Contract type: 1 year fixed term contract

Braintree District Council has an opportunity for a Programme Manager (Housing Improvement) to join the team based in Braintree, Essex.

You will work under the strategic direction of the Head of Housing and Community to programme manage the delivery of the Housing Improvement Programme, a transformation programme driving improvements in service delivery, performance, governance and customer outcomes.

As the Programme Manager you be responsible for ensuring pace, coordination and delivery across a complex portfolio of activity. You will influence, challenge and support senior leaders and delivery teams to achieve programme objectives and ensure robust programme governance.

The Role:

To programme manage a transformation programme of improvement focused on homelessness prevention, reducing reliance on Temporary Accommodation, improving customer access, strengthening service resilience, aligning resources to demand and supporting readiness for Local Government Reorganisation.

To be responsible for the mobilisation, planning and delivery of the Housing Improvement Programme, ensuring effective coordination across Housing Services and corporate support functions.

To lead on establishing robust programme governance, managing risks and dependencies, monitoring benefits realisation and ensuring that programme outcomes are delivered within agreed timescales.

Key accountabilities:

Lead and coordinate the delivery of a complex transformation programme comprising multiple interdependent projects and workstreams.
Establish and maintain effective programme governance arrangements, reporting mechanisms and decision-making processes.
Manage programme-level risks, issues, dependencies and resource requirements, ensuring appropriate mitigation and escalation where required.
Develop and implement benefits realisation plans to ensure programme outcomes and improvements are measurable and sustainable.
Drive delivery momentum across multiple workstreams, ensuring progress is maintained against ambitious timescales and competing priorities.
Influence and coordinate delivery through senior leaders, managers and project teams within a matrix management environment.
Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, securing commitment and engagement to support programme objectives.
Provide strategic advice and challenge to senior management and governance boards regarding programme performance, risks and delivery strategies.
Navigate complex organisational and service environments, balancing regulatory requirements, service demand pressures, operational priorities and transformational change.

You:

Recognised programme or project management qualification (e.g. MSP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM PMQ or equivalent).
Significant experience leading or project/programme managing complex transformation, improvement or change programmes.
Experience working within local government, housing, public sector or similarly complex environments.
Experience of governance, business case development and benefits realisation.
Experience of service improvement, organisational change or operating model development.
Experience of housing, homelessness, customer-facing service transformation, demand-led services or related public sector improvement programmes is desirable.
Demonstrable experience of programme governance, benefits realisation, risk and dependency management within complex organisational environments.
Experience of working with senior leaders, boards and governance structures to drive programme delivery and secure organisational change.
Strong programme leadership skills with the ability to maintain pace, momentum and focus on delivery.
Highly developed strategic planning, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Resilient, adaptable and able to work effectively within a changing organisational and political environment.

Further details for this role can be found in the Job Profile.

Why choose Braintree District Council?

Braintree is an ambitious and dynamic Council and is becoming one of the fastest growing Districts in the East of England with three growing towns, London just 45 minutes away and the District located directly between the international transport centres of Stansted Airport and Harwich and Felixstowe International Ports. We have a deserved track record for delivering and a strong reputation within the business community.

Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative and innovative approach, which is led by our employees, and are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it. Our people see the difference they make and how the work they do actively contributes to and encourages positive change in the local community.

We also offer some great benefits, including:

Flexible working
Hybrid working arrangements are available in this role (home/office based with a minimum of 2-3 office days per week, plus in person meetings as the role requires subject to business needs, which may include evening meetings
Local government pension scheme
Learning and development for all employees
Employee discounts at local businesses
Employee recognition schemes
Extensive health and wellbeing programmes, including discounted gym membership

Closing date for receipt of completed applications: 28^th September 2026

Interviews will be held on 13^th & 14^th October 2026