Job Introduction
We’re looking for a knowledgeable and experienced Project Manager to join our Planning Projects Team, who deliver and advise on key projects for the successful growth of the city of Milton Keynes.
Part of the overall Planning service, the Planning Projects Team is responsible for business improvement projects and programmes including a Planning Academy and Built Environment System Solution. Milton Keynes City Council is the first local authority to make a commitment to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Inclusion Framework and the team has taken a leading role in that work.
Your role will build on these achievements, and you may even end up project managing the production of the New City Plan, which will guide the next part of our successful city’s journey.
This means you’ll already have experience of managing complex projects and will be comfortable leading a project team to meet tight deadlines.
Main Responsibility
- Identification of projects and developing a business case for them to be approved.
- Defining the overall project structure, planning and organisation, delivery strategy and schedule of projects.
- Working with the project sponsor and directing project team members to ensure the delivery of what is needed, when it is needed to maintain quality and standards of outputs and budget.
- Risk management of projects, including adequate review and assessment of risk, understanding probability and likely impact and ensuring adequate contingency and mitigation is in place.
- Monitoring and reporting on the progress of project
The Ideal Candidate
- Knowledge and experience of project management techniques (i.e., PRINCE2 or MK Approach), and approaches with practical experience of managing and successfully delivering complex projects.
- Proven ability to effectively plan complex work programmes, prioritise workloads and manage resources.
- Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to effectively convey complex information to individuals at all levels in an accessible manner.
- Ability to work as part of a team, sharing knowledge and experience, recognise the strengths and weaknesses of others, and constructively challenge to achieve productive outcomes.
- Strong problem-solving skills that will enable you to solve complex problems and ensure successful outcomes, removing blockages and obstructions to success.
- Experience in local government - preferably in a unitary, metropolitan or London borough - with skills in understanding and responding to different perspectives and taking a cross-organisational perspective.
- Knowledge of the planning system would be advantageous but not essential.
Package Description
We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes City Council, including:-
- Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates of 18.8%.
- 28 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 32 days after 5 years.
- Holiday Purchase Scheme.
- Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Health Cashplan.
- MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
- Blue Light Card - Employees working within Social Care can qualify for a range of discounts from national retailers to local businesses in a wide range of categories including holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and much more!
- SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
- Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles).
- Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs).
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements.
- Childcare Subsidy.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes is a diverse, welcoming, and expanding place, built on smart ideas with even bigger plans for the future. We have world class attractions, beautiful open spaces, and a great standard of living.
Milton Keynes City Council is one of the largest employers in the region, making a difference every day for local people. We’re responsible for all local government services in MK including education, housing, highways, and social services - around 240 services in all.
Our values are to be dedicated, respectful, and collaborative. If this sounds like you, join us for a stimulating and fulfilling career measured on results, and a rewarding work-life balance.
