SWSDE Senior Project Manager

Secure Data Environment’s most complex and important research and innovation projects.

SWSDE enables health and care data to be used securely for research, innovation and service improvement. Our projects bring together researchers, NHS organisations, universities, commercial partners and specialist teams across the South West.

This is a hands-on senior delivery role for someone who enjoys taking complex projects, creating clarity and making things happen. You will lead projects from scoping and onboarding through delivery to closure, bringing together the right people, managing risks and dependencies and removing barriers to progress.

You will lead high-profile and strategically significant projects, build strong relationships with researchers and partners and provide clear oversight of delivery. You will also help improve how we deliver projects across SWSDE, sharing your experience, supporting colleagues and strengthening our ways of working.

We are looking for someone who combines strong project management discipline with judgement, confidence and a collaborative approach.

We welcome applications from across the South West. The role is administratively based in Bristol, with flexible hybrid working and travel across the region as required. Main duties of the job

The postholder will:

Lead complex, high-profile and strategically significant research and innovation projects from scoping and onboarding through to delivery and closure.

Take ownership of project plans, milestones, risks, issues, dependencies and resources, keeping delivery on track and escalating where needed.

Bring together researchers, NHS organisations, universities, commercial partners and SWSDE teams to coordinate delivery and resolve barriers.

Act as a key point of contact for allocated projects, providing clear communication and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.

Work across Technology & Data, Information Governance, Finance and other specialist functions to coordinate delivery.

Provide clear project reporting, assurance and recommendations to senior leaders, governance groups and partners.

Manage competing priorities and complex stakeholder requirements, using judgement, negotiation and influencing skills.

Support project costing, resource forecasting, business cases and delivery planning.

Mentor and support Project Managers and delivery colleagues, sharing expertise and good practice.

Use lessons learned and delivery experience to improve SWSDE processes, standards and ways of working. About us

We are committed to creating an inclusive organisation that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community; from people of all ages, disabled people, all genders, people from ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ+ people, people with diverse gender identity and expression, people from all religions and beliefs and other diverse characteristics, and we have processes in place to ensure that all applications are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.

Educated to master’s level or with equivalent experience in project, programme or operational delivery.

Significant experience successfully managing complex projects or programmes involving multiple organisations, stakeholders and competing priorities.

Strong end-to-end project management experience, including planning, governance, risk, dependencies, resources and delivery through to completion.

Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate work across organisational and professional boundaries.

Excellent stakeholder management, communication, negotiation and influencing skills, including working with senior leaders and external partners.

Strong judgement and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to resolve complex delivery issues and escalate appropriately.

Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining pace, quality and clear oversight of delivery.

Experience producing clear project plans, reports, performance information and recommendations to support decision-making.

Ability to coach, mentor and share project management expertise with colleagues.

Experience of budget management, financial planning or resource monitoring.

Research, innovation, data, digital or NHS experience is valuable but not essential. Knowledge of SDEs, research governance or Information Governance would be an advantage.

Relevant qualifications such as PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM PMQ, MSP, PMP or Agile are desirable. Knowledge, Training and Expereince Essential

• Educated to Master’s degree level or equivalent experience in project management, programme management, operational delivery or a related discipline.
• Significant experience managing complex projects or programmes involving multiple stakeholders, organisations and competing priorities.
• Experience delivering projects from initiation through to completion, including planning, governance, risk management and stakeholder engagement
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams to deliver agreed objectives and outcomes.
• Experience managing complex risks, dependencies, issues and competing priorities within a project delivery environment
• Understanding of project and programme management methodologies and best practice.
• Excellent digital literacy, including the use of project management, reporting and collaboration tools.

Desirable

• Professional qualification such as PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM PMQ, MSP, PMP or Agile certification.
• Experience delivering research, innovation, data or digital projects.
• Experience working across multiple organisations, sectors or partner organisations
• Knowledge of Secure Data Environments, Trusted Research Environments or health data research.
• Knowledge of research governance, Information Governance or Data Protection requirements relevant to research delivery.

