Programme Manager

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Job Reference: HCC
624664
Salary Range: £56,285 - £63,080 per annum
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Temporary until 31 March 2028
Closing Date: 12

August 2026

Interview Date: w/c 24 August 2026 and 31 August 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Programme Manager to join the Area-Wide Local Government Reorganisation Programme team.

Are you looking for a challenging and diverse role working as part of a collaborative, high-profile programme, with an opportunity to make a real difference for residents and communities across Hampshire and the Solent?

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is a major government-led programme that is reshaping how local councils are structured and how public services are delivered. Across Hampshire and the Solent, 15 councils are working together to create new unitary authorities that will take responsibility for delivering local government services in the future.

The aim of LGR is to simplify local government structures, improve outcomes for residents, strengthen public services and create organisations that are financially sustainable for the future. By bringing services together within new unitary authorities, the programme seeks to improve efficiency, increase accountability and enable more integrated service delivery.

This is one of the largest and most complex transformation programmes ever undertaken in local government. It involves the redesign of services, governance arrangements, technology, finance, assets, people processes and organisational structures, whilst ensuring that critical services continue to operate safely and effectively throughout the transition.

The programme brings together colleagues from multiple councils and service areas to design and deliver the future operating arrangements needed for the new authorities. This includes planning for  Day 1  readiness, when the new organisations formally come into existence, as well as supporting longer-term transformation and service improvement.

Joining the LGR programme provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a once-in-a-generation change programme that will shape the future of local government across Hampshire and the Solent. Colleagues involved in the programme gain experience of complex transformation, large-scale programme delivery, organisational design, governance, stakeholder engagement and public sector reform, whilst helping to create the foundations of the new authorities.

You will lead one or more major themes, programmes or clusters of projects within the LGR portfolio. You will translate strategic direction into coordinated delivery, manage interdependencies and ensure robust progress toward Day 1 readiness.

• Shape and lead delivery of assigned programmes, themes or work streams in line with agreed programme objectives and governance.
• Translate high-level requirements into deliverable plans, work packages, governance products and resource needs.
• Coordinate multiple projects and contributors, ensuring dependencies, sequencing and readiness requirements are actively managed.
• Lead stakeholder engagement across authorities, services and enabling functions to maintain alignment and resolve issues.
• Oversee programme-level risks, issues and change, recommending mitigation and escalation where required.
• Ensure timely, high-quality reporting and decision support for sponsors, boards and senior programme leaders.

• Significant experience leading complex programmes, work streams or major change initiatives.
• Strong planning, delivery, risk and stakeholder management capability.
• Experience leading teams or matrix-managed resources.
• Ability to produce high-quality advice, reporting and governance products for senior audiences.
• Strong judgement in politically or operationally sensitive environments.
• A visible leadership style, with strong delivery grip and the ability to align diverse stakeholders around a practical route forward.
• Play a key role in shaping the future of local government across Hampshire and the Solent.
• Gain experience working on a…