Project Manager

Project Manager (£45,000 to £50,000pa)

Commercial Services Group (Hybrid/Kings Hill, Kent)

About Commercial Services Group

Commercial Services Group (CSG) is one of the largest providers of public sector and education procurement services globally, with revenues of c£500M, 1800 staff and six trading divisions: Global Education Supplies, Procurement, Energy & Carbon, Community Services, Professional Services and People Services.

Wholly owned by Kent County Council, CSG supports over 15,000 customers in 86 countries and collaborates with a supply chain of c1,000 suppliers.

The Role

CSG has many ongoing and pipeline business change and improvement initiatives that aim to contribute to delivering CSG’s vision “to become the recognised global leader in education and public sector procurement services”.

Due to rapid growth and development, the Group has multiple strategic and complex; people, technology, infrastructure and commercial initiatives being executed at any one time.

As such, Commercial Services Group is recruiting an experienced Project Manager to join its talented Business Improvement Team to lead the successful delivery of a number of its strategically important projects.

Key Duties

• Managing and leading assigned projects across the Group within agreed methodologies
• Support the Group in leading the required business change management in accordance with the following four key principles of change management: understand the change, plan for the change, implement the change and communicate the change
• Collaborate with business stakeholders and resources to capture business requirements
• Business process mapping and business process design from ‘as is’ to ‘Implemented’
• Supporting with the definition of project scope and objectives, involving all relevant stakeholders
• Developing and maintaining a detailed project plan to monitor and track progress
• Managing project risks and issues and escalate to Project Sponsors as appropriate
• Coordinating internal resources and third parties/vendors for the successful execution of the project[s]
• Manage, record and gain authority for changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs through approved change control processes
• Ensuring the project is delivered on-time, within scope and within budget
• Managing approved project budgets – in accordance with the Group’s signing authority matrix
• Creating and maintaining comprehensive project documentation
• Providing regular highlight / status reports to Project Steering Groups / Project Sponsors and the Business Improvement Team and any other reports as required by the Group
• With the collaboration with key stakeholders across the Group support the creation, embedding and growth of the continuous improvement framework and culture
• Where requested, coach, develop and support the Group’s Project Manager community to deliver effective change projects and drive continuous improvement

What we need from you

• Project Management qualification
• Proven working experience in successfully delivering software/system implementation projects
• Proven working experience in project management and able to demonstrate the ability to manage and deliver multiple projects successfully
• Knowledge and experience of implementing change management principles, methodologies and tools
• Understands the broad technology and digital landscape
• Experience of capturing business requirements and designing/optimising, documenting and implementing new business processes
• Experience of writing Business Cases, including investment Business Cases
• Experience of coordinating and managing internal and external resources (proven matrix management capability)
• Experience of working with senior managers in a complex group organisation
• Strong knowledge of project management processes and techniques
• Experience of managing project budgets and producing Highlight/Status Reports to a senior management
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office with strong presentation and facilitation skills
• Broad, practical understanding of a private-sector and public sector trading business
• Self-motivated to continuously learn, improve knowledge and skills and drive change
• Flexible and agile mindset – able to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Numerate and confident at using and interpreting data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills – able to engage with various audiences to explain technical and professional matters in a way that is clear and fully understood by all

In return, CSG will offer you:

• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• Birthday off work
• Life assurance cover
• Company pension
• Flexible first, hybrid working
• A culture of progression & development
• Shopping discounts & retailer offers
• Team & company events
• eLearning portal
• EAP programme
• Referral scheme
• Health & Wellbeing platform
• Health Cash Plan initiative
• Discounted gym membership