Communication Skills Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively to a range of audiences.
• Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with stakeholders across multiple organisations and professional groups.
• Experience presenting project information, risks, issues and recommendations to stakeholders, governance groups and senior leaders
• Strong stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to resolve issues and achieve agreed outcomes.
• Experience facilitating meetings, workshops and discussions involving multiple stakeholders and organisations.

Desirable

• Experience presenting to Boards, Committees or formal governance forums
• Experience working with researchers, academic institutions, NHS organisations or commercial partners
• Experience operating within complex partnership environments involving multiple organisations and competing priorities.

Analytical Essential

• Ability to analyse complex project, operational and stakeholder information and determine appropriate courses of action.
• Experience identifying, assessing and managing project risks, issues, dependencies and delivery challenges within a complex environment.
• Ability to interpret performance information and project data to monitor progress, identify trends and support decision-making.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop practical and effective solutions to complex delivery challenges
• Ability to exercise judgement when balancing competing priorities, stakeholder requirements and project objectives

Desirable

• Experience analysing project performance, delivery metrics or operational data to support service improvement.
• Experience using project management, reporting or portfolio management tools to support project delivery and assurance.
• Experience identifying and implementing improvements to project delivery processes, governance arrangements or ways of working.

Planning Skills Essential

• Significant experience planning and delivering complex projects or programmes within agreed timescales, resources and quality standards
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities, risks, dependencies and stakeholder expectations across a range of projects and workstreams.
• Experience developing and maintaining project plans, schedules, milestones and delivery documentation
• Experience coordinating activities across multidisciplinary teams and multiple organisations to achieve project objectives
• Ability to anticipate delivery challenges and implement appropriate mitigating actions to maintain project progress.

Desirable

• Experience managing research, innovation, digital or transformation projects.
• Experience using project and programme management methodologies and tools to support planning, monitoring and delivery.
• Experience contributing to wider programme planning or portfolio delivery activities.

Management Skills Essential

• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams to deliver complex projects and programmes.
• Experience coordinating resources, stakeholders and delivery activities across multiple organisations and professional groups
• Experience influencing and engaging stakeholders to achieve agreed outcomes and resolve delivery challenges.
• Experience supporting, coaching or mentoring colleagues to develop project management capability and delivery expertise.
• Ability to prioritise workloads and manage competing demands within a complex project delivery environment.

Desirable

• Experience providing day-to-day supervision, mentoring or management of project management or delivery staff.
• Experience leading project delivery work across NHS, academic, research or partner organisations.
• Experience contributing to service improvement, organisational change or transformation programmes.

Autonomy Essential

• Ability to work independently and manage a portfolio of complex projects within a dynamic and evolving environment.
• Ability to make autonomous decisions relating to project delivery, stakeholder management, risk management and operational issues, escalating where appropriate.
• Ability to interpret organisational policies, governance requirements and project objectives to support effective decision-making and delivery.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement when managing competing priorities, complex stakeholder requirements and challenging delivery issues.

Desirable

• Experience independently leading complex or high-profile projects within a regulated or multi-organisational environment.
• Experience providing expert project management advice and guidance to colleagues, stakeholders or project teams

Physical Skills Essential

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools with appropriate keyboard and system skills.

Equality and Diversity Essential

• Thorough understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, promoting inclusive working practices and positive working relationships.

Financial and Physical Resources Essential

• Experience of budget management, financial planning and resource monitoring within project, digital or operational services

Other Essential

• Strong team working and relationship-building skills.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work flexibly and manage competing demands.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery detail.
• Demonstrates honesty, integrity and commitment to organisational values
• Positive approach to change, innovation and continuous improvement

Desirable

• Experience working across organisational boundaries within regional or national partnerships

Disclosure and Barring Service Check