Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.
Job Information
ROLE OF THE JOB
This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in Northumberland County Council’s £110m ‘Energising Blyth’ Programme. You will support the Programme Manager and lead on all aspects of project development and delivery across major capital and revenue projects. These include new leisure, cultural and educational buildings and sustainable transport infrastructure and public realm works. Projects are varied in scale and at different stages of development.
We're looking for an experienced ‘client side’ project manager to join the Energising Blyth Team, who can lead on major parts of the programme from initiation through to successful completion. The role requires the ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and initiative, to have a proactive, solutions and delivery focussed approach and to have experience and expertise in partnership working and operating effectively within a political and governmental framework.
Also working closely with colleagues across the Place and Regeneration Directorate, senior representatives of our private, public and third sector stakeholders, and with our business-led Town Deal Board, you will be responsible for creating and helping to secure commitment to delivery, meeting the objectives of the UK Government’s Future High Streets Fund and Town Deal Programme by 2026/27.
You will therefore have experience in the following key areas:
- Management of the development cycle - including feasibility, site acquisitions, scope, business case, funding, briefs/specifications, commissioning + procurement of a range of professional services, reporting, design development, planning, construction and end user/operator interface.
- Strict project management controls – Capital and Revenue Budget tracking, contract management, solution focussed risk and issues management. Project timelines, key milestones and critical path, project delivery team co-ordination, communications strategies, forward plans and project highlight reports
- Publicly funded projects, business case development, monitoring requirements, project adjustments and internal/external reporting requirements.
- Public Procurement, Financial, Planning, Building, Environmental and Subsidy Regulations and the ability to ensure that the delivery of each project is fully compliant with these
- Local Governance and Accountable Body functions - Grant Funding Agreements and Claims processing, decision making processes and lead-in times.
- Commissioning, monitoring and co-ordination of internal and external professional services including Advance Northumberland, Design and Project Teams, specialist consultants, legal advisors, Property, Procurement, Legal and Technical Services
- Stakeholder Engagement and communications planning – you will be outward looking, stakeholder focussed to ensure inclusive and equitable outcomes.
The post is with Northumberland County Council funded by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The post is offered on a fixed term contract to 31 March 2026 and there may be the potential to extend (subject to funding). The job is based in County Hall in Morpeth, but we operate flexible working arrangements, including some home working.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB
- Have a background in regeneration, project management, planning, surveying or similar disciplines.
- Offer ‘intelligent client’ project management expertise applying knowledge of the development cycle through RIBA Plan of Works.
- Demonstrate previous application of project management tools and for monitoring and reporting all aspects of the project delivery.
- Have strong financial management and budget monitoring skills and a strong commercial awareness.
- Demonstrate a good understanding of procurement processes, routes, stages and contract management across a range of services and works.
- Have a good understanding of Procurement, Financial, Environmental, Planning and Building Regulations and ability to ensure all projects are delivered in full compliance of these.
- Have significant experience of partnership working and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders and the ability to communicate effectively.
- Demonstrate recent experience in preparing project business cases for place-based regeneration projects.
- Demonstrate understanding of Local Authority governance processes and procedures, Grant Funding Agreements, reporting requirements and competence.
- Knowledge of national, regional, and local policies related to town centre regeneration
- Have a valid UK driving license
For further information about this vacancy or for an informal discussion, please contact:
Lara Baker, Programme Manager by email: lara.baker@northumberand.gov.uk / tel: 07919 217457 Or Rob Strettle, Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager: rob.strettle@northumberland.gov.uk / tel: 07770642773
Why choose us?
We have some outstanding benefits to offer you, including:
- 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
- Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexi scheme (if applicable) – up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)
- Local government discount schemes available to all employees with offers at local businesses along with various national brands
- Commitment to work/life balance offering flexibility through various schemes including job sharing, flexible working, term-time only, and compressed hours
- A range of salary sacrifice schemes are available
- Staff networks - run by staff, for staff, providing opportunities for peer networking, mutual support, staff development e.g. Armed Forces, ASD, Enable (disability), LGBT+, Menopause, Mental Wellbeing, Racial Equality
Further information
Please note that this is a full time position but applications on a secondment or part-time basis would be considered for the right applicant.
For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes here.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you wish to notify us of your eligibility for this scheme, please email hrrecruitment@northumberland.gov.uk or ring 01670 623930 with your name and the job title you have applied for and one of the recruitment team will ensure this is factored into the shortlisting process and kept anonymous. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.
Alternative application format:
British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net
For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930
Although we advertise on North East Jobs, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.
