Black Sun Plc

Overview of the role:

This is a great opportunity for an ambitious Digital Project Manager to join a highly-successful and fast-growing agency to deliver high-quality and innovative digital Stakeholder communications solutions - and to help build Black Sun as thought leaders for digital corporate communications excellence.

The principal role of the Digital Project Manager is to scope, specify and project manage the development and delivery of high calibre digital solutions for our Corporate Communications business. Working closely with the design, development and account teams, you will be defining the solution to meet our clients’ requirements, building the project delivery schedule and budgetary estimates, and driving the programme of work from inception through to successful delivery; ensuring projects are delivered on time, to budget and to high levels of client satisfaction.

This role will suit a self-motivated individual who wants to make a real difference in their role - both to enhance their career and skills, and to deliver award winning, innovative projects for global brands. It will require an organised mind, digital expertise, great people skills and real attention to detail.

Some of the key responsibilities in this great role include:

Project management:

• Successfully manage the delivery of assigned digital projects, taking responsibility for ensuring that all projects are delivered on time, to budget, are delivered to the brief and meet high levels of client satisfaction;
• Work with internal teams to interpret the client’s brief and work with the teams to create a digital solution that will meet the client’s needs;
• Develop a set of clearly defined deliverables for each project including comprehensive project documentation including project schedules, requirements documents, functional specifications and project schedules;
• Own the project management of these digital solutions, acting as the focal point for all requests and queries, effectively managing the delivery process, driving all deliverables through the creative, HTML and programming teams, and ensuring that all project amends
• are accurately implemented to ensure an error free delivery of projects;
• Proactively manage the scope, timings and priority of projects managing all timescales and internal and external resources to ensure these don’t deviate from agreed schedules;
• Co-ordinate all project meetings; draw up and circulate the Agenda for each meeting at least 24 hours in advance; write and circulate a Contact Report within 24 hours; follow up and execute all necessary tasks agreed at meetings;
• Maintain and develop quality assurance processes for your digital projects, ensuring that Black Sun procedures are consistently applied before allowing projects to progress so we deliver to the required standard and are protected from financial loss;
• Demonstrate real strength in identifying and managing project problems independently and provide effective solutions to address them;
• Successfully liaise and co-ordinate suppliers, completing the briefing process and ensuring that all work meets Black Sun’s quality standards; and
• Comply, contribute to and seek ways to enhance our company and digital standards, processes and documentation.
  
  

Client relationship management:

• Own day-to-day client relationships throughout the delivery of your projects building strong, trusted relationships with your day to day contacts;
• Liaise with your clients on a day-to-day basis, attending and leading meetings when required, and responding to all client requests in a professional and courteous manner. You will also be expected to be able to handle difficult or sensitive enquiries or problems with tact and diplomacy; and
• Deliver exemplary client services at all times helping to ensure we maintain the current high levels of client satisfaction and continually seek ways to exceed clients’ expectations.

Commercial responsibilities:

• Produce budgetary estimates and secure client sign-off on all costs;
• Manage the financial risk of projects by adhering to all financial working practices and processes including creating budget proposals, completing regular reconciliations, raising and issuing purchase orders for external costs and completing accurate timesheets;
• Ensure that no work outside the scope of the agreed specification is undertaken, prior to agreeing the scope of the additional work and receiving approval on the cost estimate from the client; and
• Where necessary, work with your team leader to develop strategies for managing overrun costs from clients.

New business and client development:

• Work closely with your team leader to identify opportunities to upsell your clients, and to identify other opportunities to cross sell our digital services and solutions.
• Support the new business process by assisting with the delivery of new business proposals through conducting research, producing budget proposals, helping to manage the internal process and supporting your team leader with writing presentation documents. You may also be required to attend pitch presentation meetings from time to time.

 

Research and development:

• Continually drive your understanding of our clients’ businesses, the industries they operate in, and trends in digital best practice corporate communications as it relates to them; and
• Continually develop your knowledge and views on digital trends and key market insights and to share your knowledge with your team and the wider business.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the job holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the role.

Reporting Relationships:

Reporting to: Head of Digital Delivery

Work closely with: wider project management team as well as the Digital Strategy, Creative and Application Development teams

 

Qualifications, experience & skills:

The successful candidate will hold or have experience in/with:

• Project management qualifications such as Prince2
• At least 2-3 years’ experience in managing online clients and projects from inception to delivery with the ability to work unaided on digital projects;
• Familiarity with best practices in website development, including accessibility, usability and design;
• Experience interacting with clients at a variety of levels and across functions, managing client expectations and ensuring high levels of client satisfaction;
• Experience working with security-sensitive information;
• Experience in scoping and designing Internet-related projects of significant scale and complexity and identifying project risks;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills are essential;
• Good knowledge of project management techniques for digital solutions including requirements definition, sitemaps, schematics and wireframes, web analytics, etc.;
• Good understanding of relevant methodologies and technologies – Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project PRINCE2, and a familiarity with Web content management systems and QA processes; 
• Must be able to work effectively under pressure, within strict time constraints and must be able to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment;
• Technical knowledge and skills;
• A good general understanding of a wide range of technologies is beneficial, including:
  • Microsoft Project expert user;
  • Content management systems and publishing technologies;
  • Email, RSS and SMS applications;
  • QA techniques and processes; and
  • Knowledge of W3C WCAG levels and requirements.

