Programme Delivery Lead - Digital Transformation

Programme Delivery Lead:
Digital Transformation

Lead digital change that delivers better outcomes for Gateshead Council.

The Digital Transformation Programme Delivery Lead is a senior professional role with accountability for the leadership, governance and delivery of complex, high‑value digital transformation programmes that are critical to the Council’s strategic objectives.

Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the postholder will lead multidisciplinary programmes that span multiple services, technologies and partners. The role is responsible for translating corporate priorities into coherent transformation roadmaps, ensuring effective governance, financial control, benefits realisation and sustainable organisational change.

The role requires strong organisational influence, professional judgement and the ability to operate credibly at senior management level, shaping delivery approaches and resolving significant risks and competing priorities.

• Lead major digital transformation programmes end‑to‑end, delivering complex, multi‑stream initiatives aligned to our IT Strategy and Corporate Transformation Plan.
• Own programme success, with accountability for outcomes, benefits realisation, risks, dependencies and overall performance.
• Turn strategy into delivery, creating clear transformation roadmaps, investment cases and phased plans.
• Provide expert leadership across projects, ensuring consistency, pace and effective use of resources.
• Establish strong governance and assurance, reporting progress, risks and insights to senior leaders and boards.
• Influence at senior level, managing stakeholders, resolving conflict and building shared ownership of outcomes.
• Oversee budgets and suppliers, driving value for money and strong commercial performance.
• Identify and manage strategic risks, enabling timely decisions and proactive intervention.
• Lead change and adoption, embedding new ways of working that deliver lasting impact.
• Manage and support programme teams, ensuring alignment with Council policies and best practice.
• Own and evolve the IT Project Management Framework, driving consistency, performance, governance and benefits realisation.
• Deputise for the Strategic Service Manager when required and contribute to wider leadership priorities.

• Professional project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, Agile, or equivalent).
• Proven expertise in leading large‑scale digital and business transformation in complex organisations.
• Strong knowledge and practical application of programme and portfolio frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience of end‑to‑end programme delivery across full lifecycle, from business case to benefits realisation.
• Extensive experience operating at senior leadership level, influencing decisions and managing complex stakeholder environments.
• Track record of managing large budgets and supplier relationships, delivering value for money and commercial outcomes.
• Strong understanding of governance, assurance, risk and financial management, ideally within a public sector context.
• Proven ability to lead and embed organisational change, delivering measurable service and performance improvements.
• Excellent strategic planning and prioritisation skills, translating vision into delivery roadmaps and plans.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong risk management, decision‑making and leadership capability, able to deliver in complex, fast‑paced environments.

• Competitive Salary:
  We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme:
  Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides:
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible
  
  Working Hours:
  
  Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working:
  We support a healthy work‑life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development:
  Access a wide range of training, development and progression…