Programme Manager

Durham County Council; Fir Tree; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham County Council is seeking an experienced Programme Manager to lead a portfolio of strategic projects within the Strategy and Innovation team. You will manage programmes from development through delivery, ensuring robust governance, risk management and value for money.

You will collaborate with the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and a range of partners to secure funding, appraise bids and deliver outcomes that support regional growth and innovation.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in managing complex programmes from development through delivery.
• Ability to manage risk, budgets, performance and benefits realisation.
• Strong analytical and communication skills to prepare reports for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide programme and project management across the Strategy and Innovation portfolio.
• Oversee risk, finance, performance, benefits realisation and governance.
• Appraise projects, undertake due diligence, support monitoring and evaluation, and develop business cases and funding bids.
• Prepare clear reports and recommendations for governance boards and partnership meetings.
• Build trusted relationships with colleagues across the MSA and with public and private sector partners.

Skills

Programme management

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Governance

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Programme Manager to join our Strategy and Innovation team and help deliver a portfolio of strategic projects and programmes that support the economic growth ambitions of the North East.

The Role

This is an opportunity to play a central role in turning ideas into impactful programmes. You will provide programme and project management expertise across the Strategy and Innovation portfolio, in line with the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority's priorities. This will include programmes that provide support to specific sectors in the North East, as well as projects and interventions that develop different commercial sites across the region, and those that ensure we have in place the digital connectivity and innovation infrastructure necessary for all businesses and organisations to thrive.

You will manage strategic programmes from development through to delivery, overseeing risk, finance, performance, benefits realisation and governance. You will also appraise projects, undertake due diligence, support monitoring and evaluation, and work with partners to develop strong business cases and funding bids.

Building trusted relationships will be key. You will work with a wide range of colleagues from across the MSA, from both corporate functions as well as complementary policy teams such as skills and spatial planning. You will collaborate with local and national government, and public and private sector partners to manage expectations, strengthen project delivery and achieve positive outcomes for the region. You will also prepare clear reports and recommendations for governance boards, committees and partnership meetings.

You will bring strong experience of successfully managing complex programmes, including risk, finance, performance, benefits and governance. You will understand how to take a project from an initial idea through appraisal, due diligence and development, and have experience of securing funding, writing bids and managing budgets.

Highly organised and comfortable balancing competing priorities, you will be able to work effectively to challenging deadlines. With strong analytical and communication skills, you will be confident producing clear reports, briefings and recommendations for a range of audiences.

Most importantly, you will be proactive, collaborative and focused on results. You will build positive working relationships, respond confidently to change and bring the integrity and professionalism needed to deliver projects that support long-term growth and innovation across the North East.

What it Isn't

This is not a role focused only on monitoring plans and processes. You will be actively involved in shaping programmes, developing projects with partners, solving delivery challenges and helping strategic ideas progress into well-governed, fundable and impactful activity.

So, if you...

Are an experienced programme professional who can bring structure to complex projects, build strong partnerships and turn ambitious ideas into deliverable outcomes, we would love to hear from you.