Programme Manager
Southwark Council
Why Southwark?
We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse and growing population. At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.
Southwark is also one of the most densely populated areas in the country; in other words, we do not have a huge amount of space per person so the space we do have is precious. Our streets are publicly owned and should be used for the things we most value. Most streets are currently designed to prioritise cars, even though most people do not own one. Polluting vehicles contribute to nearly half of the air pollution in London and road transport makes up 18% of the borough’s overall carbon emissions. The Streets for People programme is vital in freeing up space for walking, cycling and public transport and reducing traffic.
What You'll Be Doing
THERE ARE TWO ROLES AVAILABLE: A SECONDMENT OR FIXED TERM CONTRACT ENDING ON THE 31 DECEMBER 2027 AND A 12-MONTH MATERNITY COVER SECONDMENT OR FIXED TERM CONTRACT.
Working out of the Environment, Sustainability and Leisure's Programme Management Office (PMO), the Programme Manager will lead the delivery of Streets for People, our Highways transformation programme that is reshaping how residents experience Southwark’s streets. Our ambitious Streets for People strategy and delivery plan set out a bold vision to improve quality of life and tackle the climate emergency by shifting space away from cars and towards walking, cycling and public transport.
You will drive forward initiatives that create safer, quieter streets with less traffic, promote healthy and accessible travel options, and deliver greener, more welcoming public spaces where communities can connect and thrive. Responding directly to resident priorities, such as more trees and green space, improved pavements, and safer crossings, this role offers a unique opportunity to deliver visible, borough-wide change that supports cleaner air, stronger communities, and a better place for everyone who lives, works and visits Southwark.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for someone who loves programme and change management as much as we do and is passionate about making Southwark a clean, green and safe borough. You will be responsible for managing a large programme using a variety of programme management tools and techniques. You will have used multiple skills to deliver other large scale programmes in another public sector setting, preferably within local government. You don’t need prior experience in highways, transport or environmental services to succeed in this role. We’re looking for someone who is excited by the opportunity to work in this space and deliver meaningful change. You’ll be supported by a wealth of experienced subject matter experts in Environment, Sustainability and Leisure, allowing you to focus on what you do best, leading programmes, driving delivery, and ensuring outcomes are realised, while building your knowledge in this area along the way.
You will be a confident leader of people and programmes, able to motivate and coordinate multi-disciplinary teams across service boundaries. You will be comfortable operating in a matrix structure, managing direct and/or indirect resources effectively, and driving pace while maintaining quality. Strong financial acumen is essential, with the ability to manage budgets, track costs against benefits, and ensure resources are deployed to maximise impact. You will bring a proactive approach to risk management, identifying, assessing and mitigating risks early, while putting in place robust controls to ensure delivery stays on track and issues are resolved quickly.
You will be a natural collaborator and work well with a range of stakeholders from senior management to frontline staff to deliver change. You should also be a strong communicator, highly organised, and able to think critically and innovatively. You will be excited about being part of Southwark Council and share our values and commitment to a fairer, greener and safer future for all in Southwark. We welcome applications from candidates with the right skills, knowledge and experience who are passionate about making a difference to Southwark.
Additional Information
RECRUITMENT TIMETABLE
Application closing date: 23:59 on Tuesday 30 June
Interview dates: TBC
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
If you choose to apply, please complete your Supporting Statement focusing on the criteria contained within the Job Description’s Person Specification that is marked as ‘S’ for ‘Shortlisting’.
ADDITIONAL SALARY DETAILS
Benefits and more information:
In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme:
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
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