Job Details
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- Full time
- £600 a day
Main purpose of Job:
The Improvement and Recovery Plan was agreed by Cabinet in March 2025. It has been set up as a programme and aligned to benefits and milestones. New governance has also been established.
Additional Programme Manager Capacity is required to provide senior programme management capacity to focus on specific workstreams in relation to:
Complaints
The Council has to have an effective and accessible complaints process and provides appropriate redress to help build trust in the Council and improve Council services. The Programme progresses the following objectives:
- Review the current complaint handling process to identify inefficiencies, gaps, and areas for improvement.
- Develop a standardised, customer-focused complaint handling process.
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and Council policies.
- Improve how we manage feedback and resolve issues in a timely fashion.
The role of the Programme Manager will be to drive all aspects of the programme with a focus on the following benefits, working closely with the Head of Service with an overall lead for complaints and with the wider set of services directly responsible for complaint handling.
The role will focus on:
- Defining existing programme
- Developing any business cases needed
- Mobilising programme ensuring specific tasks are progressed and change is implemented
- Develop appropriate reporting
- Managing risks and issues
- Ensure focus on impact and benefits
The programme manager will be expected to work on other high profile programmes as well and on corporate PMO roles, as required. This could include:
- Programme management of other programmes such as a commissioning workstream
- Development of consistent approaches to programmes across the Council
Management of Programme/ Project budgets, incl. relevant supplier engagement / management. Departmental budgets will be managed by the Head of Service.
The Programme Manager is accountable for leading a defined programme or set of projects and the associated business change activities which make a significant contribution to the delivery of the Council’s Strategic aims, including the delivery of the Recovery Plan, and management of associated financial pressures.
The Council is currently looking for two Recovery Programme Managers to be assigned to lead the Transformation (Organisational Change) and Children’s recovery workstreams for two years within Phase 2 of the Recovery Programme.
This leader will build compelling business cases to drive change, establishing appropriate programme governance and assurance, monitoring progress, managing risks and issues, and ensuring business can accommodate the change. Supporting the Head of Service and other senior managers in the Recovery Unit in leading, assuring, reporting honestly, and delivering a portfolio of work in support of the recovery aims of the Council.
An experienced and exemplary leader, with professional credibility gained from working within a project / programme management environment, this role will be influential in delivering change that supports best practice and the delivery of the Council’s recovery aims and strategic objectives in its Corporate Plan
Main Accountabilities:
- Strategy
Enable the council to deliver programmes of activity that will support its recovery to become a Best Value authority. Supporting the Head of Service and other senior managers in the Recovery Unit. Responsible, with services, for the planning, building and delivery of programmes and projects to develop solutions and services that deliver the Recovery Plan.
Works collaboratively with service areas and partners, thinking commercially, to support the development of compelling business cases for projects / programmes, that support the delivery of the best possible outcomes for our customers on a financially sustainable basis.
- Corporate working
Lead multi-disciplinary teams of people across organisational boundaries to deliver results, drawing together diverse skills and expertise around common goals and building a collaborative, problem solving culture.
Responsible for providing regular honest / transparent project / programme reporting against key metrics to monitor, assess and report progress on the Recovery Plan especially the recovery plan elements.
Maintain and nurture collaborative relationships with other teams and external organisations that support the delivery of projects / programmes.
- Project / Programme Leadership and Delivery
This role is focused on operating to ensure programmes and projects are being well defined then managed and completed effectively, and the activities and business rationale remain aligned to the Council’s objectives. It will enable high quality scrutiny as to the continued viability of projects or programmes to meet objectives and benefits as stated within the business cases.
The role will use best practice whilst exploiting the use of the tools, techniques, and standards to maximise efficacy of delivery of Slough’s Recovery Plan.
Accountable for the management of robust governance structures for the delivery of projects / programmes to ensure effective monitoring of controls.
Provide guidance and leadership to project / programme teams, ensuring effective delivery against stated aims.
Responsible for overseeing risk and issue management, ensures mitigations are in place to address issues between elements of the projects / programmes, resolving these through negotiated agreement or escalating.
Accountable for maintaining the overall integrity and coherence of project / programme & governance framework to support each project. Plan self-assurance activities and manage dependencies within the projects / programmes.
- Resource management
Accountable for developing and delivering a resourcing plan for assigned Programmes/ Projects, including management of project / programme budgets to ensure delivery of outcomes.
Working collaboratively across the council and thinking commercially to support the delivery of best possible outcomes for the resident and businesses of Slough on a financially sustainable basis.
Accountable for leading teams of people, to build professionalism and expertise through development activities, and to deliver projects / programmes of change.
- Partners and stakeholders
Maintain and nurture collaborative relationships as part of the Transformation Management Office/ Programme Management Office with internal partners and external organisations that support the delivery of project / programme management expertise and Slough’s Recovery Plan.
- Culture change
Identify opportunities using evidence-based insight for the improvement within your area of work, managing the changes so the highest possible levels of service quality are continually delivered.
Responsible for identifying training needs and then working with the Head of Programmes and Performance to develop project capability within their delivery teams.
- Values and behaviours
Role model positive behaviours, empowering, engaging and encouraging your teams to live and demonstrate the council values, to facilitate achievement of the corporate plan.
- Compliance
Ensure that all activities within your remit comply with the council’s constitution, policies and procedures, Standing Orders, financial regulations, relevant legislation such as Data Protection Act, health and safety and safeguarding responsibilities and that effective systems operate within your remit to manage performance and risk.
- Equality and diversity
Uphold and promote the aims of the council’s equality and diversity policies to ensure non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work, and that diversity is embedded in everything, including communications with the diverse citizens of Slough.
Specific responsibilities
Lead the robust definition, delivery, and handover of projects / programmes to deliver the Council’s Recovery Plan to timescale, within costs and with full benefit realisation.
Advise and guide delivery teams on programmes, and projects to support the delivery of the Recovery Plan.
Support the reporting honestly and transparently to Corporate Leadership Team, Members, Transformation Board, Improvement & Recovery Board, which includes the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities appointed commissioners, or the children’s services intervention Boards (including the SEND Local Area Board), which includes the Department for Education appointed commissioners.
As a proficient expert with exemplary leadership skills, this role will work collaboratively with the managers to define and raise the standards for project management and build a culture willing to embrace learning.
Responsible for conducting robust evaluations throughout the project lifecycle to ensure projects and programmes align to the original business case and meet agreed milestones. In addition, reviewing progress with stakeholders and conduct a review of lessons learnt.
If you think this job role is for you, please send your CV to rebeccabentum@carringtonblakerecruitment.com
