Principal Project Manager in City of Westminster

As Principal Project Manager you will deliver end‑to‑end projects, owning service delivery for a significant function or product. You will work closely with cross‑functional product teams to build delivery roadmaps, build and maintain motivated teams, identify obstacles and help the team overcome them, and focus the team on what is most important to the delivery of products and services. You will also encourage continuous improvement of the delivery team.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example and demonstrate the right behaviours.
• Deal with conflict and help establish a constructive‑criticism culture.
• Develop and utilise meaningful metrics to lead teams toward their goals and identify areas for improvement.
• Own and build relationships with technical teams, Product Owners, senior stakeholders, management and third‑party subcontractors using effective governance mechanisms.
• Manage complex team dynamics between external and internal stakeholders.
• Own the creation of the business case for complex projects and coordinate activities across stakeholder groups.
• Iterate the business case throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify and compare the best processes or delivery methods to use, measure and evaluate outcomes, and adapt and reflect resiliently beyond the process.
• Help teams visualise outcomes, prioritise work and work to an agreed Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
• Listen to and interpret the needs of both technical and business stakeholders.
• Be proactive and reactive to all communication.
• Recognise the appropriate deliverables and people to meet them.
• Work with agile delivery operations throughout the product lifecycle.
• Influence stakeholders, manage relationships, and deliver business outcomes.
• Apply digital understanding and implement solutions for assisted digital.
• Take responsibility for complex relationships with contractual suppliers and negotiate value for the organisation.

Work Environment

The role requires a hybrid working arrangement. Employees are expected to spend a minimum of 60 % of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. Hybrid arrangements may be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and are reviewed regularly.

Qualifications

• A strong infrastructure and/or digital delivery background; delivery‑focused, agile environment experience.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage senior stakeholders.
• Resilience and ability to deal with difficult, complex situations.
• Experience of managing conflict and resolving it while being aware of individual needs.
• Creative problem‑solving skills and ability to develop potential courses of action.
• Risk evaluation and judgement to implement appropriate solutions.
• Experience of working with others to deliver at pace.
• Independent decision‑making on day‑to‑day issues with a strategic view on operational or policy areas.
• Contribution to the achievement of policy or business objectives.
• Previous experience working in a large digital organisation or demonstrable understanding of such organisations.
• Accountable for successful delivery of a project or workstream.
• Prior team‑management experience leading and supporting junior team members.
• Capability to work with technical and business stakeholders to define needs and interpret requirements.
• Responsibility for deciding direction and methodology.
• Excellent facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Expertise to give advice to more senior grades.

Benefits

• Annual Leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years of service; an additional option to buy or sell up to three days each year and payment for public holidays and one privilege day.
• Pension: Choice of Civil Service pension schemes.
• Training: Extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Networks: Employee‑run networks supporting minority, disability, caring, women and LGBTQ+ employees.
• Family‑Friendly Policies: Work‑reduced hours, job share, flexible benefits, voluntary benefits, retail vouchers, childcare support, paid parental leave and free annual sight tests.