SAF Programme Specialist

Wmjobs; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

EV car benefit

Healthcare plans

28 days annual leave

Discounted shopping

Costco membership

Volunteer days

Job summary

West Midlands Combined Authority is seeking a SAF Change Delivery Specialist to turn assurance reform into practical ways of working across appraisal and centre of excellence teams. The role supports governance, planning and the delivery of place-based and portfolio work, including the HMT Green Book alignment and major change initiatives.

The position is a 12-month fixed-term contract with interviews planned for the week commencing 2 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience of managing programme delivery from inception to evaluation.
• Experience of writing evidenced-based business cases, proposals, briefings and delivery plans.
• In-depth understanding of programme assurance & appraisal and the use of Assurance Frameworks.
• Knowledge of governance, legal, and financial requirements in public programmes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing capability.
• HMT Green Book Practitioner.
• Project management qualification.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of the WMCA Assurance Change Programme, translating strategic reform into practical, implementable ways of working across appraisal and centre of excellence teams.
• Contribute to programme planning, mobilisation and delivery activity for portfolio- and place-based approaches, including Integrated Settlement work and place-based business case development.
• Provide technical and coordination support to assurance change initiatives, ensuring alignment with the WMCA Single Assurance Framework and governance requirements.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams, local authorities, central government and delivery leads to support engagement and transition to BAU.
• Coordinate workstreams, milestones, risks, dependencies and documentation with clear audit trails.
• Prepare high-quality business cases, delivery plans, briefings and reports, capturing learning for continuous improvement.

Skills

Programme delivery

Business case writing

Assurance & appraisal

Governance knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

HMT Green Book Practitioner

Project management

Education

Project management qualification

Job description

The West Midlands Combined Authority is delivering an ambitious agenda for the region, with major programmes and investment decisions that need to be well governed, evidence-led and capable of delivering real outcomes for residents, communities and partners. As our responsibilities continue to grow, strong assurance and appraisal are essential to making sure the right decisions are made at the right time, with transparency, accountability and value for money at their core.

As SAF Change Delivery Specialist, you will help turn strategic assurance reform into practical ways of working that support delivery across WMCA. Working within Programme Assurance & Appraisal, you will support major change initiatives linked to the Single Assurance Framework, place-based business case development, the HMT Green Book Review and the alignment of new accountability arrangements. This role has real purpose: helping WMCA strengthen how programmes are planned, appraised, assured and transitioned into business as usual, so that we can deliver the Mayor’s priorities, the Growth Plan and wider regional outcomes with confidence.

Please note that this is a 12-month fixed-term contract and we expect to hold interviews W/C 2nd November 2026.

What you’ll be doing.

• Support delivery of the WMCA Assurance Change Programme, helping translate strategic assurance reform into practical, implementable ways of working across appraisal, assurance and centre of excellence teams.
• Contribute to programme planning, mobilisation and delivery activity for portfolio-based and place-based approaches, including Integrated Settlement-related work, the HMT Green Book Review and place-based business case development.
• Provide technical and coordination support to assurance change initiatives, ensuring new approaches, templates, guidance and processes align with the WMCA Single Assurance Framework and wider governance requirements.
• Build strong working relationships with internal teams, local authority partners, central government departments and programme delivery leads to support engagement, implementation and transition into business-as-usual operations.
• Coordinate workstreams, milestones, risks, dependencies, actions and documentation, maintaining clear audit trails and governance artefacts that provide confidence to WMCA Statutory Officers.
• Prepare high-quality business cases, delivery plans, briefings, reports and presentations, while capturing learning and feedback to support continuous improvement across assurance and appraisal activity.

What’s essential.

• Experience of managing programme delivery from inception to evaluation
• Experience of writing evidenced-based business cases, proposals, briefings and delivery plans
• In-depth understanding and experience of programme assurance & appraisal including the application of Assurance Frameworks
• Knowledge of governance, legal, and financial requirements in public programmes
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing capability
• HMT Green Book Practitioner
• Project management qualification

For a full list of duties and essential criteria, please refer to the job description attached.

Location.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

There may be a requirement to work outside normal office hours on occasion, including working within stakeholder and partner offices within the WMCA constituent area on a regular basis.

How to apply

Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.

1. Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.
2. Build your Profile.Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
3. Write your Supporting Statement.Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
4. Submit your application.Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

Please note, we reserve the right to close any vacancy from further submissions when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.

Anonymised Applications.

Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team ([e-mail]).

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributionscheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing,andmortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costcomembership through the WMCA.
• Boundlessunlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• EyeCare Scheme,offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours.

Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.

• Collaborative -We work as one organisation. Together we build trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and residents to create the biggest impact for our region.
• Driven -We are focused on outcomes. We perform at our best to unlock productivity and delivery, achieving the greatest regional impact.
• Inclusive - We value difference. Creating an environment where people belong, and feel psychologically safe, so we can all thrive and shape a West Midlands built for everyone.
• Innovative -We are courageous. We embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo to continuously improve and shape the future of the West Midlands.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Attached documents

SAF Programme Specialist - JD.pdf