Programme Development Manager Ref: 03-25

Salary: Grade 7 £36,841 - £42,811 per annum (pay award pending)
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Place of Work: Based at Elizabeth House (Dereham) Remote-enabled and in the Breckland District
Basis: Permanent

Are you passionate about shaping vibrant communities and delivering impactful projects? If so, we have the ideal opportunity for you to take the lead as our Programme Development Manager.

In this role, you'll be at the forefront of driving economic development and regeneration projects, ensuring they deliver real, lasting benefits to our communities. From concept through to delivery, you will guide key initiatives, working closely with local stakeholders, businesses, government agencies, and community groups to foster a thriving, sustainable local economy.

Your role will involve overseeing a diverse portfolio of projects, managing both complex capital projects and smaller-scale initiatives. You'll coordinate with internal and external teams to ensure the right skills are applied, keeping projects on track and on budget, while consistently delivering outstanding results.  With a strong background in project and programme management, you will be responsible for leading the development of business cases and securing funding and grants to support key growth initiatives.

We're looking for a confident leader with experience in managing complex projects and a passion for economic development and regeneration. You'll need excellent communication skills—both verbal and written—along with the ability to inspire and influence key stakeholders. Ideally, you will bring a blend of strategic thinking, leadership experience, and hands-on management, with a track record of successfully delivering regeneration initiatives.

Working at Breckland District Council means joining a supportive, innovative team dedicated to shaping the future of our vibrant rural communities. We pride ourselves on a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, where every team member's idea and contribution are valued. With a focus on sustainable growth and community well-being, we're driven by our Future Breckland vision, which aims to create thriving, connected towns and villages. At Breckland, you'll find a workplace that encourages personal growth, fosters a positive work-life balance, and allows you to truly make a difference in the future of the district.

For more information or to arrange an informal chat about the role please contact Claire Burton, Placemaking and Partnerships Manager claire.burton@breckland.gov.uk

Closing date: 09:00 Thursday 1 May 2025

Job summary

Description of duties

Primary Functional Objectives of the Role

• To manage the successful and effective delivery of the Councils Future Breckland Programme and other key projects.
• Act as the Programme Lead, ensuring project managers are delivering on key outcomes.
• As well as manage the full Programme, personally lead on the successful development and delivery of technically complex, key projects in the portfolio
• To manage and develop local investment pipelines, and ensure local stakeholders are appropriately supporting the development and evolution of priorities.
• To lead on all performance and progress management and reporting for the full portfolio of activity in the placemaking service.
• To develop, maintain and refine the appropriate set of programme management artefacts and tools, to ensure strong and consistent management and delivery
• To proactively develop and identify new solutions and resources to support identified needs within local priority pipelines
• To collaborate effectively with key partners in the service, and across the Council, to ensure a strong and integrated programme of activity of local changes / projects is maintained in all market towns in Breckland
• To provide expert advice and guidance to teams and stakeholders on effective delivery of capital and related changes
• To manage, monitor and oversee resource allocations and resource utilisation for the portfolio of activity in the placemaking programme
• To provide effective handover of projects into project delivery teams / functions across the Council and externally. Ensuring requirements are clear and resources are accountable
• To lead engagement with key political stakeholders, including local ward members and key political sponsors, to ensure consistent understanding of progress and issues associated with programme performance
• To work effectively and collaboratively with a diverse range of local stakeholders - particularly Town and County Council - to help unlock local growth opportunities
• To work collaboratively across the Economy & Growth service to ensure a fully joined-up and colleague approach to supporting growth priorities
• Ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement.
• Ensure that all necessary procurement is conducted in the appropriate way in accordance with the Council's constitution and legislation.
• To ensure a communication plan is developed and implemented for each project working with the Council's Communication Team.

Primary Leadership Objectives of the Role

• To provide visible confident leadership internally and externally
• Coach, mentor and develop others within the team

This job description is not an exhaustive range of tasks and responsibilities and is subject to the changing requirements of the Council.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service, in consultation with the post holder as detailed in your Contract of Employment.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience within a similar role, with relevant experience in an equivalent Projects / Programmes / Economic Development environment. 
• Strong understanding of the issues impacting effective project delivery, particularly in an urban / regeneration setting
• Experience of managing technically complex key projects and programmes of activity.
• Experience of programme / portfolio management in the context of small and large capital works schemes
• Strong personal track-record of delivery, with experience of delivering projects / capital changes
• Understanding of the key issues impacting town centre development, including transport, planning, environment, and economy.  
• Understanding of the key stages of business case development, and translation of business cases into effective projects / project delivery
• Ability to effectively manage a large portfolio of different sized projects, being delivered by multiple different partners, and ensure effective delivery
• Ability to form effective and collaborative relationships with a diverse range of partners, and work collegiately to develop solutions and viable projects
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Comprehensive IT skills
• Experience of programme / portfolio management in the context of small and large capital works schemes
• Experience of developing effective projects / solutions based on basic initial guidance from stakeholders
• Experience in developing effective contracting / SLA relationships with partners for delivery of activity
• Experience and knowledge of the legal, statutory, and corporate framework relating to Local Government.
• Understanding of delivery in the context of a District Council in an urban and rural environment
• Experience of leading projects and managing activities or outcomes in a matrix environment / leading virtual teams without formal line management responsibility
• Substantial experience of working with Elected Members and operating in a political environment.
• Proactive, positive, and "can do" attitude with track record of delivering

