Senior Project Manager

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.

Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust (SPFT) operates a centralised Transformation & Change function, enabling the Trust to deliver its major change programmes, to improve outcomes and deliver better value.

The post holder lead on supporting the Trust to deliver on the NHS plan to move from analogue to digital, by supporting the delivery of a new digitisation of the Mental Health Act project, as part of the Urgent Care transformation programme. The post holder will work with the Mental Health Act office, people who use our services, Local Authorities and digital providers, to co-produce and deliver a new digitised pathway, as well as innovations, transformation and improvements in the services for people in Sussex detained under the Mental Health Act.

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The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. The post holder will work with multiple stakeholders, apply best-practice project management methodologies, and ensure that projects deliver measurable outcomes.

Working for our organisation

Our support services help to keep the trust running. They are the core to everything we do and are valued as such.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Programme / change management and governance

· Lead and manage the successful delivery of projects from initiation through to completion, ensuring that project objectives are achieved within agreed timeframes, scope, and budgets.

· Establish and maintain project governance frameworks, ensuring effective decision-making, risk management, and issue resolution. Provide regular progress reports.

· Identify, assess, and manage project risks and issues, developing and implementing appropriate mitigation strategies.

· Support the effective implementation of change initiatives, ensuring that stakeholders are prepared for and supported through transitions, and that project outcomes are sustained.

· Ensure that project benefits are clearly defined, measured, and realised, contributing to the overall strategic goals of the organisation.

· Accountable for strategic planning and delivering projects against set objectives, within agreed timeframes and achieving quality outcomes

· Take a lead for analysis and reporting of specific target areas as agreed.

· Identify accurate and reliable evidence relevant to the projects from the large amount of complex information available

Stakeholder engagement and collaboration

· Work closely with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, government bodies, and service users, to ensure that project requirements are clearly defined and communicated, and that stakeholder expectations are managed.

· Work and engage constructively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders on a range of complex issues.

· Build key relationships, manage stakeholders and maintain networks internally and externally to ensure the delivery of the project. This may require working at various external sites for concentrated pieces of work within required timescales.

· Communicate complex information and issues to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, persuading them of the need for change and influencing their decision-making when appropriate using tact and diplomacy.

· Translate information into clear and appropriate formats, such as written documents or graphical representations to ensure understanding across a range of audiences.

· Act as source of specialist knowledge on a dedicated project or projects, preparing briefings for senior management and external partners as well as contributing expertise to media briefings.

Human Resources

· Manage project resources effectively, ensuring optimal allocation of people, budget, and other resources to achieve project goals.

· Manages project team

Financial & Physical Resources

· Monitor project budgets and ensure that all financial resources are managed in accordance with public sector policies and regulations, delivering value for money.

SPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented.

Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.

SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.

If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. However, we’ll always do our best to keep you informed as we know how much time and care goes into applying for a role.

In the event of a high number of applications, we may close this vacancy early.

Protect Yourself from Recruitment Fraud

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust does not charge any fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements or employment offers.

All vacancies, applications and recruitment communications are managed through the Trust's official careers website and published contact details.

These are the only authorised channels for applying for roles, receiving recruitment communications and verifying job offers.

Further information relating to our vacancies and recruitment process can be found at - https://careers.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/.