APM Awards Moderator

Salary: £40 per hour (depending on experience)

Contract: Annual

Hours/Days: (approx. 60 - 65 hours per year).

Specific dates in September each year (5 ½ days) to moderate stage two judging will be required, these will be unchangeable. Other dates dependent on Awards calendar.

Location: Remote working. Must be in UK time zone or +/- 1 hour and prepared to work during UK office hours.

Closing: 29 May 2026

Interviews: Remotely. Week beginning 1 June

We’re Association for Project Management (APM). We’re a professional membership organisation that sets the standards for the project profession. As a registered charity, we reinvest our surplus for the benefit of our members and the profession. We deliver education and develop qualifications. We conduct research and provide knowledge and resources. We run events and share best practice. We give people the opportunity to connect and provide community for our individual members and corporate partners, wherever they are. Above all, when doing so makes a difference, we challenge the status quo.

Job Role Overview

This is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal role in the APM Awards process. Working in conjunction with the APM Events Team, the primary function of this role is to oversee the APM Project Management Awards and APM Education and Research Awards judging processes. Ensuring the application, judging and awarding process is carried out fairly, accurately and in line with agreed criteria and rules of entry. Ensuring entrant compliance of the rules, time keeping and moderating judges discussions to consensus during APM Project Management Awards second stage judging.

Qualifications

• Current APM Chartered Project Professional status

Experience

• Proven extensive experience in project and programme management, across a number of industries. (essential)

• Previous moderation experience in a business environment (essential)

• Evidence of ongoing professional development (essential)

• Sound knowledge of the APM Project Management Awards and Education and Research Awards (desirable)

• An understanding of the APM Awards criteria (desirable)

• Previous experience managing a similar process to the Awards (desirable)

• Previous awards moderation experience (desirable)

Skills

• Ability to make impartial decisions grounded in evidence, maintaining objectivity and avoiding bias (essential)

• Skilled in moderating discussions and aligning differing viewpoints to agreement (essential)

• Ability to engage in discussions in a non‑confrontational manner, actively respecting and valuing diverse judges’ views and opinions to support balanced and fair decision‑making (essential)

• Confidence and accountability in reaching final decisions when consensus is not possible (essential)

• Ability to work closely with diverse range of stakeholders (essential)

Key relationships

• Chair and members of APM Project Management Awards Steering Group

• Chair and members of APM Education and Research Awards Group

• APM Senior Events Co-ordinator

• APM Senior Events Manager

• APM Head of Events & Volunteer Engagement

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Key 2026 dates

We ask that applicants are available remotely for the following dates:

• Interviews w/b 1 June

• 2nd stage judging 7-11 September 2026

• Awards Steering Group Committee Meeting 24 July

• Awards Steering Group Committee Meeting 18 September

JOB DESCRIPTION

Dimensions & Limits

• Influence limited to moderation, governance, fairness and process integrity.

• Authority to make a final moderation decision only where consensus cannot be reached, in line with agreed rules

• Role does not assess or score entries independently; responsibility is to moderate and ensure consistency

• Works with volunteer judges, Steering Group members and APM staff through facilitation and influence rather than authority

Key relationships

• Chair and members of APM Project Management Awards Steering Group

• Chair and members of APM Education and Research Awards Group

• APM Senior Events Co-ordinator

• APM Senior Events Manager

• APM Head of Events & Volunteer Engagement

Key responsibilities / Accountabilities

• In conjunction with APM Events Team develop a comprehensive understanding of Awards categories, criteria, judging and scoring processes.

• Provide guidance and advice on conflicts of interest.

• Provide guidance on whether entries meet the Award entry criteria.

• Moderate the judging process during all stage two presentations of the APM Project Management Awards. This will involve:

• Being present for all presentations over five and a half days in September remotely;

• Managing timings of presentations and Q&A;

• Ensuring judges adhere to the code of conduct throughout;

• Advising (where necessary) judges on scoring system;

• Facilitate judges’ deliberations to determine category winners;

• Keeping record of final decisions and scores.

Be available to assist in delivering the judges training sessions, which will involve:

• Assisting with briefing and answering judges’ questions regarding category criteria and scoring system

• Support APM staff when explaining judging process

• Attend the APM Project Management Awards Ceremony in London in person, which may involve presenting an award

• Attend remotely at least three and no more than four Award Steering Group meetings per year.

• Attend remotely at least three and no more than four Education and Research Awards Steering Group meetings per year

Key performance measures

• All stage two presentations and judging discussions delivered fairly, consistently, fully aligned with Awards rules, and conducted in line with Judges Code of Conduct.

• All judges’ deliberations facilitated efficiently, with clear outcomes and agreed winners reached within allocated time for all stage two panels.

• All stage two judging sessions delivered to schedule, including timekeeping for presentations and Q&A sessions.

• Demonstrated ability to manage differing viewpoints constructively, with escalation to final decision only where consensus is not achievable.

• Attendance and active contribution at all required Steering Group meetings and judging activities as outlined in the Awards calendar.

• Effective collaboration with Awards Steering Groups and APM Events team.

Attribute Essential Desirable

Qualifications

• Current APM Chartered Project Professional status

Experience

• Proven extensive experience in project and programme management, across a number of industries

• Previous moderation experience in a business environment

• Evidence of ongoing professional development • Sound knowledge of the APM Project Management Awards and Education and Research Awards

• An understanding of the APM Awards criteria

• Previous experience managing a similar process to the Awards

• Previous awards moderation experience

Skills

• Ability to make impartial decisions grounded in evidence, maintaining objectivity and avoiding bias

• Skilled in moderating discussions and aligning differing viewpoints to agreement

• Ability to engage in discussions in a non‑confrontational manner, actively respecting and valuing diverse judges’ views and opinions to support balanced and fair decision‑making

• Confidence and accountability in reaching final decisions when consensus is not possible

• Ability to work closely with diverse range of stakeholders

Behaviour/ Competency

• Demonstrate objective, evidence based judgement; applies rules and criteria consistently and manages conflicts of interest appropriately.

• Skilled at moderating professional discussions, encouraging balanced participation and guiding panels toward consensus without exerting undue influence.

• Able to reach and stand by final moderation decisions when consensus is not achievable, using sound rationale aligned to agreed criteria.

• Handle differing viewpoints, challenge and disagreement constructively, maintaining a calm, respectful and non confrontational approach.

• Builds trust and credibility with diverse stakeholders

• Confidence and capability through clear explanation of criteria, scoring frameworks and moderation principles.

• Strong understanding of process integrity, confidentiality and ethical standards within competitive awards environments.

Why APM?

We’re Association for Project Management (APM). We’re united in our aim to help project professionals around the world deliver better projects, setting the highest standards for the industry. Ask our people what’s great about working here and the views are unanimous. You’ll be joining a community that’s friendly and caring. We believe that good communication creates a culture that’s open and fair. We ensure everyone at APM, regardless of their role, has a voice and knows they’ll be listened to and treated with respect. We see everyone as individuals and champion diversity and inclusion, both within APM and across the wider project profession. You’ll work in a collaborative environment that’s thoughtful, considerate and positive. You’ll be supported by your team and across departments so, together, we meet the high standards we set ourselves.

At APM we are open to talking about flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments please reach out to discuss further.