Senior Project Manager - Evidence Centre (2238)

Do you want to create a better world for animals? At the RSPCA, we believe all animals deserve kindness and respect. We work for the benefit of every animal – as well as pets, that includes farmed animals, wildlife, and animals used in science. Choose a career with us and make a difference for every kind.

Are you a dynamic and tenacious Senior Project Manager with a passion for animal welfare and a proven track record of establishing impactful initiatives? If so, the RSPCA has an exciting opportunity for you!

We are looking for a new team member as a Senior Project Manager - Evidence Centre. 

• Working hours: 35 hours per week; Monday to Friday. 
• This is a 6 month Fixed Term Contract.
• Hybrid role: You will mostly be working from home but will be asked to attend key meetings in London, as and when required. 

As our Senior Project Manager - Evidence Centre, you will be instrumental in the creation, implementation, and initial operational management of the groundbreaking Animal Welfare Evidence Centre. 

This ambitious 10 year project, co-funded by the RSPCA and a philanthropic trust, represents a key strategic priority for the Society. The Evidence Centre will conduct and commission vital research to understand the drivers of harm to animals and deepen our insight into the human-animal bond, ultimately aiming to create a positive impact across the animal welfare sector.

As part of our established and high performing  Strategy and Transformation team, with accountability to the Assistant Director of Policy, Advocacy and Evidence and the Evidence Centre Steering Committee, you will take ownership of delivering this complex project within the RSPCA's Project Management Framework. This will involve successfully delivering project outputs to ensure the intended benefits for the RSPCA and the wider animal welfare community are realised.

This is a unique opportunity to shape a significant new initiative, requiring a proactive, enthusiastic, and delivery oriented individual who can build and lead high performing project teams within a matrix structure. 

You will actively cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external, and take personal responsibility for project delivery. This includes collaborating professionally with other NGOs, academics, government officials, and other crucial partners. 

You will be comfortable navigating all stages of the project lifecycle, from developing the initial proposition and building organisational buy-in to in-flight delivery and embedding sustainable change. 

While exceptional project management skills are essential, your leadership, coordination, and organisational abilities will be equally critical in enabling virtual teams to achieve the agreed outcomes. 

You will control and report on program/project deliverables, progress against milestones, budget, resources, risks, and issues in line with the established project governance framework; always striving for delivery excellence.

You will lead the delivery of the Evidence Centre project, employing an appropriate project management methodology to achieve agreed benefits. You will ensure the project approach, governance, and documentation adhere to Portfolio Management Office standards. 

As a Senior Project Manager, you will manage one or multiple projects concurrently, effectively allocating tasks and resources to meet quality, cost and timescale parameters and deliver benefits aligned with sponsor expectations. 

We will look to you to proactively identify and manage project risks and dependencies and to drive the resolution of issues. You will effectively manage and control the project budget and expenditure forecast, taking accountability for allocated resources and providing regular updates.

A key focus of this role will be to act as a role model in ensuring adherence to functional governance and instilling strong disciplines within matrix teams. You will maintain control of the project scope through an effective change control process, consulting with key stakeholders as necessary.

You will recruit team members, and will design the team structure and deliverables. You will also play a key role in governance and helping to commission the first research project, as well as navigating procurement processes and contributing to thought leadership.

In order to succeed within this role, it is essential that you have: 

• Demonstrable experience in delivering large-scale (+£500k with organisational-wide impact) projects or programs that have delivered lasting benefits.
• Experience of working at all stages of a project/program lifecycle, from inception to initiation, delivery, and closure.
• Certification in an industry-standard project/program management methodology (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP).
• Proven successful delivery of complex enterprise wide change management projects.
• Extensive experience in stakeholder management.
• Proven experience of leading a project team through matrix management.
• The proven ability to analyse complex financial and performance data to produce useful management information.
• The ability to create project documents, including Project Initiation Documents and business cases, to the required quality, and the ability to implement and follow control procedures.
• Experience in controlling, reconciling, and reporting on projects using an established project or program management tool or software (e.g., SmartSheets, MS Project).

Along with these skills, we are also keen to receive applications from those with:

• A positive and tenacious approach to problem solving.
• The ability to quickly absorb and understand new concepts.
• The ability to think of creative solutions to business issues.
• A collaborative approach to project management.
• The ability to establish and maintain relationships with senior management internally and externally.
• Excellent and articulate oral and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt style for varied audiences.

This is a 6 month Fixed Term Contract.

If you are a highly motivated and experienced Senior Project Manager looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in animal welfare, we encourage you to apply!

Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles will need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK - We are unable to sponsor visas at RSPCA

Interviews will take place remotely on the 21st of May; we anticipate that this will be a one stage interview process. 

Due to high interest in some of our roles, we review applications as they are received. This can occasionally result in positions closing earlier than advertised. Therefore, we strongly recommend submitting applications early. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications after the posted closing date.

We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible

We are building the future of a diverse Society, and our priority is to support animal welfare by finding people from all backgrounds who are committed  to our mission.  For this reason we actively encourage a wide diversity of applications - in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities - as these candidates are currently under-represented at the RSPCA. Your transferable skills & lived experiences could make you a valuable addition to our RSPCA Family! 

Should you need any support with your application or interview process please contact resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk / 0300 123 0685.

Our mission is to ensure animals have a good life by rescuing and caring for those in need, by advocating on behalf of all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with compassion and respect