Project Manager - Payroll and HR

Project Manager – HR/Payroll Systems Implementation

Location: North England / Hybrid Working Available Contract Length: 8 Months Rate: Up to £400 per day Working Pattern: 3 Days Per Week

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead a key HR and Payroll systems implementation project for a well-established education and training organisation. This is an exciting opportunity to drive the successful delivery of a complex transformation programme, managing system implementation, data migration, and stakeholder engagement from project inception through to go-live.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of delivering HR and Payroll technology projects, ideally involving systems such as iTrent and/or People First.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of an HR/Payroll implementation project.
• Manage project plans, timelines, budgets, risks, and dependencies.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders, system vendors, and third-party partners.
• Coordinate and oversee data cleansing, validation, and migration activities.
• Ensure project milestones are delivered on time and within scope.
• Facilitate project governance meetings and provide regular status updates.
• Manage stakeholder expectations across HR, Payroll, IT, and senior leadership teams.
• Support system testing, UAT, training, and go-live planning.
• Drive issue resolution and implement effective risk mitigation strategies.

Essential Requirements

• Extensive experience as a Project Manager delivering complex HR and Payroll systems implementations.
• Strong knowledge of Waterfall project management methodologies.
• Proven track record managing data cleansing, data migration, and system integration activities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams.
• Experience working within large, complex organisations.
• Ability to challenge, influence, and drive project delivery.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within public sector or large corporate environments.
• Previous experience working with iTrent, People First, or similar HRIS/payroll platforms.
• Payroll transformation or HR systems upgrade experience.
• Formal project management qualification (PRINCE2, PMP, MSP or equivalent).

What's on Offer?

• Up to £400 per day.
• Flexible 3 days per week commitment.
• Hybrid working with North-based presence when required.
• Opportunity to lead a high-profile transformation project.
• Immediate impact within a collaborative and supportive environment.

If you are an experienced Project Manager with a successful background in HR and Payroll systems implementations and are available for an 8-month contract, we would love to hear from you.