Programme Manager - Community Development

Our client, a London Borough is seeking a Programme Manager with the following skills and experience;

• Programme Leadership - Develop, implement, and oversee programme management frameworks including business cases, initiation documents, project plans, risk/issue logs, and reporting to ensure delivery of outcomes and benefits.
• Strategic Planning & Compliance - Scope and specify projects to meet organisational, statutory, and community requirements, ensuring alignment with council policy, equality standards, and legal frameworks.
• Team & Stakeholder Leadership - Build, motivate, and manage multi-disciplinary programme teams across line and matrix environments, fostering collaboration with residents, statutory bodies, and voluntary/community partners.
• Community Engagement - Establish effective communication channels and participatory planning processes to involve residents in shaping proposals and services, ensuring inclusive engagement and representation.
• Community Development Programmes - Design, deliver, and evaluate a portfolio of funded programmes (circa £1m) supporting employment, education, health, wellbeing, and cost-of-living initiatives for local residents.
• Employment & Training Initiatives - Lead delivery of employment and training services, including hubs, apprenticeships, work placements, and partnerships with employers and training providers.
• Asset & Service Management - Oversee the operation and strategic use of community assets (e.g., centres, hubs), maximising social value, volunteering opportunities, and resident capacity building.
• Partnership Development - Forge and maintain relationships with local employers, SMEs, training organisations, and statutory agencies to expand opportunities and resources for residents.
• Circular Economy & Sustainability - Lead design, implementation, and evaluation of circular economy initiatives supporting estate decarbonisation, local SME growth, and green skills employment.
• Financial & Performance Management - Ensure effective programme monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of outcomes, demonstrating financial stewardship and social impact delivery.
• Leadership & Governance - Support the Head of Service in team coordination, organisational change, emergency planning, and ensuring high standards of probity, equality, and diversity.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement - Research, develop, and deliver new opportunities and approaches (including volunteering, wellbeing, and sustainable living initiatives) that improve resident life chances and strengthen community resilience.

Skills, experience and ability

• Extensive experience of working in a project environment
• Experience of working in a physical, social and economic regeneration setting with a clear understanding of the challenges that presents
• Experience of developing and sustaining successful relationships across the public, private and third sectors.
• Experience of building trust with customers and delivering excellent customer service.
• Experience of negotiating with grant providers and commercial organisation on behalf of an organisation to achieve desired objectives including driving hard commercial negotiations to ensure that the public purse is protected
• Either directly or indirectly, achieve team goals and address performance issues using people management procedures and formal performance management procedures where necessary.
• Ability to get buy in and commitment to the service's vision and priorities from key stakeholders and commitment to taking steps to ensure the involvement of all sectors of the community in all aspects of the services work.
• Political awareness and ability to advise senior elected members on policy choices and develop positive partnerships with elected Members.
• Continuously develop and update professional expertise and that of the team.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to present findings to variety of audiences.
• Strong communication style and ability to create momentum and excitement about the service's work.
• Robust approach in protecting the Council's interests