Sophie French

Project Manager

Talent

Newbury, West BerkshireMember since October 6, 2025

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About

A highly accomplished Senior Project Manager with a proven track record of rapid progression and success. Through my strong leadership I have led the delivery of a diverse portfolio of politically high profile and fast-paced projects within the public sector, consistently achieving results through a strategic focus on KPIs and milestone management leveraging project methodologies. My ability to foster strong stakeholder relationships across complex organisational landscapes has been instrumental in negotiating project outcomes and securing cross-functional alignment.

Experience

February 2023 – Present

Department for Work and Pensions – Senior Project Manager

Spearheading a high-value procurement initiative, leading a cross-functional team through the end-to-end tender process for a contract exceeding £400 million. Leveraged deep subject matter expertise to shape tender documentation and rigorously evaluate supplier bids.
Acted as the principal negotiator with senior stakeholders, driving the development of tactical platforms within strict budgetary parameters, and serving as the strategic lead embedded within product teams to deliver robust, future-proof solutions.
Orchestrated the design and implementation of core KPIs to underpin project policy objectives, uniting a multidisciplinary team by adapting communication styles to ensure clarity and alignment at all levels.
Produced tailored, data-driven reports for ministers and executive decision-makers, extracting and synthesising complex data to inform high-stakes decisions.

September 2022 – February 2023

Department for Work and Pensions – Project Manager

Established and managed critical project milestones using Kanban and JIRA, leading dynamic checkpoint sessions to drive accountability and maintain momentum among stakeholders.
Owned the project prioritisation strategy, confidently chairing governance meetings and proactively resolving conflicts to keep delivery on track.
Directed the successful rollout of a new recording platform to over 5,000 operational staff, collaborating with diverse stakeholder groups and flexibly adapting engagement approaches to maximise adoption and impact.