Contract Programme Manager

Role: Programme Manager

Length: Initial 3-month contract

Day Rate: £650 p/d Inside IR35

Location: London (Hybrid)

Security Clearance: BPSS

We're supporting a major UK Government department looking for a seasoned Programme Manager to oversee an ambitious digital service transformation initiative. This critical programme focuses on refining, modernising, and driving the nationwide adoption of cross-government digital standards and service manuals to deliver frictionless citizen-facing experiences.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan & Coordinate: Unify multiple complex workstreams into a single, cohesive master programme plan with clearly aligned milestones and strategic priorities.
• Delivery Assurance: Proactively monitor progress, mitigate delivery risks, and manage intricate interdependencies to keep the project moving at pace.
• Governance & Reporting: Champion complex governance and approval processes, preparing succinct, data-backed briefings and decision options for senior boards and Senior Responsible Owners (SROs).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Foster collaborative partnerships across diverse central government bodies, external suppliers, and Arm's Length Bodies (ALBs).
• Continuous Improvement: Cultivate a culture of cross-team collaboration, knowledge sharing, and agile adaptation as the programme evolves.

Skills & Experience Required:

• Qualifications: Formal, demonstrable programme management certification (e.g., PRINCE2, MSP, APM, or PMI).
• Delivery Track Record: Proven experience leading multi-year, multi-stakeholder transformation change initiatives encompassing policy, commercial, and technical strands.
• Risk & Planning Expertise: Exceptional mastery of RAID logs, critical path analysis, and dependency management across interlinked delivery streams.
• Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to translate complex technical or delivery risks into clear, actionable mitigation strategies for executive leaders.
• Industry Context (Desirable): A strong understanding of central government digital service standards, user-centred design principles, or digital service manual landscapes.