Job Description
2 Month Contract With A local Authority
Job Purpose
To provide dedicated project management support to the Berkshire Emergency Duty Service (EDS) during a critical period of service development, procurement activity, and partnership implementation. The role will lead the coordination and delivery of key project workstreams relating to procurement and the development and implementation of an Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) across the six Berkshire local authorities, ensuring effective governance, stakeholder engagement, and compliance with relevant regulations and procedures.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and coordinate project activities associated with the procurement and contractual arrangements supporting the Berkshire Emergency Duty Service.
* Support the development, negotiation, and implementation of the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) across the six Berkshire local authorities.
* Work closely with legal, finance, commissioning, procurement, and operational colleagues to ensure project objectives are delivered effectively and within agreed timescales.
* Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, risk registers, action logs, governance documentation, and decision records.
* Prepare reports, presentations, briefing papers, and workshop materials for senior leadership teams, governance boards, and key stakeholders.
* Coordinate stakeholder engagement activities across partner authorities, ensuring effective communication, collaboration, and timely decision-making.
* Monitor project progress against agreed milestones and deliverables, identifying risks, issues, and dependencies and escalating where appropriate.
* Support compliance with local authority governance frameworks, procurement regulations, contract management requirements, and partnership agreements.
* Facilitate meetings, workshops, and project boards, ensuring actions and outcomes are accurately recorded and progressed.
* Provide regular project updates and performance reports to the Head of Service and senior stakeholders.
* Contribute to service improvement initiatives and support the successful transition and implementation of new contractual and partnership arrangements.
Requirements
* Significant experience managing or coordinating projects within a local authority, public sector, or partnership environment.
* Experience supporting procurement exercises, contract implementation, or service mobilisation projects.
* Knowledge and understanding of inter-authority agreements, partnership governance, or collaborative service delivery models.
* Strong project management skills, including planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and reporting.
* Experience working with legal, finance, commissioning, procurement, and operational teams.
* Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
* Strong written communication skills, including experience preparing reports, governance papers, presentations, and briefing documents.
* Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with the ability to work across organisational boundaries.
* Ability to identify risks and issues and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and project management tools.
* Professional project management qualification (PRINCE2, APM, MSP, Agile, or equivalent).
* Experience working within children's services, adult social care, emergency duty services, or shared service environments.
* Knowledge of local authority procurement regulations and contract management frameworks.
* Experience supporting governance arrangements involving multiple local authority partners.
* Experience presenting information to senior leadership teams, boards, or elected members.
Additional Information
* Location: Waterside Park / Time Square with hybrid working available
* Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
* Payment: Bi-weekly payments