Programme Manager

Wokingham Borough Council; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Annual Leave

GP Helpline

Employee Assistance Programme

Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines

Free Onsite Gym

Local & Lifestyle Discounts

Move through Menopause Course

Sports & Social Group Activities

Job summary

Wokingham Borough Council is seeking a Programme Manager to lead the strategic delivery of transformation programmes across council directorates. You will work with the PMO, Portfolio Manager and Project Managers to ensure successful implementation, coordinated benefits realisation and consistent governance across all initiatives.

You will engage with cross‑functional senior stakeholders to drive progress, manage risks, and provide assurance sessions with senior leaders.

Qualifications

• MSP or similar programme and project management qualification or skills.
• Knowledge of local government and transformational Government and efficiency agenda.
• Change Management qualification or skills (Prosci or similar).
• Experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, MS Project, MS Visio, PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Driving the daily delivery of directorate programmes across council directorates.
• Coordination of a strategic portfolio with the PMO and Portfolio Manager and Project Managers to ensure successful implementation and impact management.
• Tracking programme-level risks across the council with escalation and facilitation of risk and assurance sessions with senior leaders.
• Leading, motivating, and developing staff involved with projects and programmes, with potential line management responsibilities.

Skills

MSP

Prosci

MS Office

Local government knowledge

Education

MSP or equivalent programme management

Tools

MS Project

MS Visio

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £52,414 - £57,870 Per Annum, Plus Benefits (Pay award pending)
Location: Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End/Home Working
Contract: Contract
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hours: 37 hours.
DBS Check: No
Closing Date: 20/09/2026 at 23:00
Reference: 713525, 713526

We have an excellent opportunity for a Programme Manager to join our Business Change team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a Full-Time, 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract.

As Programme Manager, you will act as a lead coordinator for the strategic delivery of transformation programmes across council directorates within a portfolio of change. Working in close partnership with the PMO and Portfolio Manager, alongside Business Change colleagues and Project Managers, you will ensure successful implementation and impact management of key initiatives.

You will engage with cross-functional senior stakeholders to drive progress, ensuring good governance across the programmes, information is clear and transparent as well as supporting change management.

You will be accountable for tracking programme-level risks across the council, facilitating risk and assurance sessions with senior leaders, and providing successful delivery of services that drive financial efficiencies and better outcomes for our residents.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a collaborative, motivated professional to join our team.

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

• Generous Annual Leave – 31 days annual leave (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays
• GP Helpline – Available 7 days a week
• Employee Assistance Programme – Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline
• Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines
• Free Onsite Gym – Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham
• Local & Lifestyle Discounts – Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more
• Move through Menopause Course
• Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more
• And more!

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for driving the daily delivery of directorate programmes across council directorates.
• Responsible for coordination of a strategic portfolio, working closely with the Business Change colleagues, especially the PMO and Portfolio Manager and Project Managers to ensure successful implementation and impact management.
• Accountable for the tracking of programme level related risks across the council with appropriate escalation and facilitation of risk and assurance sessions with senior leaders to understand potential issues, seek mitigations and provide successful delivery of services.
• Leading, motivating, and developing staff involved with projects and programmes in line with delivery requirements, to achieve consistently high employee engagement and performance, including line management responsibilities if required.
• Contribute to strategy, performance and quality control, and service and financial planning for specialist areas.

Candidate Requirements

• Relevant Programme and Project Management qualification or skills and experience (MSP or similar).
• Knowledge of local government and particularly transformational Government and efficiency agenda.
• Relevant Change Management qualification or skills and experience (Prosci or similar).
• Experience of using Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, MS Project, MS Visio, PowerPoint.

Our Area:

Wokingham Borough Council has recently been ranked 2nd most productive council in England by the Impower Productivity Index, recognising our strong performance and efficient use of public money.

Our Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

AI in Applications

We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.

However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.

We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.

Whilst this is a fixed term contract appointment, for anyone already employed by Wokingham Borough Council this would be classed as a secondment if successful. Therefore, the usual permission requests for secondments apply and you must speak to your line manager in the first instance before applying.

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.

If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.

Interview date: TBC

Alternatively, to arrange an informal discussion about the role, contact Matthew Clift, PMO and Portfolio Manager, via [e-mail] (Strictly no agencies).