[ref. d2637924] NHS - Innovation Project Manager

Job overview

Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance wants more people than ever to reduce their risk of developing cancer.

We also collaborate with the thriving research bodies in Greater Manchester. By bringing together world-class researchers, clinicians and operational delivery, we have a unique opportunity to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

We are looking to recruit an Innovation Project Manager to support Primary Care and Early Diagnosis team.

The post holder will be responsible for the development, oversight and evaluation of the GM Cancer Alliance Innovation Programme at the GM Cancer Alliance, with a specific focus on improving Early Diagnosis. This is an excellent opportunity for a Project Manager who has experience and knowledge of developing and delivering innovation projects and is passionate about improving cancer services in Greater Manchester and can provide leadership within the system.

The posts are full-time although flexible working will be considered. The contract will be until 31st March 2026. Secondment requests will be considered.

Main duties of the job

The individual will be a key member of their team and would be expected to achieve objectives including:

• Establishing governance supportive of developing HInM:Cancer Alliance relationships and partnership working
• Using existing clinical forums and groups to gather intelligence on local innovation practice to progress ideas from initial interest
• Working with industry to scan the market for new cancer innovations and identifying funding opportunities to support evaluations.
• Managing a suite of Project Portfolios to support delivery of the GM Cancer Programme.
• Linking with project managers and stakeholders to progress innovation, digital, diagnostics, robotics and AI service improvements already underway.
• Contributing to decision making processes prior to innovation adoption, e.g. procurement, Quality Impact Assessments, Business Cases
• Supporting GM Cancer to identify and take forward innovative cancer projects
• Ensuring that stakeholders, including people affected by cancer, are fully engaged.

We are looking for a motivated and passionate individual to join the team at the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, hosted by, and based at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust but working on behalf of all Greater Manchester stakeholders in this programme.

Working for our organisation

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.

We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• The post-holder will be required to develop and maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders including member practices, clinicians, provider organisations, community service and the voluntary sector to help ensure the delivery of the service.
• Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, presenting information, to a wide range of stakeholders in a variety of formal and informal settings.
• Having the ability to deal with resulting potentially antagonistic situations.
• Committed to working and engaging constructively with internal and external stakeholders on a range of business sensitive issues in relation to the service.
• Link with innovation and CCG managers and members of other providers, to address inter-dependencies and ensure alignment.
• Apply a structured change management approach and methodology for the impact of implementation of the service.

Functional Responsibilities

• To support the identification and sharing of best practice.
• To operate in a highly political and sensitive environment.
• Support the portfolio of initiatives in demonstrating value for money through tracking, managing and delivering agreed benefits.

• Lead on the delivery of project plans, allocating tasks as appropriate, identifying risks, issues and dependencies, considering best practice and current options and ultimately making decisions in the best interest of the programme.
• Develop a comprehensive and cohesive plan for the transition period, which is consistent with the overall project timetable, meets the strategic direction of the team and minimises unnecessary disruption to stakeholders involved in the process and is operationally sound.
• Pro-actively manage stakeholders, respond to and resolve conflict between different stakeholders when this arises through facilitation or other appropriate mechanisms.
• Be responsible for a high standard of work supporting the delivery of projects on time, to quality standards and in a cost-effective manner.
• Maintain documents and associated plans with regular team meetings to monitor progress and resources.
• Develop an inclusive approach to service development, actively promoting the involvement of service users, carers and the wider public.
• Responsible for the planning and organisation of numerous events/meetings, ensuring communication tools are used to their maximum value for circulating the minutes, agenda and presentations in a timely manner.
• Demonstrate effective stakeholder management at all levels.
• Contribute to performance improvement, taking a lead for identified areas where agreed.
• Ensure that the projects maintain business focus, have clear authority and that the context, including risks, are actively managed in alignment with the strategic priorities.

• Drafting reports summarising status on issues, appraising outcomes, and providing progress reports for the board.
• Collate as required, qualitative and quantitative information and lead appropriate analysis to develop robust business cases.
• Ensure timely and accurate information analysis and reporting to management on agreed areas of work.
• Analyse, interpret and present data to highlight issues, risks and support decision making.

• Plan, develop and evaluate methods and processes for gathering, analysing, interpreting and presenting data and information.
• Deliver projects to comply with key performance indicators.
• Lead on systematic review of existing service provision to explore opportunities for efficiencies, service redesign and reinvestment that will ensure value for money and adherence to best practice is achieved.

• Contribute to the strategic planning of the agreed projects, identifying interdependencies across projects/functions, potential impacts on wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency and adjustments as necessary.
• Contribute to the development of performance and governance strategies and the development and implementation of improvement programmes.
• Contribute to short, medium and long-term business plans, achieving quality outcomes.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Master’s level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
• Evidence of continuing professional development

• PRINCE2 Practitioner

Experience

• Considerable experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.
• Experience of managing risks and reporting.
• Experience of leading a project that involves change.
• Experience of undertaking equality impact analysis.

• Experience of identifying and interpreting National policy.
• Experience of researching best practice, interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve system reform.
• Experience of being responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes.
• Comprehensive experience of project management principles techniques and tools such as Prince2.
• Demonstrated experience of working with patient groups and VCSFE organisations.

Skills

• Ability to lead change and lead innovative ways of working.
• Ability to encourage change in others and foster a collaborative approach within a Multi-Disciplinary Team.
• Able to provide, prepare and produce highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options and an ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
• Demonstrate capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making.
• Demonstrates capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• Must be able to prioritise own work effectively, use initiative to decide relevant actions and to make decisions autonomously.

Knowledge

• Demonstrable working knowledge of developing and delivering innovation projects.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Teams with intermediate keyboard skills

• Awareness of national and regional developments in diagnostics.
• Understanding of research and evaluation methods

Values

• Committed to quality in all that they do
• Values diversity and inclusion and promotes equality of opportunity
• Committed to working to support Programme Leads/Project Managers to deliver better outcomes for patients
• Operates with integrity and openness
• Brings enthusiasm and commitment to the team and capable of generating enthusiasm in others
• Committed to patient and public involvement and engagement in the development of health services
• Committed to personal development and supporting others to do the same
• Challenges received wisdom and acceptance of the status quo
• Putting the needs of our patient population first

Other

• Ability to travel across Greater Manchester as required.

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy

All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.

Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.