintain robust project documentation (PIDs, Highlight Reports, RAID logs) to ensure a gold-standard audit trail and operational clarity.
• Data Intelligence: Manage the information requirements for the portfolio, ensuring that evidence-based decision-making is integrated into the project lifecycle.

• Clinical Partnership: Act as a trusted advisor to Clinical Leads, Nurse Specialists (CNS), and Allied Health Professionals (AHP), ensuring their expertise is translated into actionable project milestones.
• Expert Facilitation: Design and lead workshops and stakeholder events that drive consensus and solve complex operational bottlenecks.
• Communication Management: Oversee the flow of information across the project, ensuring all internal and external stakeholders are aligned with the project’s mission.

• Proactive Mitigation: Identify, profile, and manage project risks and issues (RAID), developing mitigation strategies before they impact the critical path.
• Escalation Management: Maintain constant oversight of project health, providing the Programme Lead with accurate forecasting and escalating critical risks with proposed solutions.

The Ideal Candidate

To be successful, you must demonstrate:

• Strong Project Management Authority:

• NHS Environment Mastery: Proven experience managing or supporting complex projects within an NHS Trust or healthcare setting.
• Methodological Rigor: Deep familiarity with project management frameworks (e.g., PRINCE2, Agile, or MSP) and the ability to apply them to real-world scenarios.
• High-Level Coordination: A track record of managing multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Analytical Thinking: The ability to synthesize complex clinical data into clear, concise executive reports.
• Leadership Presence: Confidence in challenging senior stakeholders when project milestones are at risk and the ability to lead meetings with authority.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
• Certification: PRINCE2 Foundation/Practitioner or APM certification is highly desirable.
• Technical Skills: Expert proficiency in Project Management tools (MS Project, Excel, Smartsheet) and virtual collaboration platforms.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a focus on executive-level reporting.