Programme Manager - Service Systems

Contract | Civic Recruitment Limited | United Kingdom

Posted On 14/09/2026

Work Experience Management Experience

Interim & Executive Management

City Reigate

Province Surrey

Postal Code RH2

Job Purpose

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.

• 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 work streams.
• 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…