Assistant Project Manager, Employability and Widening Access

Job overview

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a motivated and values driven Assistant Project Manager to join our Apprenticeships, Employability & Widening Participation team. This role will lead the neighbourhood‑focused delivery of the Widening Access Programme across the Coventry & Warwickshire Integrated Care System.

This is a unique opportunity to drive a transformational, community-based programme designed to improve access to NHS employment for residents who are furthest from the labour market.  You will coordinate partners, strengthen referral pathways, and ensure participants receive a high-quality, supportive experience from pre-employment through to employment.

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about widening access to careers in health and tackling inequalities who has experience of project management or coordinating multi‑agency programmes.  You will understand the challenges faced by disadvantaged communities, young adults and those furthest from the labour market.

You will be joining a team passionate about inclusion, social mobility and supporting local people into life‑changing careers. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference while developing your own leadership and project management skills within a high‑impact national demonstrator programme.

Secondment will be considered for internal candidates – If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the coordination of the WAD programme across four NHS Trusts and system partners.
• Establish and coordinate the WAD Delivery Group, ensuring consistent documentation, processes and governance across the programme.
• Oversee delivery timelines for all stages of the pathway, including pre‑employment programmes, work experience activity and paid placements.
• Build strong relationships with organisations across priority neighbourhoods to support targeted community engagement.
• Strengthen referral pathways and support partners to remove barriers for participants progressing into NHS roles.
• Produce high‑quality performance and KPI reports, contributing to ICS‑level governance structures.
• Ensure all placements are safe, supportive, inclusive and aligned to Trust policies and standards.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Support the successful delivery of the small projects within an acute hospital environment, managing conflicting demands, whilst minimising any potential disruption or disturbance to patients, staff, or other visitors.
• Planning, co-ordination, and management (including of small budgets) of a number of different projects or workstreams at any time. This will include liaison with various key internal and external stakeholders to ensure the demands of the Trust are appropriately met.
• Developing and monitoring projects using project management tools and templates ensuring appropriate reporting at all levels.
• Liaise with other internal and external stakeholders to ensure that projects are delivered successfully.
• Provide, receive and interpret information to ensure successful delivery of the projects. Recognise complex information and escalate accordingly.
• Effectively document and monitor project risks in line with organisation priorities. Awareness of mitigation and contingency planning. Support the identification, documentation, and monitoring of benefits to ensure projects deliver against agreed deliverables.
• Plan and support the implementation of changes. Recognise when there is a need to adjust deliverables to meet unexpected circumstances.
• Produce and maintain the formal project documentation required throughout the project lifecycle including the collection of information to support review and/or development of policies and procedures.
• To work to tight deadlines under pressure in a complex environment. To contribute to management and administrative processes and structures including managing resources.
• To be competent in the use of applications including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams.
• To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies, and issues in relation to projects.
• Ability to respond to stakeholder needs and support the identification of appropriate service developments.
• Ability to work effectively and simultaneously across a range of operational areas.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.