Programme Manager

NHS; Ashton-under-Lyne; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a full-time Programme Manager to lead the Trust's Crisis Transformation Programme, requiring strong interpersonal skills and experience in complex project management. The Programme Manager will engage with stakeholders at all levels and be responsible for delivering service development schemes across Greater Manchester. Ideal candidates will have a degree or equivalent qualification and substantial experience in leading transformation projects, particularly within healthcare settings. Salary ranges from £55,690 to £62,682 per year.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing complex projects within scope and budget.
• Experience of using project documentation and developing project plans.
• Strong planning and coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Trust Crisis Transformation Programme.
• Engage with services, commissioners, and partners at various levels.
• Provide and receive complex information and develop concise reports.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Programme management

Stakeholder management

Communication and negotiation

Analytical skills

Leadership

Education

Degree or equivalent

Masters level qualification or equivalent experience

Post-graduate qualification in project/change management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project management software

Job description

Job Summary

Applications are invited for a full‑time experienced Programme Manager with an understanding of improvement methodology within a healthcare setting to join our transformation team. The Programme Manager will provide a lead role within the Trust Crisis Transformation Programme and commercial activities at a locality level, Trust‑level and within Greater Manchester.

As this role involves significant time supporting staff within our services, it is particularly suited for individuals with strong interpersonal skills. Ideal for someone with substantial prior experience in managing complex projects that bring about changes across NHS services and teams, especially in mental health services.

Main Duties of the Job

The role will require working at a senior level through a complex range of transformation and service development activity within the transformation and change programme to identify and project‑plan delivery of service development and improvement schemes.

The role will require engagement with services, commissioners, partners and wider stakeholders. This role will provide specific input in terms of programme management and managing stakeholder relationships for a range of transformational work streams, at a locality level, Trust level and within Greater Manchester.

The individual should be able to provide and receive highly complex information and develop clear and concise reports, communicate, lead and influence at all levels, have strong planning and coordination skills, and be able to grasp critical issues and inform clear management priorities.

The individual should be able to proficiently navigate challenging discussions and support teams in mitigating risks and issues.

The full job description provides an overview of the key responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachments.

About Us

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester – Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

Details

Date posted: 08 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract: Secondment

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 311-H859-25

Job Location

Trust HQ – 225 Old Street, Ashton under Lyne, OL67SR

Job Description

See attached Job Description and Personal Specification for a complete breakdown of the roles responsibilities.

Person Specification

Work Related Circumstances (Essential)

• Able to work flexibly based on the requirements of the job.
• Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the GM footprint in line with programme needs.
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Experience (Essential)

• Experience of leading and managing complex projects within scope and budget and to time.
• Experience of using project documentation and developing project plans.
• Experience of producing detailed reports and documents.
• Proven experience in managing challenging situations, including in a group setting.
• Working in effective partnership with service users, carers, senior leaders, clinicians and other stakeholders.
• Involvement in service redesign and quality improvement projects.
• Experience of developing benefits and measures with proven delivery of benefits following project closure.
• Experience of writing or supporting the development of business cases.
• Knowledge of project and change management methodologies.
• Knowledge of change leadership skills.
• Knowledge of the wider system.
• Knowledge of improvement methodologies, tools and techniques.

Experience (Desirable)

• Experience within mental health, learning disability or autism services.
• Experience of involvement in NHS financial processes e.g. contracting, procurement, efficiency planning.

Knowledge (Essential)

• Knowledge of project and change management methodologies.
• Knowledge of change leadership skills.
• Knowledge of the wider system.
• Knowledge of improvement methodologies, tools and techniques.

Skills and Abilities (Essential)

• Highly effective communication and negotiation skills with a range of stakeholders where opposition and conflict are commonplace.
• Able to lead a programme independently, solving problems and making decisions as appropriate.
• Able to persuade others of own point of view and defend own position with logical and unemotional arguments.
• Ability to establish strong working relationships.
• Critical appraisal skills and high‑level analytic skills with ability to review and develop a range of options for action.
• Able to prepare and present briefing papers and reports to tight deadlines to senior leaders/executives.
• Able to manage and handle sensitive information and difficult messages in an effective and empathic way.
• Able to effectively make use of ICT equipment for the purposes listed above.
• High‑level facilitation skills and ability to work with a large group of mixed stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation.
• Flexible and adaptable; able to work in ambiguous situations.
• Resilient and tenacious with a propensity to persevere.
• Able to produce effective presentations, present confidently and in a suitable format depending on the audience including to executives/the board.
• Well‑developed IT skills (e.g. Microsoft office package, email systems, Teams, Visio).
• Ability to balance competing demands and work to tight timescales understanding the interdependencies between programmes and impact on strategic delivery.

Education / Qualifications (Essential)

• Degree or equivalent.
• Masters level qualification, or working towards, or experience equivalent to Masters level.
• Specialist knowledge or qualification in project management and/or change management methodologies to post‑graduate level.
• Evidence of continued professional development e.g. leadership/management development.

Education / Qualifications (Desirable)

• Improvement qualification or equivalent experience in applying improvement methodologies and tools/techniques.
• Benefits Management qualification (e.g. APMG managing benefits) or equivalent.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer Details

Employer name: Pennine Care NHS FT

Address: Trust HQ – 225 Old Street, Ashton under Lyne, OL67SR

Employer's website: https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk