Context

The Families Directorate within Waltham Forest trades several different services to schools and other organisations. The authority is looking for a project manager to help them review these services and develop a cohesive and coherent future approach to how it trades its services. This is to ensure these services are high quality and meet needs, improve outcomes for users of the service and are delivered sustainably within budget. An important aspect of the role is reviewing and identifying commercial opportunities and assessing and exploiting these opportunities to improve the commercial viability of services.

Scope

• Outline a clear baseline and understanding of the Traded Services currently provided including the financial costs of providing these services and the benefits of the services
• Develop a framework to review traded services, assessing the cost and benefits of running individual traded services
• Based on that analysis, produce an options appraisal analysis of how these services should be taken forward (including future overall service offer and delivery model, funding approach and improvement plan for each service)
• Facilitate a clear decision from the Leadership Team on the future approach
• Support the implementation of the improved strategic approach and operational delivery model, working closely with Families Directors and project leads to drive implementation of the improvements

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate all activity related to the review of Traded Services
• Regularly maintain an up-to-date project plan and use this to highlight priorities, progress, risks, and issues effectively for and in-between project meetings

• Stakeholder management and communication with Families Leadership Team, Senior Responsible Officers and project leads
• Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the Directorate and Council
• Review and implement best practice from elsewhere
• Use horizon scanning to inform recommendations

Person specification

• Strong business acumen with experience of reviewing and assessing alternative delivery models and delivering commercial and income generation opportunities
• An effective leader with strong project management skills and experience of managing complex initiatives in a political environment
• Excellent organisational and budget / finance skills
• Experience of quickly establishing rapport and relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and building trust with stakeholders to achieve goals
• An experienced communicator with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and motivate people

If you are interested in this role please send your updated CV in the first instance.