Project Manager
Post Introduction
The purpose of this Project Manager role is to manage the final delivery stage and closure of the IICSA 1&8 Regional Model Pilot Project. The Project Manager will work closely with the Business Change Specialist and Safeguarding Programme Manager to oversee the national implementation of IICSA Recommendation 1, support the ongoing Independent Safeguarding Audit Programme (IICSA Recommendation 8) and transition from the project phase to business-as-usual.
Please note this is a fixed term contract from 1 Feb 2025 until 31 December 2025.
About the department
The Church of England is continually striving to improve its safeguarding practices. The 2020 report by IICSA on the Church highlighted failures in respect of child sexual abuse and, more broadly, the challenges facing the Church to get safeguarding right.
The Church’s aspiration is that safeguarding is not experienced and approached as a matter of administrative compliance. Rather, it should be what the Church is – something that flows from its core beliefs and values, part of its DNA.
The Church has made important and positive strides over recent years. There is, however, still much to be done to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, and to promote their well-being.
The Church is a complex collection of different bodies. Most of the safeguarding work is carried out locally within the 42 dioceses and cathedrals in England. This work is supported centrally by a National Safeguarding Team (NST).
What you'll be doing
In this role, you will:
- Own the project plan and tracking project deliverables
- Write, and where appropriate present, papers and routine updates for other governance bodies for review by SRO
- Regularly review and monitor project documentation (risk and issue register, decisions log, lessons learned etc)
- Track, resolve and/or escalate issues and risks as necessary
- Ensure compliance with the project management framework and best practice
- Ensure the agreed definitions of project scope, goals and deliverables are adhered to in all documentation
- Plan and run regular project team meetings
About You
The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we would particularly welcome applicants from UK Minoritised Ethnicities (UKME)/Global Majority Heritage (GMH) and other under-represented groups.
To be successful in this role you will have:
- Experience using Microsoft Project or an equivalent project management information system
- Knowledge of project finance and budgeting
- Proven track record of delivering successful results
- Confident using MS Office
- Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail
- Ability to plan, identify dependencies and anticipate risks and issue
You will also need a formal qualification in Project Management such as PMP (PMI), Prince2 Practitioner (Axelos), PPQ (ARM) or equivalent certification, or working towards it; or at least two years of experience supporting projects as a PSO or a minimum of 1 year in a project management role.
For a full person specification, please see the attached job description.
For an informal conversation about this role or more information, please email: alice.lewis@churchofengland.org
What we offer
Our benefits include:
- A salary of £42,695.58 (FTE £46,577) plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of salary.
- 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus three additional days
- Flexible working hours and location
- Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships
- Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme
- Opportunity to the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies
We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
Introductory sentence to introduce the role in the context of the NCIs...
The National Church Institutions comprises a wide variety of teams, professions and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation - a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.
We Include. You Belong.
Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.
Living out our values in all that we do, we:
- Strive for Excellence
- Show Compassion
- Respect others
- Collaborate
- Act with Integrity
We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you.