Programme Management Office Manager

Job summary

Can you bring structure, insight and effective governance to a large and complex programme?

Do you thrive on turning strategy into delivery while keeping people focused on outcomes, pace and quality?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Programme Management Office (PMO) Manager to lead a large, complex APHA programme. You will establish proportionate standards, controls and reporting to ensure delivery is well governed, transparent and focused on agreed outcomes.

This leadership role, within our Change Directorate, will provide senior leaders with reliable management information, clear escalation routes and evidence for timely decisions, while keeping the programme aligned with APHA and Defra Group priorities.

Working with the Senior Responsible Owner, Programme Manager and key stakeholders, you will provide PMO advice, insight, assurance and challenge throughout the programme lifecycle, from business case development through delivery and change readiness to benefits realisation.

You will provide leadership and develop the PMO team, providing effective planning, governance, reporting, risk, dependency, benefits, resource, financial and assurance support.

This is a varied role, and you will have the flexibility to turn your hand to different tasks as the situation demands. The key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Programme and team leadership - Lead the PMO function and develop its team, setting clear standards, priorities, ways of working and expectations across the programme
• Programme controls - Establish and improve proportionate controls for plans, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, decisions, change, benefits, resources, finances and reporting, aligned with APHA’s Central Portfolio Management Office
• Governance and assurance - Maintain effective governance, prepare decision-making products and coordinate assurance, including gateway or independent reviews where required
• Planning and reporting - Oversee integrated plans, milestone reporting, dashboards and performance information, giving senior leaders a clear view of progress, risks and decisions required
• Risk, issue and dependency management - Set standards for identifying, managing and escalating risks, issues and dependencies, linking them to decisions and delivery plans
• Business cases and benefits - Support the creation and maintain business cases and approvals, identify and track benefits and outcomes, and provide evidence for prioritisation and investment decisions
• Financial and resource management - Coordinate budgets, forecasts, actuals and resource information with finance, digital delivery and workforce planning colleagues to support effective deployment of people and funding
• Stakeholder engagement - Build strong relationships with stakeholders, delivery partners and corporate functions, providing practical support, challenge and insight that enables delivery
• Continuous improvement - Improve PMO processes, products and reporting, sharing learning and good practice across APHA’s delivery community
• Delivery support - Provide credible, pragmatic support that turns strategy into delivery and maintains focus on outcomes, pace and quality

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Experience of leading a PMO function in a complex project, programme or portfolio environment, setting clear standards and enabling effective delivery
• Strong knowledge and practical experience of programme controls, including integrated planning, governance, assurance, reporting, risks, issues, dependencies and change control
• Substantial experience of complex programme financial management, including developing and agreeing budgets, forecasting and monitoring actual costs, managing financial risks and providing clear evidence for investment decisions
• Experience of supporting business cases, benefits and resource management, ensuring people and funding are aligned to programme priorities and intended outcomes
• Ability to turn complex programme information into clear, accurate reporting, insight and recommendations that support senior-level decisions and constructive challenge
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills, with experience of improving PMO capability, sharing good practice and building trusted relationships across organisational boundaries

Qualifications

You must hold at least one of the following qualifications, or have relevant experience.
•PRINCE2 Practitioner
•Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
•Agile Project Management Practitioner
•Management of Risk Practitioner
•P3O Practitioner
•Managing Successful Programmes Advanced Practitioner
•APM Chartered Project Professional
•Project Leadership Programme
•APM Project Management Qualification
•APMG International Project Planning and Control Foundation
•APMG International Project Planning and Control Practitioner
•Leading and Managing Project Workstream

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Programme controls and performance reporting

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,207, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £16,862 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Why work for APHA?

At APHA, we are committed to supporting you to develop your skills, knowledge, and professional capability throughout your career.

From day one, you will be welcomed through a structured induction programme, helping you understand the Civil Service, our work, and how we operate. You’ll work closely with your line manager to set clear priorities and develop a performance, learning, and development plan tailored to your role.

Alongside formal training, you will have opportunities to apply and develop your knowledge in a practical environment, contributing to continuous improvement and innovation.

Inclusion, support, and the wellbeing of our people are central to what we do, ensuring everyone at APHA can thrive both professionally and personally.

Key Benefits Include

• Civil Service Pension - Defra contributes an average of 28.97% of your salary towards your pension

• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30

• An extensive range of learn