Project Manager – Operational Performance (Band 8a)

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance as a Project Manager within our Operational Performance Team. We are looking for a motivated and experienced project manager with experience of delivering complex change within the NHS or a comparable public sector setting. The post holder will provide strategic leadership and programme management expertise to drive improvements in cancer performance across GM. The role requires close collaboration with a wide range of system partners including provider trusts, primary care networks, NHS GM ICB, the NHSE national cancer programme, local authorities and VCFSE organisations, ensuring that all programmes are delivered in accordance with the agreed annual plan. Working as part of a well-established and supportive team, the post holder will contribute to the planning, development and delivery of a programme of work aimed at improving cancer pathways, optimising capacity, and reducing variation in access and outcomes for cancer patients across the region. The post is full-time although flexible working will be considered. The contract will be until 31st March 2028 in the first instance. Secondment requests will be considered. This post requires regular in-person attendance at our offices located in Withington on The Christie NHS FT site.

Main duties of the job

• Manage a complex and diverse portfolio with flexibility and responsiveness, while consistently demonstrating measurable progress and meaningful delivery.
• Apply a range of proven methodologies and change management approaches to drive transformational improvement across the system.
• Work in a flexible, agile manner across the full performance programme, adapting to shifting priorities and moving between workstreams as required.
• Produce clear, well-structured output documentation and maintain appropriate filing and version control using the reporting structures of the wider team.
• Produce high-quality reports for submission to various boards and committees, incorporating data analysis alongside detailed rationale for decision making and approvals.
• Develop an inclusive approach to service development, actively promoting the involvement of service users, carers and the wider public.
• Responsible for the planning and organisation of numerous events/meetings, ensuring communication tools are used to their maximum value for circulating the minutes, agenda and presentations in a timely manner.
• Demonstrate effective stakeholder management at all levels.
• Ensure that the projects maintain business focus, have clear authority and that the context, including risks, are actively managed in alignment with the strategic priorities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities

• Oversight and co-ordination of key high-profile projects within the Performance work programme.
• Line management of project team members.
• Project management and day to day running of one or more large scale transformation projects
• Setting up and planning of the project(s) including project steering groups, project assurance function, project teams, project documentation using the CA programme management documentation and recognised project management methodologies.
• Identifying resources to enable project delivery and assuring delivery on time and to budget.
• Project reporting compliant with the CA programme governance framework.
• Identifying and managing the risks associated with each project.
• Maintaining knowledge of local, regional and national projects that are current and pending.
• Providing expert project management advice and support to other staff and teams within the CA and partner organisations.
• Producing and overseeing the financial plans required to deliver the projects for which the post-holder is responsible.

Leadership and expertise

• Act as a genuine and credible manager and leader for projects.
• Act as a subject matter expert for the scope of projects.
• Exert influence upon senior clinical and managerial colleagues to ensure that project objectives remain a priority in their own work programmes.
• Act as a local source of expertise about projects and all of the resources that are available to support those seeking to improve services.
• Remain up-to-date with developments and disseminate these developments to the appropriate audience.

Set-up and organisation

• Lead the setting up of Project Boards, ensuring full representation from all key partners (including patients) and relevant stakeholders.
• Manage the administration of Project Board meetings.
• Oversee the preparation of agendas, papers and minutes for the Project Board meetings/Pathway Boards and the follow up agreed actions with responsible group members, holding them to account for lack of progress.
• Facilitate full and active patient participation in the work of the Performance Project Boards.
• Develop clear delivery and commissioning plans to support the Performance programme in GM.
• Build relationships across the Greater Manchester, including primary, secondary and community care as well as public & patient engagement. Communication and support
• Be the first point of contact for the Clinical Leads when seeking managerial advice or support.
• Act as a conduit between Clinical Lead and the Greater Manchester Cancer core team.
• Lead the development of innovative proposals for pathway change and improvement.
• Challenge Clinical Leads and the Project Boards if they exhibit a lack of ambition or consider objectives that do not contribute towards those of the GM Cancer plan.
• Regularly update Greater Manchester Cancer senior management team with project developments and identify where support or challenge is needed.
• Create reports and papers to update the Greater Manchester Cancer Board on project developments and to seek approval for recommended action.

Data and information

• Research background data and literature from national and international sources.
• Collate data and literature into concise reports and tools and present to the Clinical Lead, making clear recommendations for action.
• Analyse cancer data and intelligence to identify trends, key messages and opportunities to improve patient outcomes and experience.
• Lead the Project Boards in the collation and presentation of local system-wide audit data.

Planning and reporting

• Develop and manage an annual work programme with the Clinical Leads ensuring that this contains clear objectives, tasks and identified leads.
• Ensure that the work plan reflects, and contributes towards the achievement of, the wider Greater Manchester Cancer plan, goal and objectives of improved clinical care and patient experience.
• Lead the definition of outcome measures that can be monitored during the course of the programme.
• Track progress against these outcome measures and provide progress reports to GM Cancer.
• Develop and maintain a risk register for the Project Board objectives and annual work plan, reporting risks and issues to the Clinical Lead according to a risk assessment framework.
• Write an annual report on progress in achieving the year’s objectives, the challenges faced during the year, and the priorities for the next year.
• Actively contribute to any provider service reviews as required.