Project Manager

Project Manager

Industry: Public Sector (Retail Transformation)

Contract Type: Rolling 6-month contract (likely long term), Inside IR35, Fully Remote

Day rate of £650/day

Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to act as the central lead for a major store transformation programme within a well-known public sector client. The role involves managing the restructuring of a network of retail branches, including the closure of existing stores, identification and acquisition of replacement sites, refurbishment projects, commercial transfer of franchises, and ensuring stores are operational post-transition. The successful candidate will have a strong retail background with proven experience delivering branch, store, or site openings, closures, relocations, refurbishments, franchise transitions, or similar physical network changes. This role requires excellent stakeholder management, coordination of multiple workstreams, and the ability to drive projects to successful completion in a complex and evolving environment.

Skills:

• Proven experience in retail store or branch transformation projects
• Delivery of store openings, closures, relocations, refurbishments, and franchise transitions
• Strong project planning and execution skills
• Stakeholder management and engagement at all levels
• Commercial awareness related to franchise and property transfers
• Risk, issue, and dependency management
• Ability to coordinate multiple concurrent workstreams
• Excellent communication and reporting skills
• Experience working within structured governance frameworks
• Contract and vendor management

Software/Tools:

• Project management software (e.g., MS Project, Jira, or equivalent)
• Collaboration and communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, SharePoint)

Certifications & Standards:

• PRINCE2 or equivalent project management qualification (desirable)
• Familiarity with public sector project delivery standards (advantageous)