Lead Project Manager in Oxford

West Oxfordshire District Council is seeking an experienced and dynamic Lead Project Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering key strategic priorities across the district. This is a unique opportunity to lead complex, high-impact projects that directly support the Council's Corporate Plan and service transformation ambitions.

As a Lead Project Manager, you'll work across departments and with external partners to bring clarity, direction, and energy to our most important programmes. From business case development through to project delivery and closure, you'll be at the forefront of change, ensuring amazing results are delivered, risks are managed, and resources are aligned to our goals.

Some of your responsibilities:

• Be accountable for leading the project team with the top priority projects identified by the Council in their Corporate plan, fostering collaboration between internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Provide strategic leadership on a portfolio of priority projects, ensuring alignment with the Council's objectives and governance framework.
• Define project scope, timelines, resource requirements and desired outcomes ensuring each project starts with clarity and purpose.
• Monitor and report on progress against milestones, budgets, and performance indicators, adapting plans where needed to deliver results.
• Prepare business cases, compile feasibility studies, produce project documentation and report on project delivery, all using the agreed project governance framework.

You will need:

• Degree-level qualification or substantial relevant experience (minimum five years) in Project Management.
• A recognised project management qualification at Level 7 or equivalent.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex projects across organisational boundaries, ideally within the public sector.
• Outstanding communication and influencing abilities and confident in engaging with senior stakeholders, technical teams, and community partners.
• Confident using technology with strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and project management tools.

Special Conditions:

• Full UK Driving License and access to a vehicle for work purposes.
• There may be a requirement to work at other locations to meet the needs of the business.

What can we do for you:

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working.
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role).
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years service and 33 days following 10 years continuous service.
• In addition, you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice.
• Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care.
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars.
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements.

These are just a handful of the benefits that you can enjoy when you join us!

About The Organisation:

West Oxfordshire District Council is a forward-looking council, putting residents first and working in partnership to support our communities. We are delivering an ambitious Council Plan for the district that is focused on important local priorities including affordable housing, climate and ecological action, helping our economy to grow and building communities.

We also provide a range of important local services that make a positive impact to our district on a daily basis including planning, housing, waste and recycling collections, leisure centres, community safety and environmental health.

Joining West Oxfordshire District Council you will be helping us achieve our goals for the district and play a part in supporting our communities, our businesses and our environment.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.