Senior Project Manager in Birmingham

The Bus Reform Programme is one of the most ambitious transport initiatives ever undertaken in our region. It will transform the way people travel by delivering a simpler, more reliable and more affordable bus network that better connects communities to jobs, education and opportunity.

We're looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager to play a pivotal role in making this vision a reality. Leading one or more projects within a key Bus Reform workstream, you'll drive delivery from planning through to implementation, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest standards. Working closely with senior leaders, partners and stakeholders, you'll manage complex dependencies, mitigate risks, and provide leadership and guidance to Project Managers, helping to keep the wider programme on track.

Reporting to the Head of Bus Reform Programme Delivery, you'll be at the heart of one of the UK's most significant transport transformation programmes, helping to deliver bus franchising and create a lasting legacy for the millions of people who live, work and travel across the West Midlands.

Note: This is a 2 year FTC.

What you will be doing

• Ensure project management and activities align and meet established assurance and compliance frameworks
• Support the Directorate in creating a culture of collaboration, drive, inclusivity and innovation
• Build an internal stakeholder network to support an in-depth understanding of existing and emerging project activity
• Provide clear direction and coordination of activities, ensuring tasks are resourced accordingly
• Establish, develop, and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, employers, business representative organisations, trade unions, and relevant government departments and agencies
• Ensure programme outcomes are achieved within set budgets and timeframes
• Lead on the production of project planning and reports
• Proactively review emerging activity in projects to identify areas for improvement, alignment or collaboration that better serves the programme
• Lead on the production of project resource and budget forecasts

What's essential

• Significant experience delivering multi‑disciplinary projects in a complex programme
• Proven track‑record of successful delivery of projects to time, budget and scope
• Experience of leading multi‑disciplinary teams and building strong relationships
• Demonstrable senior project management experience
• Experience of contract management through the procurement and management of suppliers
• Experience of managing people including appraisals, performance management, disciplinary, recruitment and selection
• Excellent organisational, written, and verbal skills
• Ability to research and synthesise complex technical subjects into practical, cost‑effective and timely action plans and solutions
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills
• Suitable project management qualification to degree level or equivalent experience

Location

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane with at least one day a week spent in the office.

Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme – one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme with contributions exempt from Income Tax and NICs
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) plus Statutory days
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice
• Option to buy a bicycle, including e‑bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer
• Interest‑free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big‑name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top‑rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses

Right to Work

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants before any employment offer can be confirmed. Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration.

Diversity and Inclusion

WMCA holds diversity accreditations such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, the Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We are a Disability Confident Employer and a Ban the Box employer, ensuring criminal convictions are not asked about until an offer is made.

We value potential and encourage applicants who are passionate about the role to apply, even if they feel they do not meet every traditional requirement.