Job Description

Description

Contract type/Duration:

Permanent

Working hours

Full time (9day Fortnight companywide)

Band:

3.1

Salary:

51,000 - 62,000 (depending on office location and proven ability)

Reports to:

Head of Procurement, Funding and Investment

Location:

Milton Keynes/London (minimum of two days a week in the office. You can do more than two days if preferable)

Internal Job Code:

RC281

Closing date:

9am on the 28th October 2025.



The Role

Are you passionate about unlocking economic growth in more places across the UK?

Can you define, plan, track and manage projects?



Interested in changing the way local authorities source new investment, procure innovation and fund SME development?

Check out Connected Places Catapult's new strategy here.

One of our six big priorities is to

empower local innovation economies

. Strong local innovation economies are pivotal to regional prosperity. We help address barriers such as finance, regulation, public-sector procurement, and place-based leadership and empower businesses, local authorities, and regional organisations to unlock investment, create jobs, and boost productivity.

The new Investment, Funding and Procurement Team

You will join, and lead projects for, the new Investment, Funding & Procurement Team. The work of the team includes:

support to the UK Cities Climate Investment Commission (3Ci) partnership. Check out our work here: https://www.3ci.org.uk/

The Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC). Check out our work here: https://www.ipec.org.uk/

Work to support demand-side actors to grant fund development of small businesses, including the Transport Research Innovation Grants Programme. (The postholder will not initially work in this space).

You will be part of a dynamic and geographically-dispersed Regional & Local Growth Directorate. The postholder may be asked to support and shape projects across the directorate, including those which support to regional & local bodies build innovation capacity.

Delivering projects at Connected Places Catapult

As a Senior Consultant Project Manager, you'll be at the heart of our most critical initiatives -- turning ideas into outcomes that matter. You'll lead cross-functional project teams, manage stakeholders at every level, and ensure our projects land on time, within budget, and with exceptional quality.

This is more than a project management role. This is about leading with purpose, navigating uncertainty, and making delivery excellence your mission.



Some of the things you will do:

Plan & define

Shape the vision: develop clear, outcome-focused project plans. Define scope, timelines, resources, and budgets with confidence and clarity.

Lead & inspire

Lead diverse teams to deliver high-impact results. Align people, priorities, and performance -- keeping delivery front and centre. Manage third-party suppliers to ensure accountability and value.

Execute & control

Own day-to-day delivery: timelines, risks, quality, and costs. Tackle challenges with creativity and composure. Adapt plans dynamically while keeping a clear eye on the goal.

Engage & influence

Build strong, productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Ensure everyone is informed, aligned, and bought-in.

Track & report

Provide clear, timely, and transparent updates on progress, risks, and performance. Drive decision-making through robust governance and escalation when needed.



You'll bring proven experience leading end-to-end delivery of complex projects or programmes, a sharp understanding of delivery lifecycle frameworks (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid), Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills and a cool head under pressure and a talent for solving the unexpected. You don't shy away from supporting other colleagues - we are a small team - we divide and conquer, and are always learning new things to support each other whenever we can. You can do the doing as well as the strategic direction.

Ultimately, you will ensure the success of your area of the Business Unit by providing excellence in client relationship development, delivery and opportunity management. You will lead by example to shape, set pace and model great work, coaching and inspiring others.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Meet revenue targets. Spot opportunities. Contribute to bids and proposals. Increase client confidence in and credibility of CPC, manage sell ons and 2nd phase wins. Ensure CRM system is updated stakeholder contact and any account information including opportunity management. Scope and lead streams of work. Shape the planning and budgeting of work. Shape and design the deliverables. Manage the PMO and commercial control. Organise the work stream for the core and virtual team members. Provide excellence in delivery. Meet (or exceed) utilisation targets. Design and plan innovative and professional delivery. Develop senior client buy in across a range of stakeholders. Hold face off accountability at senior management levels. Update CRM system with contact of client information. Contribute profession/specialism into delivery and proposal development. Provide thought leadership. Work in profession virtual community. Provide learning opportunities. Maintain own professional development. Ensure an ethos of equity, inclusivity and diversity underpin your work activity, contribute to inclusive innovation across all Catapult activities. You may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensure effective business operations.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required Competencies

Spark creative thinking across all tasks. Apply systems thinking to problem solving. Create effective networks. Use personal influence to progress beyond challenges and blockers. Use experience to provide the voice of the customer in all activities. Effectively manage communication across teams and stakeholders, lead meetings and contribute to publications and events. Co-ordinate plans across activities. Role model agility and adaptation. Champion and promote inclusion and sustainability.

Benefits

9 day fortnight for everyone,

we have a full company shutdown every other Friday.

23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone,

with pro-rata calculations for part-time employees, along with a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.

Competitive pension,

up to 10% company contribution to help you save for your future.

Two paid days of volunteering leave per year

(pro-rata for part-time employees) to support charitable activities.

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

providing 24/7 confidential work/life support services to you and your immediate family members.

Cycle to Work Scheme

encouraging a healthy and sustainable commute.

Cash Health Plan,

offering reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well-being.

Payroll Giving scheme,

allowing regular charitable contributions from pre-tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.

Discounts and offers from a wide variety of retailers

, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.

Mortgage Advice benefit,

delivered in partnership with Charles Cameron & Associates - provides employees with free, expert mortgage advice and end-to-end mortgage support from the application process through to completion.

About Connected Places Catapult

At Connected Places Catapult, we are on a mission to create better connected places across the UK and beyond. We believe that innovation is the key to unlocking the potential of our towns, cities, and transport systems, making them more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous for everyone.

When connected places work, it benefits:

People:

wellbeing, access and inclusion for everyone.

Planet

: sustainable and increasingly regenerative living and moving.

Prosperity

: prosperous local economies and trade.

From supporting SMEs to develop clean transport technologies to helping local authorities unlock innovation in public procurement, our work is making a tangible difference. We help businesses secure millions in investment, create jobs, and drive forward solutions that address climate change, social isolation, and economic inequality.