Programme Manager

Title: Programme Manager

Grade/Salary: Band J, SCP 48-51 (£62,179 - £65,938 per annum)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury, B69 3DE

Transforming Services. Improving Lives

Join us as we build a stronger way to transform services and improve outcomes for residents

At Sandwell Council, we're delivering ambitious change that will help realise our Vision 2030: creating a thriving, optimistic and resilient borough where people are proud to live, work and raise their families.

Our progress is already being recognised nationally. Following a remarkable organisational improvement journey, Sandwell was named Most Improved Council at the 2026 Local Government Chronicle Awards, recognising the significant progress made in strengthening the organisation, improving services and delivering better outcomes for residents.

As a Programme Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in helping us build on that momentum. Working across a diverse portfolio of business and service transformation programmes, you'll help services tackle complex challenges, redesign how they operate and deliver meaningful, sustainable change.

This is not a traditional programme management role. We're looking for experienced transformation professionals who can take an idea, challenge or opportunity and turn it into a structured, deliverable programme. You'll work across a broad range of initiatives, helping services understand problems, design solutions and lead change from discovery through to implementation and benefits realisation.

About the role

You will be responsible for leading large-scale transformation programmes from end to end, taking initiatives from initial concept and business case development through to implementation, embedding change and realisation of benefits.

Providing leadership, structure and momentum needed to deliver programmes successfully, ensuring objectives are clearly defined, stakeholders are engaged, risks are managed and anticipated outcomes are achieved.

Success in this role means more than delivering projects on time and within budget. You will be expected to ensure that change is adopted, benefits are realised and programmes leave a lasting positive impact on the organisation and the communities we serve.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading transformation programmes through the full lifecycle, from discovery, design and business case development through to implementation, embedding and benefits realisation.
• Translating strategic objectives into deliverable programme plans, milestones and workstreams.
• Establishing programme governance arrangements and ensuring robust monitoring, reporting and assurance throughout delivery.
• Managing programme risks, issues, dependencies and budgets, taking proactive action to maintain delivery confidence.
• Driving stakeholder engagement across all levels of the organisation, building support for change and ensuring effective collaboration.
• Leading multidisciplinary project teams, suppliers and subject matter experts to achieve programme objectives.
• Developing and maintaining programme roadmaps, ensuring milestones, outcomes and dependencies are clearly understood and effectively managed.
• Ensuring new processes, systems and ways of working are successfully embedded into business-as-usual operations.
• Tracking and evidencing financial, operational and customer benefits to demonstrate the impact and value of transformation activity.

About You:

You will have a proven track record of leading complex programmes through their full lifecycle, bringing together stakeholders, managing competing priorities and maintaining momentum to achieve successful outcomes. You will also possess a high level of organisation, resilience and delivery-focus, with the ability to navigate complexity and keep programmes on track, even when faced with changing priorities or challenges.

You will be equally comfortable facilitating discovery workshops, developing business cases and future operating models, engaging senior stakeholders and leading delivery through to successful implementation.

Must have's:

• A degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• A recognised programme, project or change management qualification such as MSP, PRINCE2, APM or equivalent.
• Experience delivering large-scale transformation programmes and organisational change initiatives.
• Strong programme management expertise, including governance, planning, risk management, dependency management and benefits realisation.
• Experience developing business cases and supporting investment decisions.
• Knowledge of service redesign, business improvement and transformation methodologies.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and creating high-performing, collaborative working environments.

Why Sandwell Council?

At Sandwell Council, our work has a real impact. We are proud to be a values‑led organisation that supports its employees with excellent benefits, a competitive remuneration package, and a strong focus on development. By joining us, you’ll play a key role in delivering services that make a real and lasting difference to thousands of people across the borough.

To find out more, please visit our careers page: We Are Sandwell – We Are Sandwell

How to apply

To be considered for this role, please submit a CV and supporting statement to imran_butt@sandwell.gov.uk

Click here to find out more about our One Team Framework: Values and Behaviours

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a high number of applications be received. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

If you are an internal candidate and currently at risk, please let the recruiting manager know.

We place equality, diversity and inclusion at the core of who we are and how we lead, where every voice matters. At Sandwell, we recognise and value the richness that comes from diverse lived experiences, perspectives, backgrounds and identities. This diversity makes us a stronger and more effective council.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong, are treated fairly, and have the opportunity to thrive. Creating an environment where colleagues feel respected, supported and able to contribute fully is central to our culture and the way we work. We are committed to ensuring that all applicants and employees have equitable access to opportunities. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process and within the workplace so that everyone has the support they need to perform at their best and succeed in their role.

If you have any questions relating to equality, diversity, and inclusion, you can contact the EDI Team at EDI_Team@sandwell.gov.uk.

If you wish to apply as Care Leaver or a Disability Confident candidate, please make sure to state this when submitting your CV.

If you have a disability and require assistance in submitting your CV, please contact imran_butt@sandwell.gov.uk