Desirable

• Experience of leading a team in a line management capacity.
• Experience of public realm improvements

Qualifications

Essential      

• Degree or equivalent level experience
• Project management qualification or equivalent experience
• Hold a full UK driving licence or the means to travel independently 

Desirable

• Programme Management / Portfolio Management qualification

Essential Behaviours:

Collaborative:

• I encourage individuals and teams to work, learn and deliver together
• I look for opportunities to coach, support and mentor people both inside and outside of my own team (s) or discipline.
• I listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge
• I look for ways to work in partnership with colleagues across services, Members and external partners #oneteam

Ambitious:

• I act as a role model, leading by example: motivating, influencing and inspiring others
• I actively encourage innovation. If things go wrong, I see that as an opportunity to learn and develop
• I take ownership of change and help others to understand, adapt to, implement and embed change
• I always ask myself 'How could we do this better?

Results Driven:

• I keep to my promises and challenge myself and others to deliver high-quality services
• I look for opportunities to develop people, nurturing future talent
• I understand our council priorities and how I make a difference.
• I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping a focus on results

Empowering:

• I look for and act on opportunities where we can generate an income or drive down costs
• I take responsibility if things don't go well and learn from it for my own and for the organisation's development
• I show energy and drive to explore new opportunities and challenge the status quo

Supportive:

• I give time to colleagues who need help or support, even when the pressure is on
• I understand and take care of my own well-being and of that of those around me
• I treat everyone with kindness, dignity and respect, valuing their thoughts, background and experience

Health & Safety (exposure to risk)

• The role has limited exposure to risk.
• The role will be required to maintain the health, safety and security of officers, stakeholders and partners at all time during the life of the project and whilst an employee of Breckland District Council
• As an employee of Breckland Council you must comply with the Health & Safety policy and attend the compulsory Health & Safety training as and when requested.

What's it like to work for us?

We are passionate about our people and pride ourselves on being a great place to work, we genuinely care and know that a happy workforce is a productive and motivated one! If you're still not sure, here are some stats from our 2024 staff survey to convince you..

• 94% said they feel trusted and empowered
• 90% of staff recommend Breckland as a great place to work
• 89% said they have had opportunities to learn and grow in the last 12 months
• 94% think Breckland provide positive action on health and wellbeing
• 91% said they felt supported by their manager

If you STILL need convincing, here's what some of our staff say...

• "Breckland is a fantastic employer, lots of opportunities and support"
• "Having only just started, it is a great place to work, everyone says hello, is smiley and chatty. I like the groups that are on, like carers shed and neurodiversity"
• "We are encouraged to take regular breaks and there are mental health first aiders and a wide range of good promotional aspects of healthy living and wellbeing."
• "In times of need the council offers excellent support."
• "BDC really does seem to care about the wellbeing and happiness of their staff."

At Breckland Council we have embraced the Government's agenda to modernise local government. Our approach is to lead change rather than follow it, and to add the best value we can to our communities. We achieve this by developing our employees to their full potential, providing them with the relevant knowledge, equipment, and authority to carry out their duties.

We are a dynamic and innovative organisation that is always testing and learning as we seek to continually improve. We have never stood still in response to the emergence of new opportunities, changing customer demands, and ongoing funding challenges. We have exciting plans for how to deliver the best possible services to our residents and businesses.

Breckland as a district is a special place nestled in the heart of rural Norfolk, spanning over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and forest, with five Market Towns and over 140,000 residents. We care, we listen, and we support people and businesses within our district. We have big ideas and we are innovative in our approach, coming up with ways to meet the needs of the local communities that we serve. Through our actions, we want to make things better.

But we know that we can't do it alone. We are a collaborative organisation and we work together with others to make a greater impact. We are also an organisation where our employees can grow and develop and are empowered to achieve and succeed. We are proud of our area, and by driving investment and enabling opportunities, we can maximise its full potential. We want to inspire aspiration to live, work, visit, or do business here: we want our district to be one of choice.

We will support and enable growth and change in our thriving, welcoming places where people and businesses choose to be, knowing their ambitions can be not just fulfilled but exceeded. By listening to people, by understanding what they need and by working together, we can shape what we have to offer. By doing so, we can benefit those who are already here and those who choose to come to live, work, visit, or do business.

We offer excellent conditions of service, including:

• A local government pension scheme (14 per cent employer contribution).
• Attractive holiday package (25 days increasing after three years' continuous Local Authority service by one day per year up to the maximum of 28 days, plus bank holidays)
• Free car parking.
• Remote-enabled working arrangements.
• A newly refurbished office. See what it is like working here by watching this short film: 
  

Our commitment to talent development, on the job learning and upskilling, training and professional memberships, will keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

For more information or to arrange an informal chat about the role please contact Claire Burton, Placemaking and Partnerships Manager claire.burton@breckland.gov.uk

Closing date - 09:00 Thursday 1 May 2025

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Equal Opportunities

We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer, recognising the benefits of sustaining a workforce which reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the requirements of our vacancies - these are listed as essential requirements on the person specification.