Senior Project Manager

Job Description

Job title:

Senior Project Manager

Location:

predominantly remote, every 3 weeks for a couple of days onsite in Newport.

Job type: contract

Day rate: outside of IR35, up to £500 day rate

Vargo is recruiting an experienced Project Manager to lead delivery within a service-transforming part of a wider multi-million-pound public sector programme.

The successful candidate will manage day-to-day delivery within a defined service or workstream, ensuring alignment with programme objectives, GDS standards and organisational governance requirements. You will work closely with service leads, product managers, business analysts, service designers and technical teams to deliver high-quality outcomes at pace.

This role requires strong delivery discipline, stakeholder engagement capability and experience operating in complex public sector environments.

• Lead delivery of a defined service or workstream within a wider transformation programme.
• Develop and maintain project plans, milestones and delivery roadmaps.
• Manage scope, timelines, risks, issues and dependencies.
• Ensure delivery aligns with GDS lifecycle phases (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live).
• Drive progress and accountability across multidisciplinary teams.
• Apply programme governance within the service workstream.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting to the Programme Manager and governance forums.
• Identify, manage and elevate risks and issues appropriately.
• Maintain clear documentation and audit trails in line with public sector standards.
• Work closely with service owners, operational leads and frontline teams.
• Facilitate workshops, planning sessions and stakeholder meetings.
• Support business readiness, transition and operational embedding.
• Manage organisational complexity and competing priorities.

• Manage project budgets and resource allocation within delegated authority.
• Track forecasts and maintain effective financial control.
• Support supplier management where required.

• Proven experience delivering projects in complex public sector environments.
• Experience in digital or service transformation programmes.
• Strong understanding of GDS service standards and agile delivery principles.
• Experience managing risks, dependencies and reporting within structured governance frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to balance delivery pace with quality and assurance requirements.
• Background in consultancy or client-facing delivery roles.
• Knowledge of service transition and operational readiness planning.
• PRINCE2, MSP, Agile or equivalent project delivery certifications.