About usThe Service Development Function within Children's Services (CS), have an exciting new opportunity for an experienced Project Manager (PM) wanting to expand their knowledge and experiences. We are offering a permanent, full time Project Manager post to work within our Service Development Function. This brand-new post offers an opportunity to support our services of Children's Social Care, Education and Early Help to be the best they can be. We expect this to be through our numerous projects already on hand, through developing new ideas and ways to advance existing systems and processes that will support both the immediate and wider team's performance. Being able to provide a first-class service for our frontline teams that links into both strategic and operational improvement is key for this new role - it requires involvement in the governance of projects, the completion and oversight of regular work tasks in addition to deputising for the Service Development Manager in the event of any professional/statutory reviews or Inspections when required.This isn't a regular Project Manager role, it's a PM with a difference….. and experience of Children's and/or Council Services is key. Being able to understand the balance of “business need” versus “service and/or child and family need” and blend the two seamlessly is vital. Positivity, approachability, tenacity and resilience are all pre-requisites for this post. This is a role that will provide you with both professional and personal development, variety and challenge if leading projects, and leading change and improvement is your thing!!The roleWhat you'll Be Doing:Ensuring your team provide a first-class Service Development/Project Management offer to the full remit of Children's Services. This includes Frontline Social Care Services such as our Family Help Teams, our Children in Care and Fostering Teams, our Safeguarding Team plus our full estate of Children's Homes and Supported Accommodation as well as work for the SEND service in Education, support for our Early Help teams.We need you to contribute to the transformation of services and operations so that the Council's, Directorate's and Service's initiatives and priorities are achieved. You will need to develop, define, co-ordinate, review and report on the continuous improvement programme for the Directorate, including regional sector-led improvement approaches. This includes supporting specific initiatives within the programme, as appropriate and identifying opportunities for shared learning and quality assurance.You will support the Service Development Manager (SDM) in business development and planning through strategy and service review and redesign for the Service which ensures effective service delivery and value for money. You will successfully lead a small team of Project Officers, directing their regular work that will sit alongside ad-hoc project support work. You will ensure the best service is provided for our managers, our wider teams and our partners, and most importantly your team will enable those colleagues to be able to provide the best frontline offer possible to the children and families we support and represent.The role will provide management cover in the absence of the Business Support Team Manager - offering leadership support to the 2 x Senior Business Support Officers if required and will support the SDM in the development and delivery of the Service Development function's annual business plan. Development work: you will support the SDM with the development of business cases, funding applications, formal reports, policy and strategy to list a few additional key responsibilities that may support the service with additional income for vital services.This is just a small snapshot of what you will be doing - it's a brand-new post for someone to develop its scope in conjunction with the SDM, and it will change and flex as the work on hand flows through the service from start to completion - if it looks like it could be for you…..Please see the job description for more detail on the role and the person specification to see if your skills and experience match what the role requires. Hours of Work:37 Hours per week over 5 daysThis will be Hybrid role - working a minimum of 2 days per week at our Time Square Offices mixed with some working from home. Often office days can be based on what's in the diary (face to face meetings, training etc) so regular office days are not always possible and full flexibility is required so please be certain you can commit to this. We are of course keen on working around creating a great work-life balance, just that fixed office days aren't always possible in this role, due to business need.What's needed?Who are we looking for?We are looking for someone with the following experience and qualities:· Significant Project Management experience· Experience of managing organisational change· Experience of managing a busy multi-functional Project Team - including direct line-management, coaching and mentoring others· Experience of providing Project leadership that spans across diverse teams· Experience of managing budgets· Report-writing skills: e.g. funding applications, Business Cases, Policy, Strategy· Experience of leading on the development of efficient and effective processes and procedures that benefit a whole range of services/users· Excellent team-working skills· Excellent decision-making skills· Ability to support in leading professional/statutory service reviews/Inspections such as ILACS/LGA Peer Reviews, SEND Inspection· Ability to view the wider picture and how one decision may affect another side of the business· High level of IT Skills - that can be used to support others· Ability to multi-task and prioritise and organise workload despite interruptions· High-level communication skills with a proven confidence to communicate with colleagues and partners at all levels and offer challenge where appropriate· Highly organised and able to work under pressure· A passion for innovative solutions - thinking outside the box for an answer/resolution with a positive "can-do" attitude· Committed to improving outcomes for children & families· Flexible approach to workBenefitsAs well as a competitive salary, working for us means you get:
26 days annual holiday - raising to 31 after 5 years of service (pro-rata)
Access to our attractive and competitive benefits package
Access to our Health & Wellbeing Programme
Flexible working
Key Dates & Further InformationIf you have any further questions or for an informal chat then please contact (via email in the first instance) - Tania Young:In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. Sponsorship is not available for this role. Therefore, you must have the right to work in the UK to be eligible for appointment.The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.Warrington Borough Council is a Disability Confident employerJob detailsSalaryGRADE 10 (£49,282 - £52,413)
