About Barnet Council

Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centers, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative – which drive everything we do.

About the role

As a Programme Manager within Barnet’s Strategy & Innovation directorate, you will play a pivotal leadership role at the heart of the council’s growing Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function. You will be responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of a broad portfolio of digital projects and programmes that directly support the council’s strategic aim of improving resident and customer outcomes while enabling longterm financial sustainability.

This is a senior, fastpaced role with responsibility for ensuring that strategic objectives, milestones and benefits are delivered across all DDaT initiatives. You will manage and lead a team of up to five staff and provide strong matrix leadership across the wider digital function. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation to identify opportunities, drive efficiencies, and shape improvement activity that enhances how services operate.

In addition to programme oversight, you will play a key role in Barnet’s DDaT Enablement Service—offering expert digital consultancy, prioritising and allocating work, and providing guidance to services as they procure and implement digital solutions. You will act as a critical advisor and business partner across the council’s ecosystem, supporting services to identify opportunities, strengthen delivery, and embed best practice.

A crucial part of your work will also involve promoting and embedding a userfocused, digitalfirst mindset across the organisation. You will champion highquality service design, accessibility, iteration and inclusive digital practices. As this is a newly created role, you will have significant scope to shape the remit, influence the future of the DDaT Enablement function and contribute to developing Barnet’s digital capability and ways of working.

This is a newly created role with significant scope to shape how Barnet adopts new technology, and offers the opportunity to influence strategy, set standards, and deliver meaningful impact for residents. It is a hybrid role – you will be expected to be in our Colindale offices an average of once a week. We also come into the office as required to meet service stakeholders, work together on collaboration, discovery and user testing sessions and department days. 

Please click here to download the Job description for this role.

About you

You are an experienced senior digital leader with extensive programme management experience in complex, multistakeholder environments. You bring a strong track record of delivering largescale digital change, ensuring benefits are realised, risks are managed and programmes are delivered successfully across technical, organisational and serviceled contexts. You have deep experience working across the full lifecycle, from defining strategy and shaping business cases through to implementation, assurance and continuous improvement.

You are confident leading multidisciplinary teams, motivating staff, managing direct reports and influencing matrixaligned colleagues. Your leadership style is collaborative, credible and grounded in strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management. You are comfortable advising senior officers, working with suppliers and development partners, and navigating the complexities of public sector operations.

You combine strategic thinking with practical delivery expertise. You are adept at interpreting technical issues, translating them into businessfocused recommendations, and presenting information clearly to a range of audiences. You have strong judgement, resilience and the ability to drive momentum, maintain quality, and confidently challenge where needed. You work proactively, manage competing priorities effectively and bring excellent organisational capability.

You’ll be part of a capable team with a growing ability to influence the organisation using new technology, and the opportunity to develop your own career whilst delivering innovative solutions.

What we offer

31 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, which provides a valuable guaranteed income in your retirement together with security for your dependents
Work-life balance options may include hybrid working, flexitime, job share, home working, part-time
A vast range of lifestyle discounts from major retailers, supermarkets, energy suppliers and more
Broad range of payroll benefits including cycle to work, eye care vouchers, travel and gym membership
Excellent training and development opportunities
Employee well- being training programs including confidential employee assistance

How to apply

Read the job description and person specification before clicking ‘Apply’ to commence the online application form. If you would like any further information about the role before applying, please contact Dave Worley, Head of Digital Strategy, dave.worley@barnet.gov.uk

Barnet Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Barnet operates stringent safer recruitment procedures, this may include AI Detection Screening, Biometric ID/Right to Work Checks, Qualification and Registration Checks, Up to 6 years of Employment Data and Insights to Accelerate Screening (Konfir), Up to 5 years of Employment History References, DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) Checks, Credit Checks and Social Media, Sanctions and Occupational Health Screening.

To deliver Barnet Council’s commitment to equality of opportunity in the provision of services, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. As such we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Barnet Council embraces all forms of flexible working (including part-time, compressed hours, and hybrid working) and is committed to offering employees a healthy work-life balance. Candidates are encouraged to talk about relevant requirements and preferences at interview. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

Barnet Council is a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

All posts with the council are subject to a probationary period of six months, during which time you will be required to demonstrate to the council satisfaction your suitability for the position in which you will be employed.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient number of applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Please ensure you regularly check the email account (including JUNK MAIL folders) that you use to submit your application, as any further communication regarding your application will be sent electronically. Should you not hear from us within four working weeks of the closing date for this post, then regretfully in this instance, you have not been shortlisted.