Vacancy: Service Improvement Project Lead
Contract: Fixed term for 2 years
Hours of work 36.25 per week
Salary: Grade 10, £54,495 - £59,113 per annum (subject to job evaluation~)
Location: The post holder will work in a hybrid manner, typically working from Fire Service HQ, Swinton, Manchester.
About us
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is officially recognised as one of the top-performing, and most improved services in England. In their latest report, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) awarded GMFRS the first "Outstanding" ratings in its history, cementing its place near the very top of national rankings. This is a brilliant opportunity to influence how GMFRS continues on its upwards trajectory, identifying, planning, and delivering improvement.
About the role
This is a newly established role; part of the existing Portfolio Management Office (PMO). Leading and coordinating a newly established Service Improvement team; you will support the Service to move from reactive problem-solving to a more structured, preventative, and evidence-led approach to continuous improvement.
Working across our four directorates, teams, and partners, you will lead complex cross-service reviews, develop a prioritised pipeline of improvement activity, and use your expertise in service improvement, business analysis, process redesign, governance, and benefits realisation to help deliver lasting change.
You will help diagnose issues, understand root causes, redesign processes, reduce inefficiency, and support the delivery of practical, achievable recommendations. You will provide professional leadership and constructive challenge, ensuring improvement activity is aligned to GMFRS strategic priorities, governance arrangements, organisational risk, inspection readiness, and continuous improvement ambitions.
The role will also support the development of strong governance, assurance, and reporting arrangements for service improvement activity, including oversight of progress, risks, issues, dependencies, and benefits.
About you
We are looking for a confident, proactive, and experienced Improvement Project Lead to help drive meaningful, sustainable improvement across the Service. You will combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, bring experience of leading complex improvement, transformation or change activity within a large or complex organisation, alongside strong analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
You will be confident working with senior leaders, comfortable providing constructive challenge, and able to translate complex information into clear findings, recommendations, and action.
You will also have strong knowledge and practical application of improvement methodologies, including process mapping, root cause analysis, redesign, implementation planning, and benefits realisation.
You will be educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, or able to demonstrate equivalent substantial experience in service improvement, transformation, change, programme/project delivery, or a related field.
You will hold a professional qualification in project / programme management / business analysis / service improvement, or a related discipline (for example PRINCE2, MSP, APMG, Lean, Six Sigma), or demonstrable equivalent experience.
Experience in a public sector, partnership or similarly complex environment would be desirable, and experience within a blue light service would be advantageous.
Our offer:
In return for your hard work, we offer our employees a competitive package as part of our offer that you can find out more about here:
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