Senior Project Manager - Devolution (Redeployment 24303) in Ipswich

Suffolk County Council

Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX, hybrid working

Salary: £48,163 per annum (part time for pro rata)

Hours: 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available

Contract: Fixed term or secondment to 31 March 2028 (funding)

This advert is open to current redeployment Suffolk County Council staff only.

At Suffolk County Council, we’re reimagining what local government can achieve. As a Senior Project Manager for Devolution, your work will be at the core of local government transformation, offering you exciting and rewarding opportunities. This is a fixed term role supporting the creation of a new mayoral strategic authority for Norfolk and Suffolk. You’ll help shape Suffolk’s future through innovation, collaboration, and community impact. That’s why, when you join us as an experienced Senior Project Manager, you’ll be encouraged to share your fresh thinking and empowered to explore new ideas that will shape and improve our services as well as your career. Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

The role brings the unique opportunity to be involved in delivering important and challenging transformation relating to devolving powers from central Government to the region and setting up a mayoral county combined authority. This includes the complex disaggregation and transfer of key county council services, including Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. In this role, you will take a lead role on high-profile projects within the devolution programme. You may also be involved in wider project and programme activity across the directorate as required.

You will work with the Head of Programmes, the Norfolk and Suffolk Devolution Programme Management Office (PMO) and service specialists to deliver effective change management. You will apply your substantial experience in project management by supporting service areas towards the delivery of project benefits, managing performance data, producing project and council reports and coordinating timescales and activities. Stakeholder management will be important, and you will be liaising with a range of service areas, staff, the general public, councillors and other stakeholders.

You will need:

• a passion for making a positive difference for Suffolk
• strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team
• an enthusiastic and adaptable approach to managing and implementing change
• significant experience in project management, and ideally should have, or be working towards, a recognised project management qualification

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP) which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

You will be part of the small and very supportive team of the Growth, Highways and Infrastructure (GHI) Programme Management Office (PMO) consisting of project and programme specialists, responsible for overseeing, delivering and supporting projects and programmes across the GHI directorate. You will be working in a matrix management environment, being based in the GHI PMO but having strong reporting lines to the relevant service areas, as well as to the Norfolk and Suffolk Devolution PMO. You will work with a wide group of professionals and stakeholders both internally and externally – this may include Norfolk County Council, District and Borough Council officers, other county councils, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, transport and environmental specialists, and customers.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Michael Moll (he/him) or Georgina Button (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling Michael Moll on 01473 264808, Georgina Button on 07740 815891, or emailing GHIPMOrecruitment@suffolk.gov.uk.

If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word)
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 1000 words in total). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

• What particular skills and experience do you bring to the role that makes you a strong candidate to join the PMO to work on the devolution programme?
• The PMO operates in a political environment, facing constant policy changes locally and nationally, as well as major wider structural changes as part of Local Government Review. How do you cope in your professional capacity with uncertainty?
• What approach would you take to planning and delivering the disaggregation and transfer of a major public service into a new organisation? Include in your answer reference of relevant professional experience that would influence your approach.

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details). Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30pm 23 July 2026

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.