Programme Delivery Manager

Job summary

Can you lead complex programmes, balancing delivery, risk, resources and benefits to achieve strategic outcomes?

Do you have experience influencing senior stakeholders and translating strategic objectives into successful delivery plans?

Have you led and developed high-performing delivery teams while embedding agile and programme management best practice?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

This is an exciting time to join the Digital, Information and Security Directorate within the Department for Transport as we restructure our directorate to ensure we are ready for future challenges, building a more sustainable, skilled and in-house capability.

Deliver change. Lead delivery. Make an impact. Oversee complex digital programmes that shape the future of transport, turning strategic priorities into successful outcomes while driving value, innovation and transformation across the Department for Transport.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here

• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday.

• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers and within the Government Digital and Data Profession.

Job description

Join the Department for Transport as a Programme Delivery Manager and lead the successful delivery of complex digital programmes that support organisational priorities and transform how services are delivered. This is a high-profile leadership role within the Portfolio Management Hub, where you'll oversee the planning, delivery and governance of major programmes, ensuring they deliver measurable value and strategic outcomes.

Working closely with senior leaders, stakeholders and delivery teams, you'll translate strategic objectives into actionable plans, managing programme roadmaps, budgets, risks and dependencies across a diverse portfolio. You'll provide clear oversight of performance, ensuring programmes remain aligned to business goals, investment priorities and customer needs.

You'll play a key role in developing delivery capability across the organisation, coaching and supporting project and delivery managers, promoting agile best practice and building a strong delivery community. You'll also drive consistency in programme governance, resource management and delivery standards, helping teams navigate complexity and deliver with confidence.

This is an opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, lead large-scale transformation and make a lasting impact across the Department for Transport's digital portfolio.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Leading and overseeing the delivery of complex programmes, ensuring alignment with the Portfolio Management Hub’s (PMH) investment strategy, operating model, and business value targets.
• Maintaining programme roadmaps and plans that feed into broader portfolio planning and investment decisions.
• Monitoring and managing programme performance against planned benefits and ROI targets as set by PMH governance.
• Managing programme-level risks, dependencies, and resource allocation in line with PMH frameworks.
• Acting as a key point of contact for programme delivery matters, engaging with senior stakeholders to ensure alignment with business goals and customer needs.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Essential qualifications:

We expect at least three of the below to be held:

• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
• PRINCE2 Practitioner
• Managing Successful Programmes Advanced Practitioner
• P3O Practitioner
• APM Chartered Project Professional
• Project Leadership Programme (PLP)
• APM Project Management Qualification
• Managing Projects and Leading Workstreams
• Agile Delivery Management Foundation & Practitioner

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Proven experience leading complex programmes or portfolios, delivering strategic outcomes in large and evolving organisations.
• Strong programme leadership skills, with the ability to manage risks, dependencies, budgets, resources and benefits realisation.
• Experience translating strategic objectives into clear delivery plans, roadmaps and measurable outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and balance competing priorities.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing delivery and project management teams.
• Strong knowledge of Agile and other delivery methodologies, with the ability to embed best practice across teams and programmes.
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective governance, assurance and performance reporting frameworks.
• Ability to manage programme finances, optimise resources and ensure delivery remains aligned to organisational priorities and value targets.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 35 hours per week.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a