Assistant Project Manager

The Assistant Project Manager will work with multiple healthcare organisations across Cheshire and Merseyside, to deliver a number of complex cancer improvement projects focusing primarily on prevention and early diagnosis.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience of supporting project and change management within an NHS environment, to use their influence to contribute to the delivery of Cancer Alliance objectives, and in doing so, deliver the best cancer outcomes for our patients.

We are looking for a confident and enthusiastic team member with the ability to motivate and inspire confidence in others, develop effective working relationships and manage competing priorities in a challenging environment.

This job is unlikely to attract a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship (formerly a work permit). Applications from candidates who require Tier 2 immigration status to work in the UK may not be considered if there are a sufficient number of other suitable candidates. To apply for a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship, employers need to demonstrate that they are unable to recruit a resident worker before recruiting an individual overseas.

The Assistant Project Manager will support system change for the delivery of the Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance objectives, identified within NHS England's Long Term Plan and the local cancer delivery plan.

They will be responsible for supporting the implementation and delivery of many projects within the prevention and early diagnosis team across Cheshire and Merseyside, alongside other initiatives, working with different trusts and stakeholders.

Key work areas may be:
Project management and support

Day to day running of one or more transformation projects

Adhering to the Cancer Alliance programme governance framework

Taking a lead role for risk management within the scope of responsibility and supporting project teams to do so

Effective communication to stakeholders

Strong knowledge of relevant local and national projects

Setting up and support projects and workstreams which will Include supporting project steering groups, providing project assurance, producing project documentation, use recognised project management methodologies and identifying resources for project delivery.

This role will be in the Primary Care team which delivers numerous change projects for Primary Care and Screening. This involves enhancing patient experience, community engagement and improving health inequalities.

This is an exciting time to join the Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA) as we continue to lead the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan ambitions for cancer across the local system. We collaborate with partners to improve patient outcomes and performance against operational targets.

CMCA covers a population of 2.4 million people and continues to build on successes in designing and mobilising major transformation projects spanning the whole cancer pathway, across prevention and detection, diagnosis, treatment and follow up through to end of life care.

The Cancer Alliance is hosted by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and the CEO is the Senior Responsible Owner/Executive Lead for Cancer within the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's leading providers of non-surgical cancer treatment, caring for a population of 2.4 million people., Use effective communication skills to present to stakeholders on project delivery / performance and outcome information.

Use negotiation skills to gain support and agreement for the CA projects across stakeholders, including commissioners, providers and patients/carers.

Provide complex information to stakeholders, which may be contentious, and motivate and persuade them to engage with CA projects that will deliver transformational change

Produce project reports for internal and external audiences utilising Project Management Office (PMO) processes escalating any risks and issues where appropriate.

Use effective communication to ensure that project delivery / performance and outcome information is co-ordinated with other relevant projects or programmes across the CA.

Ensure the change brought about by the project is communicated to stakeholders and overcoming any barriers to effective implementation.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

Support the production of key documents such as business cases utilising all the necessary frameworks within the Alliance PMO.

Project management and support with day to day running of one or more projects applying a standard methodology consistent across the CA transformation programme.

Responsibility for delivering projects to agreed timescales.

Analyse and interpret complex information, that could be conflicting, from a variety of sources in order to monitor progress of the project against agreed project plans.

Identify risks or issues and make recommendations from a range of options to adjust the project plans if necessary e.g. if a milestone date has not been met. Identify and support management of project risks.

Support the project teams to work to agreed quality standards.

Understanding of national policies, guidance and emerging policy development that impact on project delivery.

Demonstrate effective and transparent decision making skills.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Plan, develop, organise and deliver complex projects across multiple stakeholders within Cheshire and Merseyside. It may be necessary to adjust plans and approaches to ensure delivery to agreed scope and quality standards.

Ensure the skills and resources are available to support delivery of complex projects.

Manage projects where negotiation and high level communications skills may be needed to deliver projects where there are complicated, conflicting and multiple complex activites to manage.

Lead and manage complex projects, ensuring that project deadlines are met.

Manage competing deadlines.

Physical

Regular use of IT equipment including advanced use of all Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibility for Patient and Client Care

Act as a champion for patients and their interests and involve the public and patients in all aspects of projects and decision-making of the CA.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

Use project methodology including PIDs, project plans, KPIs, interdependencies and risk registers.

Provide project management advice and support to other staff within the CA.

Propose improvements and develop practices in order to enhance the smooth running of projects across multiple stakeholders within Cheshire and Merseyside.

Ensure that all nationally mandated cancer transformation goals are clearly aligned to projects.

Write, report and present on project progression against relevant KPIs.

Maintain knowledge of local, regional and national cancer strategy and policy.

Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources

Managerial responsibility for project officer staff.

Support the effective management of delegated project budgets, acting as a signatory for small purchases to an agreed limit.

Assist in the development of business cases for new projects.

Maintain project benefits records and ensure that quality, performance and efficiency benefits associated with the project are delivered.

Responsibility for Human Resources

Provide line management support for project officer staff. This may include recruitment, induction, development and appraisal, and ensuring adherence with all key HR policies such as Grievance, Disciplinary and Performance Management

Create an inclusive working environment where diversity is valued, everyone can contribute, and everyday action ensures we meet our duty to uphold and promote equality.

Ensure effective resource management for relevant project activities.

Responsibility for Information Resources

Required to access information using multiple software systems in order to analyse information and provide reports to various stakeholders.

Analyse datasets and produce reports in a variety of formats.

Maintain accurate records of meetings and events including formal minutes that are circulated beyond the Alliance to those attending the meeting.

Manage all documentation associated with the project.

Update the Senior Programme / Senior Project Manager on project status, identifying risks, achievements, milestones and interdependencies.

Responsibility for Research and Development

Undertakes audits of own work areas as required.

Freedom to Act

The post holder must have an overview of the CA transformation programme and its workstreams to be able to take a leadership role in establishing and maintaining full participation in projects.

Monitors and reviews complex project activity and exercises judgement in terms of deciding which issues should be escalated.

Personally intervenes to effect corrective action where required, but escalating where appropriate.

Demonstrate the ability to work unsupervised for prolonged periods of time.

Ensure that systems are in place to provide timely and high quality reporting to the CATeam.

Physical Effort

The job is mostly desk based with regular use of VDU, however significant travel is required across Cheshire and Merseyside and beyond.

Mental Effort

Concentration will be required for checking documents or contributing to the writing of reports or project plans.

Analysis of operational/administrative information, validating/auditing its accuracy and converting the information into reports and process maps that can be understood and utilised by other members of the Project teams and CA Team.

Ability to react to interruptions in accordance with service needs.

Emotional Effort

Works to deadlines and targets.

Ability to influence and negotiate for project delivery and resources.

Work portfolio may occasionally be unplanned and subject to change at short-notice.

Manages emotional strain and pressure associated with work.

Job is mainly desk based with regular use of VDU. Visits other sites across Cheshire and Merseyside and occasionally nationally as part of travel requirements within the role.