Programme Manager - Council Housebuilding Support

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPROVEMENT & DEVELOPMENT AGENCY; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agency is seeking a Programme Manager to develop and lead a new initiative supporting council housebuilding programs. This role requires expertise in local government, strong project management skills, and a collaborative mindset to engage stakeholders effectively. Join a dynamic team dedicated to enhancing local government capabilities through innovative solutions.

Benefits

29 days annual leave, increasing with service

Flexible and agile working arrangements

Employee assistance program available 24/7

Family friendly policies

Qualifications

• Experience of leading complex, large scale projects ideally in the public sector.
• Strong problem solving skills.
• Good financial and resource management skills.

Responsibilities

• Establish a robust programme approach to support a complex work programme.
• Deliver projects within timeframes, managing priorities.
• Ensure a collaborative approach with public sector stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Project Management

Problem Solving

Negotiation

Education

Experience in local or central government

Experience in housing/land/property/regeneration

Job description

Location: Home-based, with periodic travel to London and occasional travel nationally.

Fixed term until 30 June 2026

About us

The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. We work on behalf of our member councils to support, promote and improve local government.

We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils to help them deliver local solutions to national problems.

We also provide councils with the tools and resources to respond to challenges present and emerging, and support improvement across the sector.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community to this high-profile role.

About the role

The LGA has been working with MHCLG to scope a new, fully funded support programme designed to provide capacity and capability support, at no cost, to councils seeking to establish, enhance, or accelerate their council housebuilding programmes. This initiative forms part of the government's commitment to deliver 1.5 million safe and decent homes during this parliament, supported by a generational increase in social and affordable housebuilding.

We're at the beginning of this exciting journey and will be co-designing this new programme with councils. To make it happen, we're building a brand new team to shape, test, and deliver this work.

This new team will sit within the LGA's Partnerships & Improvement Directorate, alongside our other Place programmes: the Planning Advisory Service, One Public Estate, and the Joint Inspection Team.

Roles are offered on a full-time fixed term contract for one year, with opportunities for extension subject to further MHCLG funding.

The LGA is a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Secondments are particularly welcomed - these roles offer excellent development opportunities and exposure to both local and national housing delivery work.

About you

If you're passionate about social housing and want to help councils succeed, we'd love to hear from you. You'll bring insight into council housing delivery, a solid understanding of local government, and a collaborative approach to working with public sector stakeholders.

All our roles require experience of a fast-paced working environment servicing multiple stakeholders, a collaborative mindset, and a continuous improvement mentality.

The Programme Manager should bring experience of establishing a robust programme approach to support a complex work programme, with strong problem solving skills.

You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.

To apply

If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria for the role before the closing date.

We are specifically assessing candidates against the following criteria:

Please include an up to six bullet point person specification candidates will use to write their supporting statement.

1. Good understanding of local government, its roles structures, and relationships. Previous experience of working in or with a complex political environment, preferably in local or central government
2. Demonstrable experience of success in leading complex, large scale, projects/programmes ideally in the public sector, and ideally involving housing/land/property/regeneration.
3. Demonstrable experience of successfully deploying project and programme systems, processes and protocols
4. Experience of line management, including managing a multi-disciplinary team. Ability to lead and motivate others, and to promote a culture of inclusion and respect
5. Excellent organisational skills and the ability to deliver under pressure, prioritising work against competing demands to meet deadlines. Good financial and resource management skills.
6. Strong influencing and negotiating skills; confident and resilient with good people skills.

Closing Date: 9am / Monday 14th July

Interview Date: w/c 21st July and 28th July; interviews may be virtual or in-person

We use anonymous recruitment, which is the practice of hiding candidates' identities. This process involves removing any identifying information from candidates' applications which includes names.

At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit.

The LGA are proud to be awarded a "Disability Confident Leader". Please contact us via if you require a reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have.

Our benefits

• LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years' service and to 33 days after five years' service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).
• Flexible & agile working - office-based staff are required to work in the LGA's London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.
• Future development - face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals
• The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.
• Family friendly policies

Our values & behaviours

Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:

• how we work with each other
• how we work with our members and stakeholders
• our expectations for ourselves and each other

Our values are:

• Collaboration - We value collaboration, to pursue shared goals by encouraging and utilising diverse perspectives and working with internal and external colleagues across the organisation.
• Inclusion - We value inclusion, where everyone feels valued, understood, and supported to contribute meaningfully.
• Ambition - We value ambition, reflecting our desire to achieve best possible outcomes for local government, communities, and individuals.
• Respect - We value respect, to ensure fairness, recognition, and shared accountability.