Contract Project Manager - SFIA 5 - Initial 3 months - Inside IR35 - £400 - £425 per day

Detailed Description From Employer:

Contract Project Manager - SFIA 5 - Initial 3 months - Inside IR35 - £400 - £425 per day - BPSS Cleared

Location: Leeds or Newcastle (40% onsite)
Duration: Contract
Clearance Required: BPSS
Sector: Public Sector/Digital Transformation
Working Pattern: Hybrid - 40% onsite, including travel once per sprint

Project Manager - DWP Digital Transformation Programmes

Our public sector client is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the delivery of two high-profile, department-wide transformation initiatives within DWP. This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in modernising internal communications and collaboration across one of the UK's largest government departments.

You will be responsible for managing the successful delivery of both the Future of Communications (FOC) and New Intranet programmes, working across multiple stakeholders, suppliers and delivery teams within an Agile environment.

About the Programmes

Future of Communications (FOC)

The FOC programme is a strategic department-wide initiative focused on reviewing and transforming communication and engagement tools across DWP. Following extensive business research and user engagement activities, the programme is now entering its pilot phase, with four pilots scheduled to run between April and September 2026.

The objective is to create a more effective, inclusive and future-ready communications model that ensures colleagues receive the right information, at the right time, through the right channels.

New Intranet

The New Intranet programme is responsible for the review, redesign and delivery of DWP's future Intranet platform, replacing the current third-party solution and improving access to departmental communications, guidance and collaboration tools.

Both projects are strategically important, highly visible and closely linked, making strong project leadership essential to successful delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead projects through the full life cycle, from discovery through to live service.
• Manage delivery against agreed scope, timelines, budgets and quality standards.
• Develop and maintain project plans, RAID logs and delivery schedules.
• Proactively identify, manage and escalate risks, issues and dependencies.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, delivery teams and third-party suppliers.
• Foster collaboration, shared ownership and a positive team culture.
• Provide accurate project reporting to senior leadership and governance boards.
• Manage project governance and change control processes.
• Ensure effective communication across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Act as the primary point of contact for external suppliers and delivery partners.
• Coordinate cross-project impacts and dependencies to support successful programme outcomes.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience delivering complex digital projects within large-scale organisations.
• Strong project management expertise across the full delivery life cycle.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and driving successful project outcomes.
• Demonstrable experience working collaboratively across multiple business and technology functions.
• Strong Agile delivery knowledge and experience operating within Agile environments.
• Ability to select and apply appropriate project management methodologies and tools.
• Experience developing realistic project plans covering quality, risk, communications and stakeholder management.
• Strong governance, reporting and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent communication and influencing capabilities.

Additional Information

Due to the scale, visibility and complexity of these department-wide initiatives, candidates should be able to demonstrate experience operating at a SFIA-aligned Project Management level, with responsibility for managing significant delivery risks, stakeholder groups and organisational change.

Clearance: BPSS clearance is required.

If you are an experienced Project Manager with a strong background in digital transformation, Agile delivery and stakeholder management within complex environments, we'd like to hear from you.