Principal Programme Officer

Grade I £41,771 - £46,142

Contract: 18 months Fixed Term Contract

Role specifics A relevant higher education qualification

Interview date: TBC

For further information about this role, contact: Nicky Connell on 07392108213 during office hours. No agencies.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Please read the detailed information at the bottom of this advert before you make an application as it may be rejected if we detect AI use.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application

Ask us about flexible working options to fit with your work/life balance - #HappytoTalkFlexible

The Role

Bolton Council is going through an exciting and unprecedented period of transformation over the next few years, and we’re looking for talented people with a broad range of experience to help us achieve our ambitions. Are you looking for a chance to contribute to the achievement of Bolton’s priorities and to support change? Would you like the opportunity to develop those skills further and build up your experience of supporting and delivering customer-focused transformation and programmes?

If you can think strategically whilst paying attention to detail, enjoy variety, and have experience of supporting successful programme management, then this could be the next step in your career. Our team is friendly, with big plans to help the council transform. We currently manage an ambitious Transformation Programme, the Council’s Savings and Efficiencies Programme, and a number of other time-limited programmes. This role plays a crucial part in joining up and keeping this work on track and reporting on progress, using a range of tools. It involves working with a wide range of colleagues and partners at all levels of the organisation, supported by our Programme Support Officer.

This role sits within the Programme Management Office in the Transformation Team and also has responsibility for leading on the management and implementation of programme management software to help us administer our programmes effectively. The Principal Programme Officer has line management responsibility for the Programme Support Officer, therefore previous experience of managing staff would be an advantage. This role offers lots of development opportunities, both formal and on-the-job, including identifying innovative solutions to complex challenges.

This post is being offered on a 18-month fixed term basis, due to the secondment of the current postholder to a more senior role within the team. This role could also be a secondment opportunity for existing colleagues looking for the next step of your career.

About You

You’ll have experience of managing projects and/or programmes in a fast-paced environment, working to deadlines and to a high standard. Accuracy and attention to detail are essential skills, and you’ll need strong presentation skills, using Microsoft Office tools. You’ll also be good at building and maintaining positive relationships with a range of stakeholders at all levels of the organisation. You’ll need to be able to think strategically and see the bigger picture, with an ability to join up different programmes and priorities and identify co-dependencies, commonalities and opportunities. And you will need to be able to measure progress, developing and using effective, meaningful metrics that help to demonstrate progress against outcomes as well as outputs.

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter of no more than 3 pages, evidencing your relevant knowledge and experience, as indicated in the person specification, answering the following questions by 3^rd May 2026:

1. Describe an example from your recent experience of how you successfully managed a project or programme. What was the context, what was your role, and what outcomes did you achieve?

2. Tell us about how you measured the progress of the project or programme. How did you tackle any performance challenges you encountered?

For an informal chat about the role, contact Nicky Connell on 07392108213 during office hours. No agencies.

About Us

This is your opportunity to join us at an exciting time as we have strong ambitions for the borough.

Bolton is a great place to work. We are a welcoming organisation that wants to contribute to a place where people feel active, connected and prosperous. We are passionate about improving the outcomes and experience of Bolton people. We want Bolton to be a vibrant place built on strong cohesive communities, successful businesses and healthy, engaged residents.

As an employer we want to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment, by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits, including discounts and exclusive gym membership prices and salary sacrifice schemes. In addition, we offer a generous annual leave allowance, flexible work opportunities, access to a Pension Scheme, as well as a range of employee wellbeing and support services.

Our Values are really important to us, read all about them below, along with all our great staff benefits, the job description/person specification for the role and the important legal bits, and our Top Tips too.

Ready to apply? Then please click Apply and upload your anonymised CV and supporting statement discussing your relevant skills and experience and explain how you believe they make you a strong fit for this role.

Within Greater Manchester, local authorities have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers, carers, and ex-military personnel. Please see greater.jobs for further information before you apply.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Employment offers are conditional subject to satisfactory clearances. For roles where a criminal records check from the DBS is required, this includes satisfactory clearance of this check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of an individual’s offence/s. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. Bolton Council’s policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders is available here.

This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English as per the person specification.

This organisation has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. That means we will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester local authority or NHS organisation that has signed the commitment, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority, giving you access to our service-related benefits. Please see the home page of greater.jobs for more information.

For more information about working for Bolton Council, please see greater.jobs; for advice and support with your application, contact recruitment@bolton.gov.uk