Strategy & Programme Manager

Hertfordshire County Council; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council in Stevenage is seeking a Strategy & Programme Manager to lead a diverse portfolio of transport projects. You will oversee from concept to delivery, ensuring on-time, on-budget outcomes aligned with strategic priorities.

The role involves collaboration with consultants, contractors and local authorities and offers a hybrid working pattern. The ideal candidate will have substantial programme management experience, robust budget and risk management, and strong

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex projects or programmes from development through to delivery.
• Experience managing budgets, risks and project performance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including report writing and presenting to diverse audiences.
• Ability to build relationships, influence others and collaborate with partners to deliver outcomes.
• Practical understanding of sustainable transport, traffic management and placemaking.

Responsibilities

• Commission and manage consultants, designers, project managers and contractors to ensure successful delivery of transport projects.
• Manage project budgets, ensuring timely and cost-effective solutions while managing and communicating risks.
• Engage with local authority officers, elected representatives and stakeholders to ensure a unified vision and clear dialogue throughout delivery.
• Lead and develop strategies for effective public engagement activities, ensuring communities are informed and involved.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Hertfordshire County Council and partner organisations to develop future projects, programmes and priorities.
• Monitor project performance and provide clear reports, updates and presentations to boards and panels.
• Visit project sites to oversee planning and delivery, resolve issues and ensure schemes meet outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Independent working

Education

PRINCE2 / APM certification

Job description

- Pay award pending

Job Introduction

Job Title: Strategy & Programme Manager

Starting Salary: £48,226 + £3,130 market enhancement progressing to £53,460 + £1,912 market enhancement per annum (pro rata for part time)

Hours:37

Location: Stevenage - Hybrid 2-3 days office based per week

Contract Type: Fixed Term to July 2028

Directorate: Growth & Environment

About The Team

At Hertfordshire County Council, we're delivering an ambitious programme of transport and infrastructure improvements that will help shape the future of our county.

Our Transport Implementation team plays a vital role in creating safer, greener and more connected communities. From active travel schemes and public realm improvements to road safety initiatives and passenger transport projects, we work on programmes that make a real difference to how people live, travel and access opportunities across Hertfordshire.

This is an exciting time to join a collaborative and forward-thinking team where your work will have a visible and lasting impact.

About The Role

As a Strategy & Programme Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of a diverse portfolio of projects within a defined geographic area, helping to transform local places and improve journeys for residents, businesses and visitors. You'll oversee projects from concept through to delivery, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget and in line with strategic priorities.

No two days are the same. You'll work with a wide range of partners including consultants, contractors, elected members, local authorities, community groups and stakeholders, bringing together people and ideas to deliver successful outcomes.

• Commission and manage consultants, designers, project managers and contractors to ensure the successful delivery of transport projects.
• Manage project budgets, ensuring timely and cost-effective solutions whilst managing and communicating risks.
• Engage with local authority officers, elected representatives, and other stakeholders to ensure a unified vision and clear, consistent dialogue throughout project delivery.
• Lead and develop strategies for effective public engagement activities, ensuring local communities are informed and involved.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Hertfordshire County Council and partner organisations to develop future projects, programmes and priorities.
• Monitor project performance and provide clear reports, updates and presentations to boards and panels.
• Visit project sites to oversee planning and delivery, resolve issues and ensure schemes meet expected outcomes.

This role offers the opportunity to combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, helping shape the future of transport across Hertfordshire and make a real difference in how people move around the county.

About You

Essential

• Experience managing complex projects or programmes from development through to delivery.
• Experience managing budgets, risks and project performance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presenting confidently to a variety of audiences.
• The ability to build relationships, influence others and collaborate effectively with a wide range of partners to deliver outcomes.
• A practical understanding of sustainable transport, traffic management and placemaking.
• Motivation, strategic thinking, and the ability to work independently, initiate and move projects forward.

Ideally you will have

• Experience of working in a transport and highway environment, and familiarity with relevant legislation, standards and best practices.
• Experience working in a political environment.
• Experience of budgeting and financial management.
• A relevant Project Management qualification eg. PRINCE2 or APM certification.
• Experience in public engagement and consultation.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 12. Please locate the job profile here: Job profiles: Technical services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact [e-mail] or [e-mail] for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 1st, 2nd or 3rd September 2026

Benefits of working for us

Secondment

This role is open to secondments for eligible employees who work for HCC. If you wish to apply on a secondment basis, you must have your line manager’s approval before submitting your application. You will be asked to confirm this within your application form. If you are not eligible for a secondment (e.g., you are currently on a fixed‑term contract that would end before this positions ends) or you indicate that your manager cannot support a secondment, your application will be considered on a fixed‑term contract basis instead.

Additional Information

We are changing

Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly‑created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.

LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.