Project Manager in Hemel Hempstead

Project Manager
6-month contract
Inside IR35 - Umbrella/PAYE only
Hemel Hempstead, hybrid/Flexible

JOB DESCRIPTIONer

Job Purpose: We are seeking an experienced, delivery-focused Project Manager to lead the planning and execution of business and technology projects across global locations. The role is accountable for delivering agreed outcomes within scope, schedule, budget and quality expectations, while providing clear governance and actively managing risks, issues and dependencies.

The successful candidate will work across business functions, IT teams, enterprise architects, vendors and implementation partners. The role requires strong project leadership, stakeholder management and commercial awareness, with the ability to operate effectively in a complex, cross-functional environment.

Duties:

Project Planning & Delivery

• Lead projects from initiation through delivery, transition and closure.
• Define scope, outcomes, deliverables, milestones, success measures and delivery approach with stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, schedules, resource plans, budgets and delivery forecasts in accordance with Detection’s prevailing standards and tooling
• Track progress against commitments and drive timely corrective action where delivery is at risk.

Stakeholder & Team Leadership

• Act as the primary project contact for sponsors, business stakeholders, IT teams and delivery partners.
• Establish effective governance, decision-making and reporting, including steering and status forums.
• Lead cross-functional teams, clarify accountabilities and maintain focus on outcomes and business value.
• Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior stakeholders.

Risk, Issue & Dependency Management

• Own the project RAID process and actively manage risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies.
• Develop mitigation and contingency actions and escape material matters through appropriate governance.
• Manage interdependencies with other projects, business activities and third-party deliverables.

Financial, Resource & Vendor Management

• Manage project budgets, forecasts, purchase commitments, cost tracking and resource requirements.
• Coordinate internal and external resources to support effective delivery.
• Manage vendor and implementation-partner deliverables, performance and commercial dependencies in partnership with relevant functions.
• Ensure appropriate measures are in place to ensure vendor and implementation partner engagements have appropriate legal, IT and cyber security, and data protection measures in place

Governance, Quality & Change

• Apply organisational project governance, controls and delivery standards in accordance with Detection’s standards
• Ensure deliverables meet agreed business, technical and quality expectations.
• Work with business leads and change resources to support communications, readiness, training, adoption and transition to operational ownership.
• Capture lessons learned and promote continuous improvement in project delivery.

Qualification(s):

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Recognized project management certification (for example PMP, PRINCE2 or Agile certification) is preferred.

Language(s):

• English (must)

Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrable experience delivering medium to large-scale IT, digital or technology-enabled business change projects.
• Strong command of project management disciplines across Waterfall, Agile and hybrid delivery environments.
• Proven experience managing scope, schedules, budgets, resources, risks, issues, dependencies and governance.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, including experience working with senior business and IT stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating vendors, systems integrators or other third-party delivery partners.
• Ability to translate between business outcomes and technical delivery and to work effectively across multiple functions.
• Experience with enterprise applications, manufacturing technology, ERP, data, infrastructure or related platforms is advantageous depending on project assignment.
• Working knowledge of common delivery tools such as Microsoft Project, Azure DevOps, Jira, Smartsheet, Monday.com or equivalent.

Planning & Decision Making

• Recommend delivery strategies and execution approaches aligned to project objectives and business priorities.
• Make day-to-day delivery decisions within delegated authority and provide clear options and recommendations where sponsor decisions are required.
• Prioritize activities and resources based on value, risk, dependencies and delivery commitments.
• Provide transparent project status, forecasts and escalations to support timely leadership decisions.

Impact and Scope:

The role may support one or more projects and will have direct influence on delivery performance, business readiness, cost control and realization of intended project outcomes. Scope may involve local, regional and global stakeholders depending on the assignment.

Key Internal and External Relationships:

• Business sponsors, process owners and subject-matter experts
• IT leadership, architects, application, infrastructure, cybersecurity and data teams
• Finance, Procurement, HR and other enabling functions as required
• Vendors, systems integrators, software providers and specialist partners