Programme Manager

Fixed Term / Secondment (12 months), Full Time

£63,323 to £74,497 per annum

Location: Chelmsford*

Closing Date: 12th July 2026

*This is a hybrid-working role, with attendance in the Chelmsford office expected to be to one day per week on average, depending on business need.

Please note this opportunity will be offered as a 12 month fixed-term contract or secondment.

Essex County Council has a significant track record of delivering complex and innovative transformational change. The Transformation approach is a key part of that and since 2021 our transformation programmes have delivered over £48M of savings from the most complex initiatives at the Council.

Our organisational and political leadership have prioritised their critical areas of focus, which will deliver meaningful and sustainable change over the next few years aiming to deliver a further £20m financial benefit during 27/28. Our nationally respected, award-winning Transformation Team are critical to driving change in ECC and Greater Essex over a number of areas. Whether your background or interest as a project professional is in public realm, technological change and innovation, citizen and resident experience, there are a myriad of exciting opportunities in Essex. We’re looking forward to helping you to start, continue or expand your project career here!

Essex County Council (ECC) is a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation that offers a compelling environment for both aspiring and experienced project management professionals. Whether you are starting your career or bringing experience, we invest in you. With career pathways, training opportunities, and a strong project profession community, you’ll be supported to thrive.

At ECC, project management is not just about delivery—it is about improving the lives of over 1.8 million residents. From transforming adult social care and education services to advancing digital innovation and improving resident experiences, the projects you work on have a tangible impact. Joining the Transformation Team at ECC offers exposure to a broad and diverse portfolio of programmes and projects. As a project professional you will have the chance to work across multiple service areas, including highways and waste, adult social care, children’s services, and digital services. This variety ensures that no two projects are the same and provides continuous opportunities to build experience, broaden expertise, and develop professionally.

Essex County Council has a strong focus on transformation and continuous improvement. The organisation embraces new ways of working and innovative approaches to service delivery. For project professionals, this means being at the forefront of change—leading complex transformation programmes and helping shape the future of public services. Project professionals at ECC are part of a supportive professional community, one that builds capability, with access to training, communities of practice, informal and formal learning opportunities and recognised methodologies. The scale and ambition of ECC’s transformation agenda mean there are always opportunities to stretch and grow.

The role

A Programme Manager plays a key role in leading a defined programme or set of projects, together with associated business change activities, that contribute to the Council’s strategic aims and support the management of financial pressures.

You will develop compelling business cases to drive transformation, establish robust programme governance and assurance, and oversee delivery by monitoring progress, managing risks and issues, and ensuring that the organisation is ready to successfully adopt change.

As a credible and influential leader within a programme environment, you will champion best practice and deliver outcomes that align with and support the Council’s strategic objectives. Accountabilities

Works collaboratively with service areas and partners supporting the development of compelling business cases.
Builds effective stakeholder and partner relationships at senior level, which are influential and elicit support at senior level.
Accountable for leading teams of people, to build professionalism and expertise through development activities.
Accountable for developing and delivering a resourcing plan, including management of programme budget, for complex & large-scale programmes to ensure delivery of outcomes.
Responsible for overseeing risk and issue management, ensures mitigations are in place to address issues between elements of the programme, resolving these through negotiated agreement or escalating.
Works collaboratively with customers to agree quantified realisable benefits and metrics to monitor impact. Designing and actively managing the programme plan, ensuring outcomes are achieved.
Accountable for maintaining the overall integrity and coherence of programme & governance framework to support each project. Plan programme assurance activities and manage dependencies within the programme and across other activities in the portfolio.
Responsible for cascading the programme vision and translating these into delivery objectives which support the Strategic Aims of the Council. Lead the programme to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes.
Responsible for providing technical leadership in both line and matrix management styles, to ensure successful delivery of programmes and for supporting the Portfolio Manager in leading, assuring and delivering the portfolio of work which delivers against the Strategic Aims of the Council.
Specific targets & objectives defined annually within the performance management framework.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area, accredited to the level of APM Practitioner or MSP Practitioner.
Experience of working as a Programme Manager within a local Government setting.
Evidence of successfully implementing major change initiatives within a range of large organisations.
Experience of working closely with Members and senior leaders and managers to overcome resistance to change.
Ideally experience of working within a political environment with detailed knowledge of a public sector setting & the nuances involved in being part of a complex environment.
Experience of working with complex multi-agency partnerships and stakeholder groups.
Exemplary leadership capability evidenced in creating a high-performance culture, drawing on specialist skills and expertise effectively, bringing together diverse capabilities.
Evidence of creativity in exploring innovative business opportunities which maximise opportunities for development of a financially sustainable service.

To read more about us please visit: Corporate Services

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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