Senior Project & Change Manager

6-Month Fixed-Term Contract (Immediate Start)

Location: Hybrid working with travel across the South West as required

Salary: Up to £80,000 + Benefits

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and highly influential Senior Project & Change Manager to lead the mobilisation of new services and contracts, alongside complex transformation programmes across a diverse operational environment.

This is a high-profile role requiring an individual who can navigate complex stakeholder landscapes, build credibility with senior leaders, and drive critical projects forward at pace. Reporting into executive leadership, you will be responsible for leading strategic change initiatives spanning operational services, HR, Estates, IT, and contract mobilisation.

Success in this role will come from your ability to create momentum, challenge constructively, manage competing priorities, and ensure programmes are delivered effectively whilst maintaining stakeholder engagement at all levels.

You will be comfortable operating within politically sensitive environments, influencing senior leadership teams, facilitating difficult conversations, and ensuring accountability across complex workstreams.

Healthcare experience would be advantageous but is not essential. We are primarily looking for a strong transformation professional with experience leading complex mobilisation and organisational change programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the mobilisation of new services, contracts and business-critical transformation programmes.
• Manage multiple complex projects simultaneously across operational, HR, Estates and IT functions.
• Develop and maintain robust project plans, governance frameworks, milestone tracking and delivery roadmaps.
• Drive delivery pace and ensure projects remain focused on outcomes, timelines and business objectives.
• Establish clear ownership and accountability across programme workstreams.
• Ensure risks, dependencies and blockers are identified early and actively managed.
• Lead complex organisational change programmes from inception through to implementation and operational embedding.
• Develop and execute change strategies that support adoption, engagement and long-term sustainability.
• Create compelling change narratives that bring stakeholders on the journey and maintain momentum throughout delivery.
• Support leaders through periods of uncertainty and transformation.
• Drive behavioural and cultural change alongside operational change.

Stakeholder Management & Executive Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with Directors, Executive Teams and senior stakeholders.
• Chair programme boards, steering groups and governance forums.
• Influence decision‑making and provide constructive challenge where required.
• Manage internal political landscapes effectively whilst maintaining focus on delivery objectives.
• Engage with external stakeholders, commissioners, suppliers and partners to ensure successful programme outcomes.
• Facilitate difficult conversations and conversations requiring escalation where delivery or accountability is at risk.
• Lead end‑to‑end mobilisation activities for newly awarded services and contracts.
• Coordinate multiple workstreams including workforce, estates, technology, governance and operational readiness.
• Ensure mobilisation timelines are achieved without compromising service continuity.
• Track mobilisation readiness and manage transition into business‑as‑usual operations.
• Work closely with operational leaders to ensure successful service implementation.
• Establish and manage programme governance structures.
• Own programme reporting and provide updates to Executive and Board‑level stakeholders.
• Maintain programme RAID logs (Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies).
• Ensure mitigation plans are in place and actively managed.
• Drive quality assurance, lessons learned and continuous improvement activities.
• Proven experience operating as a Senior Project Manager, Programme Manager or Change Manager within complex organisations.
• Significant experience leading service mobilisation, contract transitions or large‑scale business transformation programmes.
• Experience delivering change across multiple corporate functions including Operations, HR, Estates and IT.
• Demonstrable success engaging and influencing Executive and Director‑level stakeholders.
• Experience navigating politically complex environments and managing competing stakeholder priorities.
• Strong programme governance, reporting and risk management experience.
• Proven ability to drive delivery, maintain momentum and challenge stakeholders constructively when required.
• Exceptional communication, influencing and relationship‑building skills.
• Experience chairing steering groups, programme boards and governance forums.
• Healthcare, community services, NHS, public sector or regulated environment experience.
• Experience mobilising healthcare or community‑based services.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, restructures or service redesign initiatives.
• Knowledge of organisational development and change management methodologies.

Personal Attributes

• A confident self‑starter who can quickly establish credibility.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and managing complex stakeholder dynamics.
• Politically astute with strong emotional intelligence.
• Resilient and capable of managing challenging conversations.
• Delivery‑focused with a pragmatic, solutions‑oriented approach.
• Highly organised whilst remaining adaptable in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong presence and gravitas with senior leadership teams.
• Able to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on execution.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering high‑profile transformation and mobilisation programmes that directly impact operational performance and service delivery. You will have significant visibility across the organisation, working alongside senior leaders to shape strategy, drive complex change and ensure critical programmes are successfully delivered.

For more information contact Claire on 0207 408 0424 or email claire.talty-huelin@tate.co.uk

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