Project Manager in London

The Environment, Sustainability and Leisure (ESL) department is recruiting a Project Manager on a 7-month secondment or fixed-term contract to the Programmes and Change team, part of the Climate Change and Strategic Support division. The division includes three distinct teams: Climate Change, Programmes & Change and Performance & Delivery. The division is responsible for a number of 2030 and the Council Delivery Plan priorities: climate change, energy; departmental programmes, projects, transformation and change; and departmental performance, delivery and business support.

The Programmes and Change team works across ESL to provide programme and project management support to strategic priorities, including on Streets for People, 360, Stands Together, and Leisure Strategy development. The team also delivers change and transformation, such as through service reviews with colleagues to review and improve processes, this has looked at a whole range of services, from how the council handles noise complaints, to sports pitch bookings, to No Recourse to Public Funds, to Health and Safety, and much more. It is a fast-paced Programme Management Office (PMO) environment where collaboration is king, a test-and-learn culture exists, iteration is encouraged, and human-centred design underpins what we do every day to drive innovation and continuous improvement in the services offered to residents.

In September 2025, Southwark Youth and Play Service successfully secured status as a Department of Media, Culture and Sport's Local Youth Transformation Pilot. This Pilot is an intensive, 10 month programme, which is intended to transform the local youth offer through a comprehensive programme of activities, including the establishment of enhanced engagement processes with young people; the co-design of a Commissioning Framework for the Youth Offer; the development of a quality assurance framework and ultimately a more relevant impactful and high quality youth offer for the benefit of young people. This role will be responsible for leading the project management of the pilot.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about agile project management and has the skills and experience to ensure the successful delivery of the pilot. You will be responsible for leading the planning, managing, coordinating and reporting of the pilot, including detailed project planning with external providers. You will manage risks and ensure project and budget reporting requirements are met. You will coordinate and manage external and internal providers to ensure delivery of workstreams they are responsible for, so they are delivered on time, on budget, and to a high standard. You will be a natural collaborator and work well with a range of stakeholders at all levels. Through your career you will have shown how you can have real impact using both tried and tested methods, but also willing to problem solve and innovate to get the best results. You will have a can-do attitude and be an excellent communicator, highly organised and have the ability to think critically and innovatively. You hold a track record of delivering results and tangible benefits aligned with strategic objectives and are skilled at coordinating multidisciplinary teams.