Programme Manager (Transport)

York, United Kingdom

At Civic Recruitment and Limited, we know that individuals are more than just fixed expenses; they are the cornerstone of every thriving organisation. That’s why we are passionate about transforming recruitment in the public and private sectors.

In the modern job market, organisations in both public and private sectors face significant workforce challenges. Public sector entities, such as local councils and central government departments, often struggle with lengthy recruitment processes, limited access to qualified candidates, and stringent budgetary and regulatory constraints. Private sector businesses, on the other hand, encounter high turnover rates, difficulties managing a mix of permanent and temporary staff, and challenges in sourcing specialised talent for niche industries. These sector-specific obstacles, coupled with the universal complexities of payroll management, create a pressing need for efficient workforce solutions.

Civic Recruitment Limited addresses these challenges with innovative recruitment and payroll solutions tailored for diverse organisational needs. Recognising the critical hurdles organisations face, the company leverages its expertise to streamline processes, reduce recruitment times, and alleviate administrative burdens. With an extensive database of over 1 million pre‑screened candidates, Civic Recruitment Limited is well‑positioned to cater to the specific needs of both public and private sectors.

Job Description

3 Month Contract With A Local Authority

Job Purpose

To provide senior programme management leadership for the time‑critical transfer of bus services and associated powers into the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. The postholder will establish effective programme governance, controls and delivery structures, bring together multiple workstreams and partner organisations, and maintain a clear focus on achieving critical milestones and successful implementation.

This is a delivery‑focused role requiring the postholder to establish programme grip, proactively manage risks and dependencies, provide constructive challenge and drive delivery at pace across a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish clear programme structure and delivery discipline, confirming scope, milestones, critical path, dependencies, priorities, accountabilities and delivery expectations.
• Establish and lead effective project and workstream groups across technical, operational, legal, financial, commercial, workforce and other specialist areas.
• Define clear terms of reference, membership, responsibilities, deliverables, milestones and accountabilities for each workstream.
• Establish and maintain appropriate programme governance, including Programme Boards, reporting arrangements, decision‑making, assurance, escalation and issue‑resolution processes.
• Develop and maintain a single integrated programme plan covering key tasks, milestones, dependencies and deliverables required to achieve the transfer within agreed timescales.
• Implement consistent programme controls covering actions, decisions, risks, issues, dependencies, milestones and critical path management.
• Drive delivery against critical milestones, actively challenging slippage and implementing corrective action where progress is at risk.
• Identify and proactively manage emerging risks, issues and dependencies, ensuring clear ownership, mitigation and escalation arrangements.
• Provide accurate and timely programme reporting, including executive‑level updates, Programme Board papers, performance reports, risk and issue reports and strategic recommendations.
• Ensure senior stakeholders have clear visibility of progress, key decisions, risks, issues, dependencies and areas requiring intervention.
• Work collaboratively with partner authorities and other stakeholders to develop and agree the arrangements required to enable the successful transfer.
• Ensure decisions, actions and recommendations are accurately recorded, monitored and followed through to completion.
• Provide constructive challenge to project leads and delivery partners, ensuring agreed outcomes, milestones and accountabilities remain on track.
• Ensure programme governance, documentation, reporting and assurance are proportionate, effective and consistently applied across all workstreams.
• Build effective relationships across organisational boundaries and facilitate collaboration between senior leaders, technical specialists, project teams and external partners.
• Provide visible programme leadership, creating structure, momentum and a clear line of sight from individual workstreams through to successful implementation.
• Escalate unresolved issues promptly and ensure appropriate intervention is secured to protect the programme timetable.
• Apply strong commercial, operational and organisational change awareness when assessing programme risks, dependencies and implementation requirements.

Requirements

• Significant senior‑level programme or project management experience, with a proven track record of personally leading complex, time‑critical transformation, mobilisation or service transition programmes through to implementation.
• Demonstrable experience leading large‑scale service redesign, mobilisation, insourcing, outsourcing or service transition programmes involving multiple workstreams, organisations and operational dependencies.
• Proven experience establishing and embedding effective programme and project governance, including Programme Boards, project/workstream groups, Terms of Reference, reporting arrangements, assurance and escalation routes.
• Strong experience establishing and leading cross‑functional project and workstream groups involving technical, operational, commercial, financial, legal, workforce and other specialist functions.
• Strong practical experience of programme controls, including integrated programme plans, critical paths, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, actions and decisions.
• Demonstrable ability to drive delivery at pace, challenge slippage, resolve issues, manage dependencies and implement corrective action to protect critical milestones.
• Ability to rapidly establish programme management grip and structure within complex or developing environments.
• Experience producing high‑quality executive‑level reporting, Programme Board papers, performance updates, risk and issue reports and strategic recommendations.
• Experience working in politically sensitive, multi‑stakeholder or public sector environments, with strong judgement and resilience when working with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, influencing and facilitation skills.
• Ability to provide effective leadership, challenge and direction across multiple workstreams and delivery partners.
• Strong commercial, operational and organisational change awareness, with an understanding of the practical risks associated with significant service transformation.
• Experience within local government, combined authorities, transport, infrastructure or another regulated service environment is desirable.
• Experience of public transport, bus service transformation, franchising, service transfers or the transfer of transport powers/functions is desirable.
• Knowledge of public procurement, TUPE/workforce transition, commissioning or complex contractual and commercial arrangements is desirable.
• Experience working across multiple partner organisations or local authority boundaries is desirable.
• Familiarity with recognised programme and project management methodologies, including MSP, PRINCE2, Agile or PMO best practice, is desirable.

Additional Information

Location: York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, with hybrid working arrangements as applicable.

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