Programme Manager

Job title

Programme Manager

Location

Civic Centre, Southampton

Directorate

Delivery and Digital

Job type

Permanent

Salary

£60,000 - £70,000

Job ref

RPO 03867

Are you looking for a role where you can help shape something new, make a visible difference and work alongside people who care deeply about their place? If so, HSCCA could be a brilliant next step. We are building a new Combined County Authority for Hampshire and the Solent, bringing together partners across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton to bring investment to the region and to create opportunities for our people, places, communities and businesses.

As the Programme Manager you will lead the delivery of complex transition and operational programmes that have significant organisational, regional, and service-wide impact. Working closely with senior stakeholders, partners, and multidisciplinary teams, you will translate strategic priorities, statutory responsibilities, and investment commitments into structured, outcome-focused programmes that deliver tangible benefits for people, communities, and services. You will be responsible for programme governance, budget management, risk and dependency oversight, and ensuring change is effectively implemented and embedded.

Job title

Programme Manager

Location

Civic Centre, Southampton

Directorate

Delivery and Digital

Job type

Permanent

Salary

£60,000 - £70,000

Job ref

RPO 03867

Are you looking for a role where you can help shape something new, make a visible difference and work alongside people who care deeply about their place? If so, HSCCA could be a brilliant next step. We are building a new Combined County Authority for Hampshire and the Solent, bringing together partners across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton to bring investment to the region and to create opportunities for our people, places, communities and businesses.

As the Programme Manager you will lead the delivery of complex transition and operational programmes that have significant organisational, regional, and service-wide impact. Working closely with senior stakeholders, partners, and multidisciplinary teams, you will translate strategic priorities, statutory responsibilities, and investment commitments into structured, outcome-focused programmes that deliver tangible benefits for people, communities, and services. You will be responsible for programme governance, budget management, risk and dependency oversight, and ensuring change is effectively implemented and embedded.

What you’ll be doing

In this role, you’ll play a crucial part in ensuring our teams have the tools, knowledge, and processes they need to deliver a high quality service.

You will

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Lead the delivery of complex transition and operational programmes from initiation through to implementation and closure, ensuring clear objectives, governance, benefits, timelines, budgets, and resources are in place.

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Translate strategic priorities, policy requirements, and organisational objectives into practical delivery plans, managing risks, dependencies, stakeholders, and programme performance to ensure successful outcomes.

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Develop business cases, oversee programme budgets and suppliers, and ensure value for money, effective resource utilisation, and robust programme controls.

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Provide leadership to project managers, multidisciplinary teams, partners, and suppliers, creating accountability, collaboration, and a strong focus on delivery.

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Drive transition planning, business readiness, benefits realisation, and issue resolution, ensuring sustainable change is embedded and programme outcomes are achieved.

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Contribute to the continuous improvement of programme management practices, standards, governance, and delivery capability across HSCCA.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for someone with

Essential

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Significant experience leading large-scale transition, transformation, operational, or change programmes with substantial organisational, regional, financial, or stakeholder impact.

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Proven ability to translate strategic priorities and policy objectives into deliverable programmes, including planning, governance, benefits realisation, implementation, and successful programme closure.

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Strong programme and portfolio management experience, including oversight of risks, dependencies, resources, budgets, assurance activities, and competing organisational priorities.

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Experience managing programme budgets, suppliers, and delivery teams, with accountability for achieving measurable outcomes, benefits, and sustainable change.

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Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leaders, boards, partners, and decision-makers in complex environments.

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Strong communication, reporting, and decision-support capabilities, alongside the judgement, resilience, and adaptability required to operate in politically sensitive, fast-paced public sector settings.

Desirable

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Experience working within local government, combined authorities, central government, public bodies, regulated sectors, or partnership environments with formal governance requirements.

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Experience delivering devolution, public sector reform, organisational transition, digital transformation, infrastructure, or large-scale service change programmes.

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Knowledge of recognised programme and project management methodologies such as MSP, PRINCE2, Agile, P3O, MoP, MoR, or APM.

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Experience supporting business cases, funding applications, grant programmes, procurement activities, commercial delivery, or supplier management.

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Experience working within new, growing, or significantly transforming organisations.

We do not expect you to meet every one of these criteria. If you are excited by the role and bring most of what we are looking for, we want to hear from you.

Why join the HSCCA?

We are building the HSCCA on the basis that how we work is as important as what we deliver. We want people who bring enthusiasm, drive and authenticity- who are proactive, open to challenge, and motivated by progress rather than process.

We value collaborative leadership

the ability to bring people together across organisational boundaries, respect the expertise of others, and create shared direction without needing to own everything.

We act in line with the Nolan Principles. We use public money responsibly, make evidence-based decisions, and hold ourselves to high standards of integrity, inclusion, and accessibility. We expect feedback to be given and received constructively, challenge to be welcomed, and relationships to be built on openness, trust, and mutual respect.

This is a complex, fast-moving environment. We need people who are energised by that.

What the HSCCA will offer in return?

As we take on new responsibilities devolved from Government, you will have a genuine opportunity to contribute to building a public service organisation that does things differently.

Our reward package includes

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A flexible working environment, with hybrid working arrangements as standard (minimum 2 days per week in our office)

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A competitive salary and benefits package

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Investment in your professional development and leadership growth

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The chance to work alongside a leadership team that is committed to building an organisation where people thrive

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Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme

The HSCCA is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences, particularly those from groups that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes people from ethnic minority communities, disabled people, neurodivergent people, LGBTQ+ people, parents and carers, and individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We are committed to removing barriers to employment and encourage candidates to let us know about any reasonable adjustments they may need at any stage of the recruitment process.

Selection process

Your application will progress through the following stages

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Application Review

Your CV and supporting documents will be reviewed by Reed Recruitment against the essential criteria outlined in the Skills & Experience section of this advert.

Please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates how you meet the required criteria in order to be considered.

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Telephone Interview

If shortlisted, you will be invited to an initial telephone interview. During this stage, you will be assessed against the Skills & Experience criteria and your overall suitability for the position.

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Face-to-face Interview

If shortlisted, you will be invited to an initial telephone interview. During this stage, you will be assessed against the Skills & Experience criteria and your overall suitability for the position.

This is the final stage of the selection process and will determine the outcome of your application.

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Feedback

Feedback will be provided following the final face-to-face interview stage.

Please note that feedback is only available to candidates who attend the final stage interview stage. Successful candidates will then be considered for an offer.

Further information

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we run a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants. If you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description for this position and would like to be considered under this scheme, please state this in your application.

All data collected is anonymous and has zero bearing on your application. If there is anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let the recruitment team know.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. As part of this, we use anonymous shortlisting to ensure candidates are assessed solely on their skills, experience, and suitability for the role.

Apply Now

Apply now, or contact Sophie

Rigney for a confidential conversation

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Email

sophie.rigney@reed.com