Project Manager

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.

*You'll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit*

JOB TITLE: Project Manager.

LOCATION: Bolton.

HYBRID WORKING: On average 2 days per week – Bolton Office.

REPORTS TO: Commercial Project Portfolio Manager.

SALARY: Up To £50,000 depending on experience.

JOB PURPOSE:

he Project Manager at Outcomes First Group will be responsible for leading and managing strategic projects that drive organisation wide business transformation.

The Project Manager will lead on-site and virtual, multi-skilled teams, internally and externally and lead the planning and successful delivery of projects, on time, to quality and budget.

The Project Manager will take ownership of implementing effective business change approaches to maximise successful project delivery and business wide engagement, in a way that is aligned with Outcomes First Group's mission to provide high-quality care and education to children and young adults. This role is key in ensuring that projects not only achieve their desired outcomes but also support the long-term success and growth of the organisation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead Business Change Projects: Manage and deliver end-to-end business change projects, including budget management and resource demand management, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and strategies,
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including senior leadership, department heads, and operational teams, ensuring effective communication and support for change initiatives.
• Change Management: Develop and implement change management plans, including end user adoption strategies and colleague and pupil engagement to ensure smooth transitions and minimal disruption, driving advocacy for change.
• Business Requirements and Process Improvement: Work collaboratively with Business Analysts to support the definition of business requirements and the design and implementation of new and improved business processes enhance efficiency and effectiveness across the organisation.
• Risk and Issue Management: Proactively identify and manage project risks and resolve issues to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Project Planning and Execution: Create and manage detailed project plans, project timelines, allocate resources, and ensure timely delivery of project milestones and deliverables.
• Project Methodology; Able to work effectively using a range of methodologies including Prince2 and Agile.
• Project Governance: Complete all required project documentation including Status Reports, PID, RAID and lead project review meetings and huddles.
• Budget Management: Lead the creation of project Business Cases and manage the secured budget.
• Team Leadership: Lead and motivate cross-functional project teams, ensuring collaboration, clear roles, and successful execution of projects.
• Compliance and Quality Assurance: Ensure all change initiatives comply with organisational policies, industry regulations, and quality standards including Data Protection.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Essential Experience:

• Project Management: Proven experience leading end-to-end business change projects, applying methodologies such as Agile, PRINCE2, or Waterfall.
• Change Management: Hands-on experience managing organisational change, including stakeholder engagement, communication, and training.
• Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with senior leadership, department heads, and operational teams to gain buy-in and drive project success.
• Business Process Improvement: Experience identifying and implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency and align with strategic goals.
• Risk & Issue Management: Strong problem-solving skills with experience in mitigating risks and managing project challenges.
• Budget & Resource Management: Experience in managing project budgets, timelines, and resources to deliver projects within scope and on time.
• Team Leadership: Ability to lead cross-functional teams, ensuring collaboration and achieving project objectives.
• Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of working in regulated sectors and ensuring business change initiatives comply with relevant standards.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication, including preparing reports and presentations for stakeholders at all levels.
• Project Management Tools: Proficiency in project management software (e.g., MS Project, JIRA, Trello) and process mapping tools (e.g., Visio).

Desirable Experience:

• Experience in the education, healthcare, or social care sectors, particularly in organisations providing services to vulnerable groups.
• Familiarity with business systems and IT transformations in regulated environments.
• Certification in project management (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP) or change management methodologies (e.g., Prosci).
• Experience in vendor management or managing third-party service providers in business change initiatives.
• Familiarity with cloud-based solutions and IT systems in a business change context.

Why join Outcomes First Group?

About the Group

Outcomes First Group is the leading provider of specialist education in the UK. We exist to give neurodivergent children and young people access to a great education that caters to their specific needs, abilities and aspirations.

There are three brands in our Outcomes First family: Acorn Education, Options Autism and Momenta Connect. Together, we educate, care for and support children, young people, and adults across the UK, empowering them to be happy and make their way in the world.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.

Our Vision

We believe that with a great education, every neurodivergent pupil can thrive and make their way in the world.

Our Mission

Every day we improve the lives of our pupils, their families, and local communities through a relentless focus on wellbeing and learning.

Our Promise

*We are kind to ourselves and each other…We work together… and we make things happen.*Our Promise sits alongside our Vision and Mission. It describes the sort of people we are and our commitment to how we treat each other, work together, and behave.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS

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