Head of Programme and Performance

London Borough of Tower Hamlets; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

London Borough of Tower Hamlets is seeking a Head of Programme and Performance to provide strategic direction across a portfolio of major regeneration and housing programmes. You will lead a high-performing Programme Management Team, ensuring robust governance, performance reporting and delivery assurance.

You will build and sustain strong relationships with the GLA, government bodies, funding institutions and Registered Providers to maximise housing delivery and investment for the borough.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading large-scale housing, regeneration and capital programmes.
• Strong track record of building strategic external relationships with bodies like the GLA, government departments and funding institutions.
• Expertise in governance, performance reporting, funding compliance and acquisitions/buyback programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Programme Management Team and oversee internal and external reporting for the Council's delivery programme.
• Provide strategic leadership on programme management, performance, governance and delivery assurance.
• Ensure housing and capital programmes are monitored against programme, cost, quality and risk; maintain governance and reporting frameworks.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with Registered Providers to support affordable housing delivery.
• Engage with external partners (GLA, government bodies, funding institutions) to maximise funding and investment.
• Oversee housing acquisitions, buyback, valuations, negotiations, and related legal processes.

Job description

Goodman Masson is exclusively partnering with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the appointment of a Head of Programme and Performance

About London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets is delivering one of the most ambitious regeneration and housing programmes in London. Home to globally significant economic centres and diverse, established communities, the borough presents a unique opportunity to shape growth at scale. Our ambition is not simply to accommodate growth, but to harness it to create exceptional places, deliver thousands of new homes, support economic prosperity and ensure that residents benefit from investment in their neighbourhoods.

As a senior leader, you will provide strategic direction across a portfolio of high-profile regeneration and development programmes, navigating complexity, building influential partnerships and driving delivery. You will help shape the borough's future places, ensuring regeneration leaves a positive and lasting legacy for current and future generations

The opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Regeneration & Development, you will lead a high-performing Programme Management Team and provide strategic oversight of the Council's delivery programme.

You will have corporate responsibility for programme reporting and assurance across Council-funded initiatives, ensuring that robust governance, internal controls and external funding requirements are consistently maintained.

A key aspect of the role will be building and maintaining strategic relationships with the Greater London Authority, government departments, funding bodies and Registered Providers, maximising opportunities to increase housing supply and investment across the borough.

You will also oversee the Council's housing acquisition and buyback programme, ensuring effective management of the full end-to-end process.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

• Leading and managing the Programme Management Team and overseeing internal and external reporting across the Council's delivery programme.
• Providing strategic leadership on programme management, performance, governance and delivery assurance.
• Ensuring housing and capital programmes are effectively monitored against programme, cost, quality and risk.
• Maintaining and continuously improving governance and reporting frameworks, incorporating lessons learned and best practice.
• Leading engagement with the GLA, Cabinet Office, government agencies and funding institutions to maximise funding and investment opportunities.
• Ensuring compliant and effective reporting across externally funded programmes.
• Building strategic partnerships with Registered Providers to support wider affordable housing delivery.
• Supporting investment into the borough and ensuring opportunities align with the Council's strategic objectives and regeneration priorities.
• Overseeing the Council's buyback and acquisitions programme, including negotiations, valuations, legal processes, voids and lettings.
• Ensuring capital governance boards are appropriately supported and that reporting structures are followed.
• Leading reporting to senior officers and elected Members on housing and capital programme performance.
• Developing and delivering the service plan, setting clear objectives and monitoring performance.
• Leading borough-wide and Council-wide projects and initiatives as required.
• Managing service budgets and ensuring resources are deployed effectively and provide value for money.
• Leading, motivating and developing teams while creating a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Deputising for the Director of Regeneration & Development when required.

About you

We are looking for an experienced senior programme and performance professional with a strong track record of managing large-scale housing and capital programmes, ideally within a complex inner-city environment.

You will have substantial experience of building and managing strategic relationships with external stakeholders, particularly organisations such as the GLA, government departments and other funding bodies.

You will bring strong knowledge of:

• Programme management and delivery assurance.
• Housing and capital programmes.
• Development and regeneration projects.
• Funding and procurement routes.
• Capital governance and performance reporting.
• Local government financial, legal, procurement and governance frameworks.
• External funding and grant compliance.
• Housing acquisitions and buyback programmes.
• Project, financial and performance management.

You will be an experienced senior leader with the ability to bring together complex information, provide effective challenge and assurance, and translate programme data into clear recommendations for senior officers and elected Members.

You will also have a proven track record of leading, motivating and developing teams, managing organisational change and delivering measurable improvements in service performance.

The ability to communicate complex programme and performance information clearly to a range of audiences will be essential.

A strategic partnership role

A significant part of this role will be the development of strong external relationships.

You will represent the Council with the GLA, government bodies, funding institutions and Registered Providers, identifying opportunities to increase housing delivery and maximise external investment.

You will need to be able to operate confidently across organisational boundaries, building constructive partnerships while ensuring that the Council's strategic priorities, governance requirements and delivery objectives remain central.

Programme assurance and performance

At the heart of the role is the ability to provide confidence that the Council's major housing and capital programmes are delivering as intended.

You will ensure that reporting provides a clear view of programme, cost, quality and risk, enabling senior leaders and elected Members to make informed decisions.

You will continually review governance and reporting arrangements, using data, performance information and lessons learned to improve the Council's approach to programme management and delivery assurance.

This is a role for someone who can combine strategic oversight with constructive challenge, ensuring that complex programmes remain focused, transparent and accountable.

Our Values

Tower Hamlets Council's values underpin the way it works with residents, communities, partners and colleagues.

TOGETHER

We work across boundaries and with partners to achieve the best outcomes for Tower Hamlets.

OPEN

We communicate clearly, honestly and transparently and remain approachable to colleagues, partners and communities.

WILLING

We are willing to challenge, innovate and take accountability for improving the way we work.

EXCELLENT

We empower one another to deliver high-quality services and go the extra mile.

RESPECT

We respect all communities and recognise that they are at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for a leader whose approach reflects these values and who can demonstrate them through their day-to-day leadership and delivery.

We are looking for a leader who demonstrates these values through their approach to people, partnerships, performance and delivery.

Why Tower Hamlets?

This is an opportunity to take a pivotal senior leadership role within a major London housing and regeneration programme.

You will have the opportunity to influence how significant programmes are governed, funded, monitored and delivered, while developing strategic relationships that can unlock additional housing and investment for the borough.

The role sits at the intersection of programme management, housing delivery, capital investment, performance, governance and strategic partnerships, giving the successful candidate a broad and influential portfolio.

If you are an experienced programme leader who can provide strategic assurance, build influential partnerships and drive high-quality delivery across complex housing and capital programmes, we would like to hear from you.

Link to our Future Places plan - Tower Hamlets Future Places