Overview
Salford City Council is embarking on a transformative journey to strengthen its governance framework through the Governance 360 Improvement Programme. We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead and coordinate this ambitious two-year programme, which aims to embed excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement across the Council\'s democratic, compliance, and learning functions. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of governance in a high-performing local authority that values innovation, collaboration, and community impact.
As a people-centred, values-based organisation, Salford Council emphasises a positive, can-do culture. Our values are Pride, Passion, People and Personal Responsibility, and employees are encouraged to work together as #OneTeam.
Responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of the Governance 360 Programme, including thematic projects on: Constitutional reform; Compliance and assurance; Learning and development; Information asset review.
- Develop and manage detailed project plans, timelines, and resource allocations.
- Coordinate cross-functional working groups, including elected member and officer engagement forums.
- Ensure effective communication and reporting to the Programme Board, Executive, and wider stakeholders.
- Monitor risks, dependencies, and performance metrics to ensure successful delivery.
- Support the development of toolkits, frameworks, and training materials to embed governance improvements.
- Liaise with external partners such as the LGA, CIPFA, and CfGS for benchmarking and best practice.
- You will work closely with Senior Responsible Officers and project leads and you\'ll manage, support and coach Project Officers to enable their learning and development.
- Be credible — have personal and professional credibility at all levels of the organisation, showing how project management can help deliver excellent services.
- Be values-based — follow and show the City Council\'s values.
- Be flexible and driven — help develop the project management office, have the knowledge and skills, and be flexible to handle changing demands on time and resources.
- Be technically proficient — know basic project management methods.
- Be delivery-focused — understand the local setting and deliver solutions that meet local needs.
- Be policy focused — work within Salford City Council procedures, understand the methodology, public contract regulations, and political environment.
- Be a people person — show integrity, build and maintain rapport, and gain trust and confidence to influence team performance.
- Be an achiever — have a proven drive to achieve outcomes and deliver organisational priorities.
- Be a skilled communicator — deliver clear verbal and written messages across all levels of the council with enthusiasm and conviction that builds trust and confidence.
- Be assured — work well as part of a team, be self-motivated, show initiative, confidence, and take personal responsibility for actions.
- Be a negotiator — manage in-house and external relationships that need resolution.
- Be a solutions seeker — show a flexible, creative, and innovative approach to finding solutions.
Requirements
The description contains the minimum expectations for the role, including substantial project management experience within public sector or governance settings, a strong understanding of local government structures and decision-making processes, and familiarity with project management methodologies and tools. You should be able to build strong relationships, work with elected members and senior officers, and promote continuous improvement while delivering outcomes.
About Salford City Council
We are dedicated to improving the lives of our residents and developing a diverse and inclusive culture. We offer a range of benefits and opportunities to thrive in a dynamic environment, including continuous service commitment for new employees transitioning within the public sector in Greater Manchester.
