Job summary
- Main area
- Administration
- Grade
- NHS AFC: Band 8a
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed Term Contract)
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 354-CO-21850
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Portland House
- Town
- Worthing
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 25/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Project Manager
NHS AFC: Band 8a
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 AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.
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
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Project Manager (Band 8a) to support delivery of the accelerated Delegated Commissioning programme from 2026/27.
This 12-month fixed-term role will support the expansion of delegated commissioning arrangements across the Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism (MHLDA) portfolio. This includes supporting the Programme Director to shape and implement the delivery programme and associated projects, establishment of robust governance frameworks, oversight of phased contract and budget transfer arrangements, and development of ongoing Trust infrastructure requirements.
The postholder will work closely with the Programme Director to deliver programme priorities and will be line managed within the Transformation and Change Team, with access to structured supervision, peer support and professional development.
This is an opportunity to contribute to a high-profile, system-wide transformation programme within a supportive and collaborative environment, focused on strengthening commissioning infrastructure, partnership working and system assurance.
Main duties of the job
· Lead and manage the delivery of defined workstreams within the Delegated Commissioning programme.
· Support development of the Full Business Case and programme governance arrangements.
· Develop and maintain detailed programme plans, risk and issue logs, and reporting frameworks.
· Support the design and implementation of transparent governance and assurance processes.
· Contribute to effective collaborative working with VCSE, NHS and system partners.
· Coordinate phased contract and budget transfer arrangements.
· Support development of mechanisms for SPFT to host and manage delegated contracts.
· Prepare high-quality reports, briefings and Board papers.
· Work closely with finance, operational and commissioning colleagues to support financial and performance oversight.
· Identify, manage and escalate risks relating to delivery, governance and system confidence.
· Monitor progress against milestones and ensure delivery to agreed timescales.
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 one or more projects within the programme ensuring they are planned, managed and evaluated in a timely and effective way to ensure high quality of delivery across their portfolio of projects.
• Accountable for strategic planning and delivering projects against set objectives, within agreed timeframes and achieving quality outcomes
• Responsible for identifying and reporting on issues and risks and undertaking mitigating actions
• Take a lead for analysis and reporting of specific target areas as agreed
• Identify of the accurate and reliable evidence relevant to the projects from the large amount of complex information available
Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
•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
• Manages project team; develops project training programmes as line manage
Financial & Physical Resources
• Holds budget for programme/projects
Policy/Service Development
• Develops policies for implementation of specialist programme across the organisation
Information Resources
• Updates information system/ uses software to develop performance management reports, responsible for performance management or similar system
Research & Development
• Undertakes complex audits, surveys related to programme
Freedom to act
• Interprets national guidelines for programme
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
- Relevant Masters qualification or equivalent experience of working as a senior operational or strategic manager in a relevant field
- Evidence on ongoing CPD activity
Desirable criteria
- Project or programme management training or qualification
- Quality Improvement training or qualification
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive project management experience including Project planning, reporting and risk management, Financial management, Delivering change projects within agreed timescales
- Experience of managing project teams
- Experience of working at a senior level in a large organisation in a political environment engaging effectively with stakeholders
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- rachel thomas
- Job title
- head of project management office
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07901517837
List jobs with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Administrative Services or all sectors