Project Manager

This is a Project Manager post, working to the Place Transformation Director but supported and managed by the Transformation & Improvement Service. The position is for 1.0 FTE (37 hours).

About the role

Cheshire East Council is driving an ambitious programme of cross-council transformation to deliver better outcomes, improved services and greater value for money. As part of this vision, we are establishing a comprehensive Place Transformation Programme, led by a newly appointed Transformation Director, to oversee major service redesign and change initiatives across the organisation.

The primary focus is on leading the end-to-end delivery of complex projects through a structured project management and change framework. The role involves planning and controlling project activities, defining scope, quality standards, budgets, timescales and resource requirements, and coordinating the work of multidisciplinary teams. A significant part of the job is maintaining project governance by producing and updating key project documentation such as initiation documents, project plans, budgets, risk and issue logs, benefits realisation plans and progress reports. The postholder is expected to apply formal project management and change management methodologies throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring that delivery remains controlled, transparent and aligned with agreed objectives.

It also requires analysing and challenging existing business processes, identifying opportunities for efficiency and service enhancement, and ensuring that proposed changes deliver measurable benefits. The Project Manager is responsible for:

• Managing stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle
• Gathering and refining requirements, tracking both financial and non-financial benefits
• Managing risks and dependencies, and escalating issues through appropriate governance routes when required

The position places considerable emphasis on monitoring performance, maintaining robust controls, supporting benefits realisation after implementation, and ensuring that any significant changes to plans are managed through formal change control processes.

About you

We are seeking an energetic and experienced Project Manager to support the delivery of high-profile transformation programmes within our Place portfolio. Initially, this role will focus on the Tatton Park Transformation Programme, helping to shape, scope and drive a programme of change that will accelerate commercialisation, business development and the creation of a sustainable long-term operating model for one of Cheshire East's most iconic assets.

If you are a proactive project professional with strong stakeholder management skills and a passion for delivering impactful transformation, we'd love to hear from you.

To find out more about the essential and desirable criteria for the role please view the attached job description specification document.

In return we are able to offer:

• Enhanced annual leave - Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service
• Purchase of annual leave – Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro-rata for part-time staff)
• Flexible working pattern - Enjoy a 37-hour standard full-time work week with the added perks of flexi-time and hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible. Your work-life balance just got a whole lot better
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme - Drive green and save green! Lease a brand-new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme. There’s no credit checks, no deposits, just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three-year lease
• White goods salary sacrifice scheme - Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big-ticket purchases like appliances, computers, and tech gadgets directly from your salary
• Enhanced public pension - Secure your future with our career average pension, where contributions are built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
• Cycle to work scheme - Save up to 25-39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment through Income Tax and National Insurance savings. Get fit and save money!
• Employee assistance programme - Access a completely free and confidential assistance service to help manage, reduce, and overcome life’s challenges, both at work and in your personal life
• Discounted gym membership - Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure, including:

• Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities
• Off-Peak Racket Sports
• Athletics Tracks
• Sauna/Steam/Spa

Join us and experience a workplace that truly values and supports you!

Cheshire East is an amazing place to live and work. As one of the largest employers in the borough, we are able to offer you a wide range of challenging and rewarding career opportunities.

We are working for a brighter future – together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well-led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities.

If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you.

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our local communities so that we can all work for a brighter future - together.

Applicants should ensure all sections of the application form are completed as failure to do so will result in their application being rejected. Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.

If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then it is likely that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion, however, please do not be discouraged from applying again.

For any technical enquiries please email [email protected]

Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.

Please contact either Keith Townsend ([email protected]), Carole Hyde ([email protected]) or Martin Middleton ([email protected]) for an informal chat about this post.