Senior Project Manager

Location: Hybrid/Kings Hill, Kent

Salary/package: £45,000 to £55,000pa DOE

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week

Are you an experienced Senior Project Manager who thrives on delivering complex, high-impact projects? We have a fantastic opportunity to join Commercial Services Group (CSG), driving strategic transformation and supporting our mission to be the global leader in education and public sector solutions.

Who we are

Commercial Services Group (CSG) is one of the UK’s largest local authority‑owned trading organisations, operating 33 businesses across education, energy, IT, procurement, HR and more. With over 1,800 employees, our ambition is to create value and impact for every customer, every day.

Our mission is simple. We support the delivery of better public services to help people live, learn and thrive. This purpose underpins everything we do. A significant proportion of our profits is reinvested into frontline public services, enabling us to combine commercial performance with meaningful social value.

Why this role matters

The Senior Project Manager plays a crucial role in leading the delivery of strategic, complex and high-value projects across CSG. Sitting within the Business Improvement Team, you’ll shape business change initiatives that directly support our ambitious growth plans, strengthen collaboration across divisions, and enhance our ability to deliver world-class solutions for customers worldwide.

What you’ll be doing

• Manage and lead strategic, complex and large-scale projects for internal customers.
• Support business change management using structured methodologies: understand, plan, implement and communicate change.
• Coordinate internal resources and external vendors for flawless project delivery.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope and within budget.
• Define project scope and objectives in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Map, design and implement business processes from ‘as-is’ to ‘to-be’.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, tracking progress and dependencies.
• Identify, manage and escalate risks and issues to project sponsors.
• Control project budgets and manage approved change requests.
• Produce comprehensive project documentation, templates and regular highlight/status reports.

What we’re looking for

• Minimum 5 years’ proven experience managing and delivering multiple complex projects.
• A Professional Project Management qualification (APM or equivalent) is desirable.
• Strong knowledge of project governance, budgets, business cases and benefits frameworks.
• Highly skilled in stakeholder engagement and communication planning.
• Demonstrable experience in business process design and improvement.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills – able to engage diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in MS 365 tools, including Project, Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive.
• Flexible, innovative, collaborative and highly self-motivated mindset.

What you’ll get in return

• Salary of £45,000 to £55,000 per annum.
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 after four years.
• Birthday Day Off.
• One concessionary day during the Christmas period.
• Pension scheme with 6% employer contribution.
• Life assurance cover.
• Hybrid working.

Why CSG?

Commercial Services Group (CSG) is the UK’s largest local authority-owned trading company (LATCO), generating over £800 million in revenue and supporting 16,000 education and public sector customers worldwide. With more than 1,800 employees across the UK, France, Dubai and Bangkok, we are working towards becoming the global leader in education and public sector solutions.

We are expanding rapidly, with annual growth of around 25 percent, supported by a blend of organic development, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Our 33 trading businesses deliver a wide range of services including education management, IT, HR, legal, energy, procurement and supplies.

CSG is wholly owned by local authorities, and a significant proportion of our profits is reinvested into frontline public services. Over £77 million has already been returned, reflecting our commitment to combining commercial performance with meaningful social impact.

Inclusion & Accessibility

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage applications from suitably qualified people of all backgrounds.

As a member of Inclusive Employers and a Working Families Employer, we are actively building an environment that supports inclusion, flexibility and belonging for all colleagues.