Public Health Programme Manager - Inequalities

Coventry City Council; Coventry; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking a Programme Manager for its Public Health team. The successful candidate will oversee a portfolio aimed at reducing health inequalities in Coventry, manage multiple public health initiatives, and collaborate with various partners including the NHS. Strong programme and people management skills are essential, alongside experience in advocating change and effective communication. The position is a 12-month secondment/fixed-term contract with 37 hours per week.

Benefits

Rewards and benefits package

Guaranteed interview scheme for specific groups

Qualifications

• Significant experience working collaboratively across a range of organisations.
• Track record in advocating change and using data effectively.
• Experience managing multiple work programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and programme management of public health initiatives.
• Evaluate and ensure quality improvement in council-commissioned services.
• Work closely with various partners, including the NHS and the voluntary sector.

Skills

Programme management skills

People management skills

Problem-solving skills

Strong communication skills

Job description

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

What is the job role?

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work in the Public Health team. We are seeking a Programme Manager to lead the development, delivery, and programme management of a portfolio of work aimed at reducing health inequalities across Coventry, including our ongoing commitment to becoming a Marmot City.

The job role will:

• Oversee the development, delivery and programme management of multiple public health programmes and projects, including the Marmot City work to reduce health inequalities.
• Provide advice and guidance to support the commissioning of services that are designed to reduce inequalities (services commissioned directly by public health or from other organisations, including the Integrated Care Board).
• Lead on the continuous quality improvement of council-commissioned and delivered services so that they reduce health inequalities, including services which focus on the wider determinants of health like planning, education and skills, economy and regeneration and housing.
• Working with teams within public health, the wider council and external partner organisations to co‑produce approaches to service commissioning and delivery which address inequalities.
• Evaluate the impact of programmes, projects & service redesign and ensure that any relevant learning is incorporated into future programme delivery and good practice is shared.
• Work with a range of partners, including the NHS, the voluntary sector and elected members.
• Maintain the Marmot Partnership as a place to nurture a collective approach to reducing inequalities and a place where good practice is shared and celebrated.

12 Month Secondment/Fixed Term Contract. 37 hours per week.

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

Who are we looking for?

You’ll have excellent programme management skills and people management skills, and have significant experience of working collaboratively with staff across a range of organisations to develop joint solutions to complex problems.

You’ll have a track record in problem‑solving, advocating change, effectively using data to understand local people’s needs and targeting resources in a way which maximises efficiency and effectiveness.

You’ll also be a strong communicator, able to explain and present complex data to a wide range of audiences, including the Coventry Health and Wellbeing Board, to elected Members and to community and voluntary sector groups.

Our workforce data shows that men, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities and people from the LGBTQ+ community are under‑represented, so we encourage applicants from these backgrounds to apply. This does not prevent individuals with other protected characteristics as set out within the Equalities Act 2010 from applying for this post.

When applying for this role, you will be asked to write a personal statement. Please include the following information in your statement:

• Ability and experience in managing multiple work programmes.
• Experience to continuously improve services to drive quality improvements and shape service delivery.
• Ability and experience of leading and motivating others outside your direct sphere of influence.
• Ability and experience of working at a senior level across a range of organisations.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to learn about the assistance we can provide.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long‑term health condition.

For full details on the application process, please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled “Coventry City Council Application Process”. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification that the Council considers reasonable.

Interview date(s): 18/12/25. Face‑to‑face interviews held at our offices in Coventry.

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting‑edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies.