**INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY**

Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Salary: PO11 £73,602 - £77,550

Contract Type: Full-time/Fixed term contract or Secondment (12 months)

Working hours per week: 36

Application Deadline: 08/06/2026

Proposed Interview Date(s): TBC

Reference: 2147

About Us:

Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work.

We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.

London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is a proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.

The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method.

We are a Home Office–licensed sponsor; however, for this specific role we are not able to provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. To be considered, you must already hold a form of UK work authorisation that does not require sponsorship.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced and driven Senior Programme Manager to play a pivotal role in delivering the next phase of the council’s Asset Transformation Programme. This is a high-profile role at the heart of shaping local services by delivering the property solutions for the delivery of resident focused council services within our local communities.

You will work closely with service, finance and property teams to translate service priorities, data and challenges into clear service briefs and investment-ready capital business cases. Acting as the key interface between services and asset delivery teams, you’ll ensure our land and buildings are used effectively to support frontline delivery, improve outcomes, and drive financial sustainability.

You’ll also help embed strong portfolio and programme management practices, providing assurance, insight and leadership across a complex transformation landscape.

What you’ll be doing

Developing service-led business cases and asset strategies grounded in data and evidence
Leading options appraisal and investment planning across major service and property transformation programmes
Acting as a strategic bridge between service areas and property delivery teams
Managing complex programmes, ensuring delivery on time, on budget and to high standards
Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders, Members and partners
Driving continuous improvement and innovation in service delivery

What we’re looking for

Proven experience delivering complex capital and property projects
Expertise in business case development, options appraisal and financial analysis
Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels
A collaborative senior project lead, confident working across matrixed and politically sensitive environments
Excellent analytical, communication and problem-solving skills

>> Click here to download the Role Profile <<

Key Responsibilities:

Develop service-led briefs that define service need, demand, and outcomes to inform asset/property solutions. Specifically to support the design of Community based council and partner services, and supporting the development of asset based solutions for children’s and adults services.
Lead the creation of investment-ready business cases (strategic, financial, commercial, and management cases).
Translate service data (demand, performance, cost) into clear property and service requirements.
Act as the key interface between services and property/capital delivery teams.
Undertake options appraisals (asset and non-asset solutions) including cost, risk, and deliverability analysis.
Manage and deliver complex transformation programmes and projects on time and within budget.
Build and maintain senior stakeholder relationships (Members, Directors, partners, external organisations).
Exercise political awareness and judgement in complex policy environments.
Lead and support continuous improvement, innovation, and service transformation initiatives.
Ensure effective communication and reporting across programmes at senior and operational levels.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Proven experience managing complex programmes, portfolios, and business change initiatives.
Strong experience developing data-driven business cases and strategic briefs.
Expertise in options appraisal, affordability analysis, benefits realisation, and risk management.
Ability to influence and lead across matrix organisations without direct authority.
Strong stakeholder management, including senior leaders and elected Members.
Experience handling complex, contentious, and politically sensitive issues.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and high workloads effectively.
Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
Professional certification in programme/project management desirable
- PRINCE2
- Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)
- Agile methodologies

Terms and conditions:

The below terms and conditions apply to this role:

Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
Satisfactory declaration of interest;

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.

To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.

We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.

For more information on the benefits of working for the Council, please visit https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/find-jobs-and-other-opportunities/working-us.

Contact Information:

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Craig Egglestone Director of Capital Strategy, Delivery & Estates at Craig.Egglestone@walthamforest.gov.uk

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk.

Click here for further information on the Human Resources recruitment privacy notice.

Fraud Awareness Notice:

The London Borough of Waltham Forest only advertises vacancies via our official website and approved recruitment platforms (e.g. Jobsgopublic).

We will never ask for payment or request sensitive personal or financial information as part of our recruitment process.

If you are contacted by a third party claiming to represent the Council, please verify the vacancy via our official careers website before sharing any information.

If you have concerns about a job advert or communication, please report it to:
fraud@walthamforest.gov.uk