Project Manager

Purpose of the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Lead assigned projects from initiation and planning through to delivery, handover and closure.
• Work with project sponsors and business owners to define objectives, scope, deliverables, success measures and resource requirements.
• Develop and maintain project plans, budgets and milestones, coordinating activities across internal teams and external partners.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities and governance arrangements in line with the FAI’s PMO framework.
• Monitor progress, manage risks, issues and dependencies, and escalate matters requiring decisions or intervention.
• Manage changes to project scope, timelines, budgets and resources through agreed governance processes.
• Build effective stakeholder relationships and facilitate project meetings and workshops, ensuring decisions are recorded and actions followed through.
• Prepare clear project reports, business cases and recommendations for sponsors, governance groups, the Senior Leadership Team and Board, as required.
• Coordinate external consultants, suppliers and service providers, including supporting procurement activities where required.
• Support business owners with implementation, operational handover and assessment of project outcomes.
• Provide project management expertise to support the continued development of the PMO, including its processes, tools, standards and ways of working.

Person Specification

• Exceptional communicator with the ability to engage, influence and build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Highly organised, solutions-focused and comfortable managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
• A positive, empathetic leader who inspires confidence and motivates teams.
• Professional, resilient and able to handle sensitive or complex stakeholder issues with care.
  

Experience and Qualifications

Essential:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. 
• Professional 
• project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP, APM) or equivalent. 
• Experience in project planning, governance, budgeting, risk management, and reporting. 
• Experience coordinating internal teams and managing external suppliers, consultants or service providers.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver projects against agreed timelines and budgets. 
• Experience preparing reports, business cases, and presentations for senior management and governance groups. 
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders without direct line management authority.

• Membership of a relevant professional body. 
• Experience delivering organisational change, business improvement, digital or strategic projects.
• Experience working with public sector bodies, grant funding programmes, or government agencies. 
• Experience operating within a highly regulated or governance-driven environment. 
• Knowledge of the Irish sporting landscape and the role of national governing bodies.
• Experience in infrastructure project management.
• Quantity surveying or Civil Engineering experience.

Skills & Professional Knowledge

• Strong understanding of project management methodologies and best practice. 
• Knowledge of project governance, procurement, budgeting, and risk management principles. 
• Understanding of stakeholder engagement and consultation processes. 
• Proficiency in project management and collaboration tools; experience using Asana would be an advantage.
• Strong change leadership and organisational influencing skills.
• Awareness of GDPR and data protection requirements and their application to project delivery.