Senior Programme Manager
Job Location:
Walthamstow - UK
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: PO- 72399
Contract Type: Full-time/Fixed term contract (12 months)
Working hours per week: 36
Application Deadline: 22/06/2026
Proposed Interview Date(s): 30/06/2026 and 01/07/2026
Reference:2160
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 Londons Good Work Standardemployers. 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 Councils preference is for online application. However if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application please email so we can arrange an alternative application method.
We are a Home Officelicensed 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:
Waltham Forest is an ambitious and forwardlooking Council facing significant financial pressures and rising demand for services. We are delivering a refreshed Transformation Programme that will secure 42m in savings over the next three years ensuring longterm financial sustainability while protecting essential residentfocused services.
Our work is guided byMission Waltham Forest the Councils corporate strategy and boroughwide plan for a more equal Waltham Forest by 2030. From improving life chances and tackling the housing crisis to creating safe green neighbourhoods and supporting a netzero future we are focused on delivering meaningful outcomes for residents.
Asa Senior Programme Manager you will be at the heart of shaping and delivering some of the Councils most highprofile transformation programmes. You will lead complex programmes seeing them through from early concept and design to full delivery. A significant proportion of this portfolio will focus on transforming resident experience through digital data and AI-enabled services redesigning how residents interact with and access the Council improving accessibility and embedding modern insight-led service delivery.
Working in close partnership withDirectorsMembersandexternal partners you will provide expert programme management insightful advice and constructive challenge. You will operate comfortably at senior levels navigating complexity balancing pace with rigour and keeping delivery on track in a fastmoving environment. This role will suit an experienced programme leader who thrives on complexity enjoys making the difficult doable and is motivated by delivering meaningful residentfocused change at scale.
Key Responsibilities:
Programme Leadership & Delivery
- Lead the design development and delivery of major transformation programmes and constituent projects ensuring alignment with corporate priorities and the Councils change framework.
- Plan direct and coordinate multiple interrelated projects to deliver agreed outputs outcomes and benefits.
- Ensure progress and performance are highly visible to senior leaders Members and stakeholders.
Governance Reporting & Assurance
- Establish and maintain robust programme governance including programme plans risk and issue logs benefits plans and assurance mechanisms.
- Prepare and present highquality reports and recommendations for programme boards senior leadership Scrutiny and Cabinet as required.
- Proactively identify and manage risks issues and dependencies escalating where appropriate.
Benefits Performance & Financial Management
- Monitor programme performance benefits realisation budgets and resource deployment on behalf of Senior Responsible Owners.
- Ensure any deviations in scope schedule cost or quality are identified early and addressed effectively.
- Drive value for money and ensure programmes deliver the required savings and service improvements.
Stakeholder Management & Influence
- Build and sustain strong relationships with Directors Members senior officers partners and suppliers.
- Act as a trusted adviser on programme delivery providing expert professional advice challenge and support.
- Navigate complex organisational political and operational issues to secure commitment and maintain momentum.
People Leadership & Continuous Improvement
- Lead and where appropriate line manage project managers consultants and matrixmanaged teams fostering a highperforming and motivated workforce.
- Promote consistent use of programme and project management standards tools and methodologies.
- Champion continuous improvement and innovation in how programmes are designed and delivered.
Qualifications and Requirements:
You will bring:
- Significant experience of leading complex transformation or change programmes in a large fastpaced organisation.
- Strong understanding of agile and traditional programme and project management methodologies tools and techniques.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities complex dependencies and competing demands.
- Experience of financial and resource management within programme environments.
- Excellent report writing and communication skills with the ability to present complex issues clearly to senior audiences including Members.
- Strong stakeholder management influencing and leadership skills with confidence to challenge constructively.
- Exceptional planning organisational and problemsolving skills with a proactive solutionfocused approach.
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
- A recognised programme or project management qualification (e.g. MSP PRINCE2 Agile certification) or equivalent professional experience.
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 individuals 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 Information:
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process please contact Amy Steel Head of Transformation at
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post please contact our Recruitment Team via email at .
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