Senior Programme Manager

This role has a starting salary of £68,774 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

This is a 12-month fixed term / secondment opportunity, with the possibility of extension.

We are excited to be hiring a new Senior Programme Manager to join our fantastic Freedom to Travel team. The team is based in Reigate, Surrey. However, a hybrid working approach is in place including home working and flexible use of local offices across Surrey.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Programme Manager to help Surrey County Council change how the council and its partners plan, commission and deliver transport services to residents in the medium to long term.?

If you are up for an exciting challenge, then we want to hear from you!

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

BackgroundTransport across Surrey is a complex map, requiring the coordination of Transport Planners, Adult Social Care, Children's Social Care, home to school travel assistance and multiple external providers. The Council has statutory duties to provide transport services to the public and residents with specific needs who may require bespoke travel solutions.

Our services are facing increased demand for high quality services and, at the same time, transport costs continue to increase against the backdrop of a challenging operating environment.

The programme will improve and optimise the services provided by three different Directorates, based on a new integrated approach to planning, commissioning and delivery of travel assistance and transport. This approach aims to support improved experiences for residents, whilst embedding innovative solutions to shape local transport markets to increase competition and drive down costs.

We require a Senior Programme Manager who will lead the programme and implementation plan to realise the programme's aims. They will champion this work and collaborate with senior officers, Members, partners and residents across Surrey to drive change across travel assistance and transport services. This role will work closely with the Home to School Travel Assistance service and the transformation improvement plan across the end-to-end system in CFLL.

The ambitions of the Programme are to:

• Move towards a joined up system for travel assistance and transport across organisations to enable the most efficient use of travel resources and more seamless customer experience
• Achieving this by driving culture change where collaborative planning, commissioning and delivery are natural ways of working around transport in Surrey
• Draw on innovative practice to support more efficient use of resources and ways of working across the Surrey system
• Shift demand away from private vehicle use to options that support greater independence and transport carbon emissions reduction, such as public transport and active travel
• Shape a more competitive transport market in Surrey, encouraging supplier diversity, competition, and reduced financial pressures.

Shortlisting CriteriaTo be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• Strong organisational skills to ensure high quality planning, governance and programme delivery
• Programme management skills, though a formal project management qualification is not essential for this post nor do you need to be a transport expert
• Experience of managing stakeholders, influencing and negotiating in complex, political environments
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analytical skills to inform strategic and creative thinking when dealing with complex and ambiguous analytical or policy challenges
• Experience in managing and developing a high performing teams of direct and matrix management reports

You will need to hit the ground running and be effective at quickly building productive relationships with a range of stakeholders. This includes subject matter experts whose roles are crucial to shaping the strategy and implementation plan as well as finding opportunities to challenge established practice and strengthen how the council plans, procures and delivers transport now. You will be joining the programme to continue the work already underway as well as having the opportunity to reshape, scope and agree the projects that need to be taken forwards alongside the existing team.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 4th October 2024 with interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below. To be considered for shortlisting for this position, as well as submitting your CV, please submit a statement of interest (no longer than 1 A4 page) that clearly evidences that you have the right skills for this role.

Our CommitmentSurrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.