Programme Managers

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA); Peterborough; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) seeks three experienced Programme Managers to lead governance, assurance and performance across a programme of interdependent property projects. You will set standards, provide oversight and hold delivery to account across multiple Project Managers within Defra Group Property.

The role focuses on applying robust governance frameworks, ensuring consistency of delivery disciplines, and using data and reporting to drive insight and informed

Responsibilities

• Governance: establish and enforce programme governance frameworks, roles and decision-making.
• Assurance: lead programme-level assurance, reviews, controls and gateway processes.
• Delivery discipline: ensure consistent application of project delivery standards across all projects.
• Portfolio health: monitor use of data to report risks, issues and performance transparently.

Job description

We are seeking three experienced Programme Managers to lead the governance, assurance and performance of a programme of property projects within Defra Group Property. You will ensure that projects led by Project Managers are set up and delivered in line with clear governance, robust controls and consistent delivery disciplines. As Programme Manager, you will be accountable for ensuring that a programme of interdependent property projects is governed and delivered effectively. You will operate at programme level, setting standards, providing oversight, and holding delivery to account across multiple projects led by Project Managers. Your focus will be on ensuring that the right governance, assurance and delivery disciplines are consistently applied. You will work in close partnership with the PMO, using programme data, reporting and controls to drive insight, inform decisions and maintain delivery discipline across the portfolio. This is an opportunity for experienced Programme Managers who understands the difference between leading projects and leading programmes, and who can operate as a system leader across a complex delivery environment.

Programme Governance & Assurance

• Alignment with robust programme governance frameworks, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities and decision-making
• Lead programme-level assurance, including reviews, controls and gateway processes
• Work with the PMO to ensure governance processes, reporting and controls are consistently applied and adhered to
• Ensure consistent application of project delivery standards, methodologies and controls across all projects
• Monitor programme health, using insight and data to ensure risks, issues and performance are transparently reported and managed
• Provide independent challenge to project teams and stakeholders to support robust, evidence-based decision-making

Portfolio Oversight & Integration

• Maintain the overall integrity and coherence of the programme across multiple projects
• Identify and manage interdependencies, working with the PMO to ensure these are clearly captured, tracked and actively managed
• Intervene where delivery is off track, working with Project Managers and the PMO to resolve systemic issues
• Ensure alignment between project delivery, business objectives and property strategy

Leadership of Delivery Community

• Provide leadership and direction to Project Managers
• Work in partnership with the PMO to drive consistent ways of working, high-quality reporting and a strong delivery culture
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement in delivery practice
• Support the development of strong project delivery capability across the team

Strategic Programme Leadership

• Ensure that programmes are aligned to strategic objectives and deliver intended outcomes and benefits
• Oversee the integrity of business cases and programme-level planning
• Use insight from reporting and assurance to inform strategic decision-making
• Engage effectively with stakeholders across property, corporate functions and the wider department.