This role will be an initial 12-month Fixed Term Contract

Bristol City Council is looking for experienced Senior Project Managers to lead some of our most significant and complex change projects.

Our Portfolios, Programmes and Projects service helps turn the council’s strategic priorities into well-designed, deliverable change. Working alongside senior leaders, service experts, technical specialists and partners, you will take high-profile projects from early ideas and business-case development through to implementation and benefits realisation.

We are looking for rounded project leaders - not simply people who can manage a plan. You will bring professional grip and sound judgement, while recognising that successful delivery depends on people, engagement and organisational change as much as robust governance. You will be comfortable with ambiguity, able to build trust across boundaries and skilled at creating shared ownership of change.

Areas of work

We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates with experience working in any of the following areas:

Technology-enabled change – procuring and implementing complex systems or applications, combining an understanding of successful technical delivery with a strong focus on service outcomes, business readiness, process change, colleague engagement and adoption.

Assets and infrastructure transformation – delivering large transformation programmes focused on how buildings, service locations, operational estate, fleet and wider infrastructure can support future service delivery, organisational priorities, sustainability and long-term financial resilience.

What you will bring

Experience of leading complex, high-risk projects through the full lifecycle.
The ability to translate strategic ambition into clear outcomes, credible plans and practical delivery.
Strong business-case, options appraisal, financial, benefits, risk and dependency management skills.
Confidence leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing senior stakeholders across organisational and professional boundaries.
A collaborative and adaptable approach, with a genuine commitment to involving the people who will deliver, use and experience the change.

For more information, visit our Portfolio, Programmes and Projects careers page.

How to apply

Please send us your CV (maximum two A4 pages) and a supporting statement of no more than 1,000 words. Using practical examples, show how you meet the following criteria:

Project leadership: Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience, with advanced knowledge and practical application of recognised project, programme and change approaches, and experience of leading multidisciplinary teams through complex delivery.
Turning strategy into delivery: Evidence of translating strategic priorities and senior leaders’ ambitions into clear outcomes, credible plans and deliverable projects.
Business cases and decision-making: Experience of developing complex business cases, assessing options and providing robust analysis of costs, benefits, risks and deliverability.
Leading through complexity: Evidence of solving difficult delivery problems, influencing senior stakeholders and creating shared ownership across organisational or professional boundaries. Please demonstrate how you led the people and business change, as well as the project controls.

This must be sent to ppp.careers@bristol.gov.uk

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high profile organisation.

Join us and you’ll receive a generous rewards package including flexible working arrangements, flexi-time and membership of the Local Government Pension scheme. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the City we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community, and we particularly encourage applicants from women, Black and racially minoritised, Disabled,LGBTQ+ candidates who are currently under-represented within our service area. Appointments will be made on merit.

Attachments