Programme Management Office Manager

Government Recruitment Service; Exeter; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer scheme

Job summary

The Government Recruitment Service in Exeter seeks an experienced Programme Management Office Manager to lead a large APHA programme. You will establish proportionate standards, controls and reporting to ensure delivery is well governed, transparent and focused on agreed outcomes.

You will provide PMO advice, insight and challenge throughout the programme lifecycle, developing the PMO team and delivering planning, governance, risk and benefits realisation to senior leaders.

Qualifications

• PMO leadership and governance experience.
• Strong planning and reporting capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the PMO function and develop its team with clear standards, priorities and ways of working.
• Establish and improve controls for plans, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues and reporting.
• Maintain governance and assurance, prepare decision products, coordinate reviews as needed.
• Oversee integrated plans, milestone reporting, dashboards and performance information for senior leaders.
• Set standards for identifying, escalating risks, issues and dependencies and link to decisions.
• Support business cases and track benefits and outcomes for prioritisation and investment decisions.
• Coordinate budgets, forecasts and resource information with finance and workforce planning colleagues.
• Build relationships with stakeholders, delivery partners and corporate functions to enable delivery.
• continuously improve PMO processes, reporting and sharing best practices across APHA.

Job description

Programme Management Office Manager

Company: Government Recruitment Service

Salary: £58,207 to £64,715 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Exeter

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 22 Oct 2026

Closing date: 9 Nov 2026

Can you bring structure, insight and effective governance to a large and complex programme?

Do you thrive on turning strategy into delivery while keeping people focused on outcomes, pace and quality?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Programme Management Office (PMO) Manager to lead a large, complex APHA programme. You will establish proportionate standards, controls and reporting to ensure delivery is well governed, transparent and focused on agreed outcomes.

This leadership role, within our Change Directorate, will provide senior leaders with reliable management information, clear escalation routes and evidence for timely decisions, while keeping the programme aligned with APHA and Defra Group priorities.

Working with the Senior Responsible Owner, Programme Manager and key stakeholders, you will provide PMO advice, insight, assurance and challenge throughout the programme lifecycle, from business case development through delivery and change readiness to benefits realisation.

You will provide leadership and develop the PMO team, providing effective planning, governance, reporting, risk, dependency, benefits, resource, financial and assurance support.

This is a varied role, and you will have the flexibility to turn your hand to different tasks as the situation demands. The key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Programme and team leadership - Lead the PMO function and develop its team, setting clear standards, priorities, ways of working and expectations across the programme
• Programme controls - Establish and improve proportionate controls for plans, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, decisions, change, benefits, resources, finances and reporting, aligned with APHA’s Central Portfolio Management Office
• Governance and assurance - Maintain effective governance, prepare decision‑making products and coordinate assurance, including gateway or independent reviews where required
• Planning and reporting - Oversee integrated plans, milestone reporting, dashboards and performance information, giving senior leaders a clear view of progress, risks and decisions required
• Risk, issue and dependency management - Set standards for identifying, managing and escalating risks, issues and dependencies, linking them to decisions and delivery plans
• Business cases and benefits - Support the creation and maintain business cases and approvals, identify and track benefits and outcomes, and provide evidence for prioritisation and investment decisions
• Financial and resource management - Coordinate budgets, forecasts, actuals and resource information with finance, digital delivery and workforce planning colleagues to support effective deployment of people and funding
• Stakeholder engagement - Build strong relationships with stakeholders, delivery partners and corporate functions, providing practical support, challenge and insight that enables delivery
• Continuous improvement - Improve PMO processes, products and reporting, sharing learning and good practice across APHA’s delivery community
• Delivery support - Provide credible, pragmatic support that turns strategy into delivery and maintains focus on outcomes, pace and quality

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.