Project Lead in Taunton

The GP Support Unit (GPSU) champions, supports and amplifies general practice across Somerset. The Project Lead will play a key role in supporting practices, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), neighbourhood teams and system partners to design, deliver and embed service improvements that enhance patient care, staff experience and operational effectiveness.

The postholder will lead a portfolio of projects and improvement initiatives, applying structured project management approaches alongside service improvement methodologies to ensure sustainable and meaningful change. Working collaboratively with stakeholders, patients and partners, they will support organisations to identify opportunities, redesign pathways and processes, and deliver measurable benefits.

The Project Lead will be responsible for planning and coordinating delivery activities, managing risks and dependencies, monitoring progress and ensuring projects remain focused on outcomes and service improvement priorities. This is a hybrid role to working within the Yeovil Office and from home, with some travel across Somerset.

Please note: This vacancy is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK and be able to provide evidence of this at the point of appointment.

Applicants may use AI tools to support their application; however, all submissions must be accurate, honest and genuinely reflect their own skills, experience, knowledge and suitability for the role.

Main duties of the job

• Experience delivering transformation, improvement or change programmes, ideally within healthcare, primary care, the NHS or a public sector environment.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to lead multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage, influence and build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience of managing project plans, risks, issues, dependencies, benefits and reporting requirements.
• Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Experience facilitating workshops, meetings and collaborative service improvement activities.
• The ability to analyse information, monitor outcomes and support evidence-based decision making.
• Knowledge of service improvement methodologies and approaches such as process mapping, stakeholder engagement and quality improvement techniques.
• Confidence in working independently and leading projects through matrix working arrangements.
• Good IT and digital skills, including the ability to develop reports, presentations and project documentation.
• A proactive, adaptable and solution-focused approach with a commitment to continuous improvement.

About us

The GP Support Unit (GPSU) exists to champion, support, and amplify general practice in Somerset. Acting as an extension of the practice team, we help GPs and primary care professionals navigate challenges, embrace innovation, and thrive. Through collaboration, shared expertise, and hands-on support, we deliver high-quality services that reduce burden, unlock system value, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Trusted by practices and recognised across the Somerset system, the GPSU is here to make general practice stronger now and into the future.

Job responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of projects and improvement initiatives aligned to GPSU priorities and the needs of general practice.
• Support practices, PCNs and neighbourhood teams to identify opportunities for service redesign, efficiency and quality improvement.
• Apply recognised project management and improvement methodologies proportionate to the scale and complexity of initiatives.
• Develop and maintain key project documentation including project plans, action logs, risk registers, benefits plans and highlight reports.
• Monitor delivery against agreed milestones, escalating risks and issues appropriately.
• Support implementation and embedding of new ways of working, ensuring improvements are sustained beyond project closure.
• Ensure projects deliver agreed outcomes, benefits and service improvements.

Service Transformation & Improvement

• Facilitate pathway reviews, workflow redesign and service improvement activities across primary care settings.
• Use improvement tools and techniques such as process mapping, PDSA cycles, driver diagrams and stakeholder analysis to support change.
• Work collaboratively with frontline teams to understand challenges and co-produce practical solutions.
• Support testing, evaluation and implementation of improvement ideas.
• Promote continuous improvement approaches and shared learning across organisations and teams.

Engagement, Co-Design & Partnership Working

• Build effective working relationships with clinicians, managers, practice teams, PCNs, neighbourhood teams and wider system partners.
• Facilitate workshops, meetings and engagement events to support project delivery and service redesign.
• Support meaningful engagement with patients, carers and communities to ensure services are shaped by lived experience.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and navigate competing priorities professionally and diplomatically.
• Develop collaborative approaches that encourage participation, ownership and adoption of change.

Governance, Reporting & Assurance

• Provide clear and timely reports to governance groups, programme boards and senior leaders.
• Maintain accurate project records and reporting systems.
• Monitor progress, risks, issues and dependencies, taking appropriate corrective action where required.
• Ensure projects are delivered in line with organisational governance arrangements, policies and procedures.
• Support the preparation of business cases, briefing papers and project updates where required.

Data, Insight & Benefits Realisation

• Work with colleagues and stakeholders to identify measures of success and project outcomes.
• Use quantitative and qualitative information to inform decision-making and project delivery.
• Support the monitoring and evaluation of project performance.
• Track benefits and outcomes to demonstrate impact and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the development of reports, dashboards and presentations that communicate progress and achievements.

Communication & Influencing

• Produce clear, concise and engaging communications for a range of audiences.
• Present complex information in a way that is understandable and actionable.
• Influence and support stakeholders through periods of change.
• Build credibility and trust through a collaborative and solutions-focused approach.
• Support GPSU events, webinars, engagement sessions and meetings as required.

Continuous Improvement & Professional Development

• Participate in relevant professional development activities and training opportunities.
• Work flexibly to support occasional events and meetings outside normal working hours.

Scope and Autonomy

• Responsible for the day-to-day leadership and coordination of assigned projects and improvement initiatives.
• Works independently across multiple programmes of work, prioritising activities within agreed objectives.
• Uses professional judgement to manage delivery risks and make recommendations for action.
• No direct line management responsibility but will lead, coordinate and influence multidisciplinary teams through matrix working arrangements.

Personal Effectiveness

• Prioritise and manage own workload effectively across competing demands, working with a high degree of autonomy within agreed objectives.
• Take ownership of personal development, maintaining awareness of NHS, public sector and transformation best practice.
• Attend relevant GPSU, practice, PCN and system meetings.
• Be flexible to support occasional events or meetings outside normal working hours as required.

This post is subject to continual development. The job description is intended as a guide to the key responsibilities and duties of the post. It is not inclusive of all duties, and you may be required to provide additional support at the request of the line manager.