Senior Technical Project Manager

About The Role

At Islington Council, we're determined to make our borough more equal. That means ensuring every resident, whatever their background, has the opportunity to thrive. We're also ambitious: we want to be the best council in the country , and every employee plays a crucial role in making that happen.

Our staff live our values every day by being Collaborative, Ambitious, Resourceful and Empowering (CARE) . If you share those qualities and want to contribute to transformative digital change, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

As a Senior Technical Project Manager , you'll lead and deliver high-value, complex digital transformation initiatives. These will range from implementing new enterprise systems and solutions within our technical landscape to driving innovation through artificial intelligence and automation, delivering meaningful improvements to services and outcomes for our residents and customers. You will:

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Define project objectives, capabilities and benefits alongside senior stakeholders.
• Lead full lifecycle delivery from initiation through to benefit realisation.
• Oversee scope, risk, dependencies, finances, governance and reporting.
• Ensure all projects follow agreed methodologies, standards and gating processes.
• Provide assurance to Project and Portfolio boards, with recommendations and escalation where needed.

Strategic Engagement

• Build strong, trusted relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Manage stakeholder expectations proactively and address any dissatisfaction.
• Act as a key advocate and expert adviser for your projects.

Team & Supplier Management

• Lead, motivate and develop high-performing project teams.
• Manage third-party suppliers, including contract negotiations and compliance checks.
• Promote a culture of collaboration and delivery excellence.

Benefits & Change Management

• Identify, validate, track and report on project benefits.
• Work with Strategic Change & Transformation teams to align benefits across programmes.
• Support business change initiatives to ensure value for money and successful adoption.

Communication

• Communicate project status, risks and actions clearly and consistently.
• Tailor messaging for different audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What We're Looking For
Essential Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
• PRINCE2 Practitioner certification.
• ITIL Foundation/Practitioner or strong working knowledge of ITIL.

Experience

You will have extensive experience in:

• Delivering large, complex IT projects in high-pressure environments.
• Designing and applying project delivery methodologies and governance.
• Managing ICT risks, dependencies, and business-critical project activity.
• Supplier management and commercial negotiations.
• Strategic stakeholder engagement and influencing.
• Financial planning, forecasting and programme-level analytics.
• Leading teams and managing matrix resources.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to interpret and articulate complex technical information.
• Expertise in PRINCE2 and project assurance.
• Advanced problem-solving and escalation management.
• Excellent IT skills, including MS Project.
• Exceptional time management and ability to work independently.

Our Commitment to Equality

Equality is at the heart of everything we do. We're proud of our accreditations, including:
Healthy Workplace Award , London Living Wage Employer , Disability Confident Committed , Stonewall Diversity Champion , Timewise , and The Mayor's Good Work Standard .

We embrace and celebrate diversity-and expect every employee to help us build an inclusive, anti-racist, and empowering workplace.

Compliance Requirements

This role requires a DBS check , and compliance with GDPR, Health & Safety legislation and organisational policies.

Ready to Make an Impact?

Join us in delivering digital transformation that truly matters-helping to shape a fairer, more equal Islington for everyone.

Note to Recruitment Agencies:
We kindly ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy. We are managing the recruitment process internally and will reach out directly should we require external support. Thank you for your understanding.

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn't be clearer: we serve. It's in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out 'CARE', which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone's identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre-Employment Checks
Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.