Programme Manager

Role overview

Key responsibilities

• Develop transition plans, implementation roadmaps, delivery schedules and milestone tracking.
• Establish prioritised system lists, tranche classifications and delivery activity.
• Oversee system readiness assessments and implementation plans for Vesting Day.
• Coordinate requirements, actions and decisions with service leads, subject matter experts and business analysts.
• Manage risks, issues, dependencies and blockers; escalate when needed.
• Produce governance papers, assurance updates and progress reports for boards and programme forums.
• Plan resources, capacity and skills; identify delivery gaps.
• Support cost forecasting, budget monitoring and business case development.
• Maintain an audit trail of decisions, approvals, actions and readiness evidence.

Essential requirements

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent relevant experience in programme, project or change management.
• Significant complex project, programme or transformation delivery experience in a large organisation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders in a matrix management environment.
• Strong planning, risk, issue, dependency, resource, budget and governance management capability.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders, suppliers and subject matter experts.
• Strong analytical, communication and problem-solving skills; able to turn complex information into clear recommendations.
• Knowledge of change management, project management and continuous improvement in practice.
• Comprehensive knowledge of computerised business systems.

Advantageous experience and qualifications

• A project or programme management qualification such as MSP, PRINCE2, APM PMQ or equivalent is advantageous.
• Experience in local government, organisational change, service transition or technology-enabled transformation is advantageous.

Workplace

• Hybrid working based at Woodhatch Place in Reigate, with office attendance for workshops, meetings and collaboration.

Salary and contract

• Starting salary is £63,823 per annum for 36 hours per week.
• Fixed-term contract runs until 31 March 2027.

Benefits

• Holiday allowance is 26 days, increasing to 28 days after 2 years and 31 days after 5 years; part-time entitlement is prorated.
• Option to buy up to 10 additional annual leave days, local government pension, carer's leave, volunteering days and family leave.
• Employee assistance, learning and development resources, and wellbeing and lifestyle discounts are offered.