Programme Manager - Service Systems

4 Month Contract With A Local Authority

We are seeking an experienced Programme Manager to lead and coordinate service systems transition activity within a designated portfolio as part of the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme.

The postholder will be responsible for ensuring service systems are assessed, prioritised, planned, and transitioned in a controlled and effective manner to support safe, legal, and operationally effective services from Vesting Day. Working across services, IT and Data teams, suppliers, subject matter experts, and programme stakeholders, you will provide strong programme leadership, manage complex dependencies, and ensure delivery remains aligned with agreed milestones and governance requirements.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams within a matrix environment, without direct line management responsibility, bringing together service representatives, Business Analysts, technical specialists, and suppliers to deliver agreed outcomes. The role will also oversee risks, issues, resources, budgets, readiness, governance, and reporting, providing clear assurance and recommendations to programme leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of service systems transition activity across an assigned portfolio within the LGR programme.
  
• Develop and maintain comprehensive service systems transition plans, implementation roadmaps, delivery schedules, and milestones.
  
• Assess and prioritise systems, ensuring appropriate tranche classifications and transition activities are identified and agreed.
  
• Lead system readiness assessments and develop implementation plans to support Vesting Day requirements.
  
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including service representatives, subject matter experts, Business Analysts, IT and Data specialists, and external suppliers.
  
• Establish clear ownership, accountability, deliverables, and timescales across transition workstreams.
  
• Identify, manage, and escalate risks, issues, dependencies, and blockers through effective RAID management.
  
• Monitor programme progress and provide accurate, timely reporting, assurance updates, and recommendations to programme boards and governance forums.
  
• Develop and maintain governance papers, assurance packs, programme documentation, decision logs, action logs, and a clear audit trail of transition activity.
  
• Work closely with service leads and subject matter experts to capture requirements, actions, decisions, and dependencies.
  
• Develop resource plans, identifying required capacity, specialist skills, resource gaps, and delivery requirements.
  
• Manage stakeholder engagement and communication across services, programme teams, suppliers, and partner organisations.
  
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders and use strong influencing and negotiation skills to resolve issues and maintain programme momentum.
  
• Support financial management of service systems transition activity, including cost forecasting, budget monitoring, resource planning, and assessment of supplier and implementation costs.
  
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, efficiency, continuity, and value for money through effective systems transition and change.
  
• Lead change and continuous improvement activity, ensuring new ways of working are effectively implemented and embedded.
  
• Evaluate existing service provision and systems, using evidence, stakeholder feedback, and external developments to inform innovative solutions.
  
• Ensure transition activity is appropriately assured and that evidence of completion and readiness is available to support Vesting Day requirements.
  
• Provide specialist advice and recommendations where complex problems require judgement and innovative solutions.
  
• Represent the relevant service area at internal and external meetings, programme forums, and strategic initiatives as required.
  
• Contribute to the development of longer-term plans and strategies aligned with wider organisational and LGR objectives.
  

Requirements

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent relevant professional experience in programme management, project management, change management, transformation, or a related discipline.
  
• Significant experience delivering complex programmes, projects, transformation initiatives, or service change within a large and complex organisation.
  
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating stakeholders within a matrix management environment.
  
• Strong experience managing programme plans, milestones, risks, issues, dependencies, resources, budgets, and governance arrangements.
  
• Experience delivering complex systems transition, service transformation, organisational change, or technology-enabled change programmes.
  
• Strong understanding of change management, project and programme management, continuous improvement, and service transformation principles.
  
• Experience working with business systems and an understanding of how technology and systems support operational service delivery.
  
• Proven ability to engage, influence, negotiate, and build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, suppliers, service leads, and subject matter experts.
  
• Strong financial management skills, including budget monitoring, cost forecasting, resource planning, and business case development.
  
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex information, identify risks and dependencies, and develop practical solutions.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and produce high-quality governance and programme documentation.
  
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, competing demands, and challenging timescales.
  
• Ability to work effectively in an environment of ambiguity, complexity, and significant organisational change.
  
• Demonstrable ability to lead, motivate, coach, and influence others without direct line management responsibility.
  
• Strong understanding of programme governance, assurance, reporting, and decision-making processes.
  
• Ability to develop innovative solutions and drive continuous improvement across services.
  
• Professional project or programme management qualification such as MSP, PRINCE2, APM PMQ, or equivalent is desirable.
  
• Experience of working within local government or a public sector environment is desirable.
  
• Experience of Local Government Reorganisation, service transition, or large-scale organisational transformation is desirable.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Surrey County Council
  
• Hours per week: TBC
  
• Bi-Weekly Payments: Paid every two weeks.