Programme Manager

Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £52,414 - £57,870 Per Annum, Plus Benefits (Pay award pending)
Location: Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End/Home Working
Contract: Contract
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hours: 37 hours.
DBS Check: No
Closing Date: 20/09/2026 at 23:00
Reference: 713525, 713526

We have an excellent opportunity for a Programme Manager to join our Business Change team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a Full-Time, 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract.

As Programme Manager, you will act as a lead coordinator for the strategic delivery of transformation programmes across council directorates within a portfolio of change. Working in close partnership with the PMO and Portfolio Manager, alongside Business Change colleagues and Project Managers, you will ensure successful implementation and impact management of key initiatives.

You will engage with cross-functional senior stakeholders to drive progress, ensuring good governance across the programmes, information is clear and transparent as well as supporting change management.

You will be accountable for tracking programme-level risks across the council, facilitating risk and assurance sessions with senior leaders, and providing successful delivery of services that drive financial efficiencies and better outcomes for our residents.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a collaborative, motivated professional to join our team.

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

• Generous Annual Leave – 31 days annual leave (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays
• GP Helpline – Available 7 days a week
• Employee Assistance Programme – Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline
• Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines
• Free Onsite Gym – Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham
• Local & Lifestyle Discounts – Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more
• Move through Menopause Course
• Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more
• And more!

• Responsible for driving the daily delivery of directorate programmes across council directorates.
• Responsible for coordination of a strategic portfolio, working closely with the Business Change colleagues, especially the PMO and Portfolio Manager and Project Managers to ensure successful implementation and impact management.
• Accountable for the tracking of programme level related risks across the council with appropriate escalation and facilitation of risk and assurance sessions with senior leaders to understand potential issues, seek mitigations and provide successful delivery of services.
• Leading, motivating, and developing staff involved with projects and programmes in line with delivery requirements, to achieve consistently high employee engagement and performance, including line management responsibilities if required.
• Contribute to strategy, performance and quality control, and service and financial planning for specialist areas.

• Relevant Programme and Project Management qualification or skills and experience (MSP or similar).
• Knowledge of local government and particularly transformational Government and efficiency agenda.
• Relevant Change Management qualification or skills and experience (Prosci or similar).
• Experience of using Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, MS Project, MS Visio, PowerPoint.

Wokingham Borough Council has recently been ranked 2nd most productive council in England by the Impower Productivity Index, recognising our strong performance and efficient use of public money.

Our Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central…