Project Manager

Some of the skills that you will be using include:

• Strategic, analytical & creative thinking: You demonstrate a strong ability to solve difficult problems, often working with ambiguity in complex contexts. You approach projects holistically, understand long-term implications, and are creative in your delivery. You are able to structure and oversee analytical work, spot trends and areas for further enquiry, interpret data accurately and distil key insights.
• Project management: You are able to scope, structure, resource, plan, formulate and articulate clear goals for your projects in line with client and other stakeholder needs. You show accountability, anticipate and resolve problems proactively, implement best practices and use robust methodologies in your project work.
• Stakeholder management: You can credibly engage with senior colleagues as well as with external commissioners, demonstrating an understanding of their needs, goals and concerns. You enjoy building relationships that are oriented around social impact.
• People management: You matrix manage staff effectively, provide them with clear guidance, instructions, and ongoing actionable feedback. You are able to build inclusive, dynamic, and cohesive team environments and help to empower and accelerate the development of those you work with.
• Communication skills: You are an active listener, have strong written and presentation skills, and show the ability and confidence to think on your feet, ask insightful questions and challenge constructively, facilitating discussions to result in desired outcomes.

IPS Grow is a national programme designed to support the expansion of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services in mental health, primary care, and drug and alcohol teams across England. The programme is led by Social Finance in partnership with the Centre for Mental Health. It is funded by NHS England and Improvement (NHSE/I), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

• Plan and define project scope: Develop detailed project plans, including scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements to achieve project goals.
• Coordinate and lead teams working in a matrixed way: Assemble, lead, and motivate project teams, ensuring effective collaboration among team members and stakeholders.
• Manage budgets and resources: Allocate resources effectively and oversee project budgets to ensure financial goals are met while avoiding cost overruns.
• Monitor project progress: Track key performance indicators (KPIs), schedules, and milestones to ensure the project stays on track and meets deadlines.
• Risk management: Identify potential risks, develop mitigation strategies, and implement contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges
• Quality assurance: Oversee quality control processes to ensure that project deliverables meet organisational standards and commissioner expectations.
• Document and report: Maintain comprehensive project documentation and present progress reports to senior management or stakeholders as required.
• Lead on evaluation: Conduct lessons learnt sessions and post-project evaluations to assess performance against objectives and provide recommendations for future.

• Passion for developing and supporting team members.
• Ability to organise and structure thinking in developing approaches/​plans with teams and clients.
• High level of trust, integrity, empathy, and commitment to driving social change.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, curious nature, and comfortable working with ambiguity.
• Good communicator who is comfortable working with teams, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Willingness to develop understanding of relevant regulatory compliance and risk management requirements
• Ability to manage teams to produce accurate, thoughtful, high-quality work to deadlines, understanding and working through client need.

We are an ambitious not for profit organisation that helps to design, fund and scale better solutions to complex social problems. Our vision is a fairer world where together we unleash the potential of people and communities. We do this by working in partnership with local and national governments, funders, communities and the social sector to tackle complex and enduring social problems in the UK and across the world.

Our skills include financial analysis, data and digital insight, outcomes-focused partnerships, strategy, research and design. We combine these specialisms in different ways to address specific social challenges. We create effective solutions that blend the expertise of communities and professionals to deliver better outcomes in issues such as homelessness, domestic abuse, children’s services, health, employment and skills.

Ready to make your own impact on these issues? Then come and join us!

Our multi-skilled team of over 120 people come from diverse backgrounds in the public, private and charity sectors, all sharing a passion for making change happen. We provide a high-quality training and development programme in-house with great opportunities for career progression. We’re a friendly and intellectually curious bunch, always up for a debate. Read more about what it’s like to work here.

Everyone at Social Finance believes that change for communities is possible. To help us achieve it, we have three core values that guide everything we do. We are curious, empathetic and pioneering.

The fixed salary for this position is £56,500 per annum. Working for a mission driven organisation is more than just what we pay though, it’s about our culture, our approach and what else we offer. Read more about working at Social Finance here.

We actively encourage applications from under-represented and minoritised groups, including those with lived experience of the social issues we are working to address. We are an equal opportunities employer.

We support a range of flexible working options and welcome UK based applications from outside of London/​the Southeast so far as they can meet the in-person meeting requirements for the role. We can also accommodate secondments and part-time working. Read more about our approach to equity, diversity and inclusion here.

We work on some projects where our clients may require different levels of DBS checking for our employees. Candidates deemed suitable for a role after interview will be asked to declare any unspent convictions to ensure that we are able to resource them to projects appropriately.

We use Applied, an application platform developed by the Behavioural Insights Team, to record your application. Applied uses behavioural and data science to improve hiring decisions and minimise unconscious bias in the recruitment process.

You will be asked to respond to situational based questions which will allow you to express your ability. Your answer to each question will be viewed in isolation. Please therefore ensure there is enough detail in that single response, without any references to your other responses. NB: While we are asking for your CV, please note that we will not be viewing your CV during the initial sift process. The selection panel will not have access to your CV, so it is therefore essential that you respond to each question fully.

Closing date for applications: Monday 3rd March at midday.

• First stage 30-minute telephone Zoom interviews will take place Thursday 13 March
• Face to face interviews will take place in Vauxhall, London Wednesday 26 March

If you have any queries regarding the role, please contact:

deb.penglis@socialfinance.org.uk