Description
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
The starting salary for this permanent role is £53,713 per annum based on working 36 hours per week.
We are excited to be hiring a Senior Project Manager to support our IT and Digital team based at our Woodhatch Place office in Reigate. Our team follows a hybrid schedule, working in the office two days per week.
Our Offer to You
1. 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
2. Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
3. A generous local government salary related pension
4. Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
5. Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
6. An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
7. Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
8. Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
9. A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
About the Role
Surrey County Council IT&D are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager with Land & Property knowledge to lead the delivery of major IT business solutions, including property, estate and land-related programmes across the Authority. This is a high‑impact role responsible for planning, managing and delivering large-scale IT projects that support development and transformation of the Council's land and property assets.
You will lead multidisciplinary project teams, provide expert project management guidance, and ensure full compliance with the Council's adopted PRINCE2-based framework. Your leadership will directly support the delivery of the Authority's most significant capital programmes, estate optimisation initiatives, and place-based projects.
About the Team
The IT&D Property Moves Team is responsible for delivering major business solutions that support all services across the Authority. The team includes Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, Principal Project Managers, Project Leads, and a dedicated Project Support function.
As a Senior IT&D Project Manager, dedicated to a flagship corporate or capital programme, or manage multiple smaller initiatives concurrently. Delivery activities will span feasibility, stakeholder engagement, options appraisal, procurement, design development, construction phases, handover and benefits realisation.
While based in IT & Digital, you will frequently work within other service areas across the Authority, ensuring projects are embedded where they add most value.
Key Responsibilities
Analysis, Reporting & Documentation
10. Provide expertise in analysing and interpreting complex data.
11. Identify trends, evaluate options, and recommend solutions to support sound decision‑making.
12. Prepare clear documentation and reports for senior stakeholders.
Service Delivery
13. Lead the delivery of complex land and property projects to agreed time, cost, quality and benefit parameters.
14. Review and improve property-related processes, systems and delivery models.
15. Apply professional judgement to resolve non-routine and high-risk issues while maintaining service standards.
16. Uphold a consistently high standard of professional and customer-focused service delivery.
Planning & Organising
17. Lead major capital projects, estate programmes or service reviews that enhance organisational performance and value for money.
18. Develop and maintain robust project plans, schedules and dependencies.
19. Ensure activity aligns with service and corporate plans, securing appropriate resources and specialist input.
20. Support the ongoing development and practical application of PRINCE2 across the Land & Property service.
Finance & Resource Management
21. Manage project budgets up to £3m, ensuring spend aligns with policies and procedures.
22. Oversee procurement, ordering and invoicing for external suppliers—often amounting to several hundred thousand pounds.
Working with Others
23. Represent IT&D & L&P effectively in cross‑departmental discussions and decision‑making.
24. Build strong relationships with internal services, partners and suppliers.
25. Identify and implement cost‑effective improvements to business processes.
People Management
26. Line manage or matrix manage multidisciplinary project teams.
27. Provide coaching, feedback and performance support to enable high levels of delivery.
28. Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team environment.
Duties for All Employees
29. Values: Demonstrate the organisation's values and behaviours in all interactions.
30. Equality & Diversity: Work inclusively with diverse stakeholders and champion equality of opportunity.
31. Health, Safety & Welfare: Maintain high standards of health and safety, and act with care for yourself and others.
Challenges of the Role
32. Securing scarce specialist resources across IT, digital, land, property, estates and capital delivery disciplines.
33. Maintaining sustained engagement from senior stakeholders across IT&D, Land & Property, Finance, Legal, Planning and operational services, often with competing priorities.
34. Managing third-party suppliers and commercial relationships delivering property, asset and IT solutions, including systems integrators, consultants and estates professionals.
35. Balancing long-term land and property strategies with short-term operational pressures and shifting organisational or political priorities.
36. Controlling costs and resources within tight financial constraints, particularly across capital, estates and asset-related programmes.
37. Navigating complex governance, assurance and decision-making structures associated with capital projects, land transactions and estate transformation.
38. Communicating clearly and credibly with staff and stakeholders at all levels, translating technical IT and property concepts into practical business outcomes.
Your Application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and experience and align with our :
39. Significant experience delivering large-scale IT or digital programmes using a recognised project management framework (PRINCE2 desirable), ideally including systems that support land, property, estates or asset management functions.
40. Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams, including line and matrix management across IT, business, and property-related disciplines.
41. Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and communicate effectively with senior officers, service leads, technical specialists and external partners.
42. Robust financial and commercial management experience, including managing large project budgets and supplier contracts, preferably within capital or property-related contexts.
43. Demonstrable experience of IT-enabled business change or transformation, with clear evidence of delivering measurable organisational benefits—particularly where digital solutions support land, property or place-based outcomes.
44. Excellent planning, organisation and problem-solving skills, with experience operating in complex, regulated or politically sensitive environments.
45. Alignment with the organisation's behaviours, including collaboration, accountability, adaptability and a strong customer and outcomes focus.
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and respond to our 4 application questions.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our to get an insight into working at Surrey.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 15/03/2026 with interviews planned to follow.
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
Please contact Graham Drage for an informal discussion about the role, via email.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents Please see more information here:
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.
Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
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