Programme Management Office Manager

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

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service is seeking a PMO Manager for APHA to guide a large, complex programme with proportionate standards, controls and reporting. You will ensure delivery remains governed, transparent and outcome-focused.

Working with the Senior Responsible Owner and stakeholders, you will provide PMO advice, insight and assurance throughout the lifecycle, developing the PMO team and delivering robust planning, governance and benefits realisation.

Qualifications

• Experience leading PMO in large programmes.
• Ability to establish governance, standards and reporting.
• Proven track record turning strategy into delivery.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the PMO function and develop its team with clear standards.
• Establish controls for plans, milestones, risks and reporting.
• Maintain governance and coordinate assurance across reviews.
• Oversee integrated plans, dashboards and performance information.
• Manage risks, issues and dependencies and link to decisions.
• Support business cases, benefits tracking and prioritisation.
• Coordinate budgets, forecasts and resource information.
• Engage stakeholders and provide practical PMO support.

Skills

PMO leadership

Programme governance

Planning and reporting

Risk and issue management

Benefits realisation

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

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

Programme Management Office Manager

Company: Government Recruitment Service Salary: £58,207 to £64,715 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Preston Job type: Permanent Posting date: 22 Oct 2026 Closing date: 9 Nov 2026

Summary

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.

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