Project Manager

About Us
At Polaris, we're on a mission to create a safer and fairer world. We provide software solutions that empower police forces and local authorities to enforce and track traffic and parking offences, manage permits and licenses, and control high-risk assets like firearms and tasers.

Since securing support from August Equity in May 2023, we've been on an exciting growth trajectory. We've expanded our reach both in the UK and internationally, acquired key companies like Farthest Gate and JML Software Solutions, and invested heavily in our operations.

Our goal is to build a data-driven, professionally managed organisation with robust systems and processes, poised for consistent growth and ready to seize new opportunities. We've united our legacy brands under the Polaris name, creating a dynamic new identity that reflects our vision for the future.

This is an exciting time to join Polaris. We're seeking ambitious, forward-thinking individuals who are eager to make a real impact and grow their careers in a rapidly evolving industry. If you're ready to be part of a team that's shaping the future of public safety and compliance technology, we want to hear from you.

Project Manager

London – 2 days per week in office

Full time 

Summary
In this role, you will be contributing towards technology that helps our customers make the world safer and fairer. Our goal is to make products that our clients find indispensable, helping them run their operations seamlessly and efficiently.

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to oversee and deliver technical solutions for local government projects. The ideal candidate will have strong project management expertise, certifications in PRINCE2 and Agile methodologies or equivalent, and a proven track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects. This role requires a blend of strategic planning, technical knowledge, and leadership to ensure the successful delivery of high-impact solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project Planning & Execution:
• Lead the end-to-end delivery of technical projects, from initiation to closure, ensuring alignment with local government requirements and timelines.
• Develop detailed project plans, including scope, objectives, resources, schedules, and budgets.
• Manage risks, issues, and dependencies, ensuring proactive mitigation strategies are in place.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
• Work closely with local government stakeholders to gather requirements and ensure project alignment with organisational goals.
• Facilitate regular communication, including progress updates, issue resolution, and milestone reviews 
• Manage relationships with vendors, contractors, and third-party providers to ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Team Coordination:
• Lead cross-functional project teams, ensuring effective collaboration between multiple teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement within the project team.
• Allocate tasks and resources efficiently and appropriately to meet project objectives and deadlines.
• Methodology & Best Practices:
• Apply PRINCE2 and Agile frameworks to manage projects effectively, adapting to the specific needs of local government environments.
• Work with engineering teams to conduct sprint planning, retrospectives, and regular stand-ups to ensure progress within projects
• Maintain compliance with local government policies, regulations, and procurement processes.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting:
• Track project performance against key metrics, including cost, time, and quality objectives.
• Prepare and present detailed project reports for senior management and stakeholders.
• Ensure that all project documentation, including risk logs, change requests, and lessons learned, is accurately maintained.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience managing technical projects, ideally within a local government or public sector context.
• Strong understanding of IT systems, infrastructure, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Proficiency in project management tools such as MS Project, Jira, or similar platforms.
• A certification in PRINCE2 Practitioner and strong working knowledge of its principles.
• Experience in Agile methodologies, with a certification such as Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or PMI-ACP preferred.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to manage diverse stakeholders effectively.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• An analytical mindset with problem-solving capabilities to address challenges proactively.
• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field or circa 5+ years of project management experience, with a focus on local government or public sector technical solutions.

• Market rate salary 
• 25 days annual leave 
• 2 Moment in Time Days
• 1 Community Day
• Life Assurance 4 x base salary 
• Private Pension with Scottish Widows
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Hybrid working model 
• Length of service additional time
• (Other perks in coming for 2025)

Our business is an equal opportunities employer. We make recruitment decisions based on qualifications, skill sets, and experiences. We consider all suitable candidates regardless of their age, sex, gender reassignment, race, religious beliefs (or lack thereof), marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristics.

Please note that we can currently only consider candidates with an existing right to work in the UK.