 

Your personal qualities:

• Passionate about digital;
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills necessary to build trust and respect both externally and internally;
• High-quality service ethic and commitment to customer service excellence;
• Ambition to self improve;
• Ability to manage many urgent and often conflicting priorities;
• Strong ‘can do’ attitude with an innate ability to take initiative and work by yourself as well as in a team;
• Flexibility and team-focused, non-hierarchical approach with a ‘roll up your sleeves’ attitude to getting the job done; and
• A great sense of humour and fun!

About Us!

So, a little about us and what we do – Black Sun is a leading international stakeholder communications company. We are headquartered in the glorious Fulham Palace, and we also have an office in Singapore. Our goal is to transform the way companies engage and communicate with their stakeholders. We are on a mission to help companies tell the story of how they create value for the people that matter to them: investors, employees, customers, and society.

However, we are only ever as good as the people we employ, and that is why we have a Talent team dedicated to attracting, developing and growing some of the best minds in the industry. We pride ourselves on ensuring our people get plenty of opportunities to learn and grow and regularly consult with them to hear how best to achieve that goal.

If you ask anyone around here what they like most about working at Black Sun, the answer you will hear most often is the people. We are a team of talented, friendly and diverse people driven by shared values and a genuine desire to make a positive difference in business. Not only can you create a long-term career with us, but odds are, you will make a few great friends along the way.

Sometimes it can be challenging but also very fulfilling work at Black Sun with a real chance to make a difference. You will have the opportunity to work with and learn from blue-chip clients from all over the world – such as Adecco, Burberry, Coca Cola HBC, Diageo, Direct Line Group, Rio Tinto and Tesco. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who buys into what we do and shares our ambitions and values.

PS - Don’t forget to check out our Careers Site for more information about what it’s like to work at Black Sun!

And whilst we love our jobs, we also like to have some fun along the way. We have a continuous social programme throughout the year, either virtually or in person! But don’t take our word for it; come and see for yourself!

 

Our new Hybrid way of working
Over the last 12 months, the way in which we work has changed. We surveyed and engaged with our staff to learn about what Black Sun’s future of work looks like, and thanks to everyone’s positive engagement and feedback, we developed a hybrid way of working, governed by three fundamental principles: Colleague, Client and Culture. This means that however you decide to deliver work, you should protect all of these 3 C’s. After a period of onboarding, employees have the ability to work from home, office and, where applicable, on-site with clients. The number of days is dependent on teams, role, time of year and deliverables.

Our COVID-19 Statement

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, it has very much been business as usual here at Black Sun. Responding quickly and investing strategically, we can assure you that we are fully operational and prepared for the future in a safe operating environment.

A Responsible Business

Responsibility is critical to our success, and the well-being of our people is integral to everything we do. We continue to manage this resource responsibly. The health of our people has been our number one priority over this period. In line with the prevailing Government guidelines and risks assessments, we have developed comprehensive COVID-19 safety policies to protect and support our staff during these challenging times. We also have regular employee communications, daily team check-ins and virtual company forums, and Q&A sessions with the CEO and ongoing surveys with all our employees.

Business Continuity Planning (BCP)

Black Sun has very effective business continuity plans which we have implemented that have enabled us to continue to operate effectively since the outbreak of COVID-19. These plans are continually reviewed at weekly BCP meetings chaired by the Group CEO and updated where necessary.

 

In addition to a competitive salary based on skills and experience, as an employee at Black Sun, you will have access to a range of great benefits and perks, including:

Holidays

Upon joining, you’ll be eligible for 25 days holiday per year (pro-rated if you join mid-year). Two additional discretionary ‘bonus’ days are awarded for long service, up to a maximum of 27 days’ holiday.

Bonus Scheme

We operate an annual bonus scheme for all our employees to enable everyone to share our success when the company achieves its financial targets.

Personal Development Opportunities

We believe that the more successful we are in developing our people, the more rewarding and successful our business will become. As an employee, you’ll have access to an extensive suite of training through our ‘Full Circle Talent Development Programme’ to help you develop the skills to progress your career and be successful in your role.

Group Life Assurance

On joining Black Sun, you will be insured under our Group Life Assurance Scheme.

Group Personal Pension Plan

After three months at Black Sun, you will be enrolled on the company’s group personal pension scheme. The company will contribute 3% of salary to the pension scheme, and you will need to contribute a minimum of 5%.

Employee Assistance Programme

You and your family will have access to a confidential 24/7 helpline, providing you with a range of services, including bereavement counselling, financial/debt management, family and childcare advice.

Payroll Giving

Black Sun operates a Payroll Giving scheme, enabling you to donate through your payroll to any charity or voluntary organisation within the UK. The donation is made from your gross pay, enabling the charity to benefit from Gift Aid.