Programme and Projects Manager

East Cambridgeshire District Council; Ely; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Childcare scheme in approved cases

Training and development opportunities

Occupational health programme

Holiday and sickness scheme entitl e m

Job summary

East Cambridgeshire District Council is recruiting for a Programme and Projects Manager to lead a major Local Government Reorganisation programme. You will coordinate multi-workstream activity, translate complex objectives into clear plans, and manage scope, milestones, resources, benefits, risks and dependencies across seven councils.

The role requires extensive programme management experience, a recognized qualification, and strong governance & reporting skills to inform senior leaders and

Qualifications

• Significant experience of programme and/or project management across the full delivery lifecycle.
• A recognised programme or project management qualification, or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of programme governance, PMO standards, assurance, risk and issue management, and benefits realisation.
• Experience of working across services, organisations or partners to manage dependencies and deliver shared outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead programme and project activity across assigned workstreams, aligned to Council priorities, statutory requirements and wider programme milestones.
• Develop, maintain and quality assure programme and project plans, reports, risk and issue logs and assurance documentation in line with PMO standards.
• Coordinate activity across services, workstream leads, project teams and partner councils, ensuring dependencies are understood and escalated where needed.
• Provide clear, evidence-based progress reports, briefings and decision papers for senior officers, programme boards and elected Members.
• Identify, manage and escalation risks, issues and delivery challenges, taking proactive action to prevent slippage and maintain delivery control.
• Support benefits realisation by defining intended outcomes and tracking progress against measurable improvement.
• Build strong working relationships across Council services, the seven councils and partner organisations.
• Provide practical advice to managers and workstream leads on programme and project management methods, tools and governance standards

Skills

Programme management

Project governance

Stakeholder influence

Communication skills

Risk and issue management

Planning and scheduling

Education

PM qualification

Job description

Are you ready to lead transformational change in local government? East Cambridgeshire District Council has an exciting Programme and Projects Manager opportunity!

Location: The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4EE

Salary: £46,142 to £50,269 per annum

Job Type: Permanent or Fixed Term

Hours: 37 hours per week

Closing Date: 23 August 2026

About Us:

East Cambridgeshire boasts excellent transport links, stunning countryside, vibrant markets, and welcoming communities and it one of the UK's happiest and healthiest places to live.

East Cambridgeshire District Council takes pride in its innovative approach to delivering sustainable and economically driven services that benefit residents, stakeholders, and the environment.

Programme and Projects Manager - The Role:

East Cambridgeshire District Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation, one of the most significant changes facing councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This programme will reshape how local government is organised, how decisions are made and how public services are delivered for residents, businesses and communities. We are working across seven councils to deliver this landmark transformation.

As Programme and Projects Manager, you will lead and coordinate programme and project activity across assigned Local Government Reorganisation workstreams. You will translate complex and evolving objectives into clear plans, ensuring scope, milestones, resources, benefits, risks and dependencies are understood and actively managed.

Programme and Projects Manager - Key Responsibilities:

• Lead programme and project activity across assigned workstreams, aligned to Council priorities, statutory requirements and wider programme milestones
• Develop, maintain and quality assure programme and project plans, reports, risk and issue logs and assurance documentation in line with PMO standards
• Coordinate activity across services, workstream leads, project teams and partner councils, ensuring dependencies are understood and escalated where needed
• Provide clear, evidence-based progress reports, briefings and decision papers for senior officers, programme boards and elected Members
• Identify, manage and escalation risks, issues and delivery challenges, taking proactive action to prevent slippage and maintain delivery control
• Support benefits realisation by defining intended outcomes and tracking progress against measurable improvement
• Build strong working relationships across Council services, the seven councils and partner organisations
• Provide practical advice to managers and workstream leads on programme and project management methods, tools and governance standards

Programme and Projects Manager - You:

• Significant experience of programme and/or project management across the full delivery lifecycle
• A recognised programme or project management qualification, or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Strong understanding of programme governance, PMO standards, assurance, risk and issue management, and benefits realisation
• Experience of working across services, organisations or partners to manage dependencies and deliver shared outcomes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear reports and presentations for senior audiences
• Confidence to influence, negotiate and constructively challenge senior stakeholders and partner organisations
• Good judgement, resilience and emotional intelligence when working with ambiguity and competing priorities

Benefits:

• Flexible working
• Childcare scheme in approved cases
• Training and development opportunities
• Occupational health programme
• Holiday and sickness scheme entitlements

Closing Date: 23 August 2026