Interim Programme Manager (Transport) – Inside IR35

Contract: Temporary, for initially 12 weeks

The Organisation

The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was established as a new organisation in early 2024. It is a public sector employer with access to powers and funding to unlock transport and housing improvements, boost skills provision and help the economy transition to net zero for York and North Yorkshire. The Mayor also holds responsibilities in relation to Policing, Fire and Crime. Making the most of the combined strengths of the city region and rural powerhouse, the Combined Authority is a long-term commitment to shaping a brighter future for generations to come. By working for us you will play a part in making positive changes, unlocking investment, supporting business and communities to thrive and creating new and better opportunities for people that live and work here.

The Opportunity

The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is seeking an experienced Programme Manager to provide dedicated programme management capacity for the time-bound transfer of bus services and associated powers into YNY Combined Authority. The programme is complex, involves multiple workstreams, partner organisations and interdependencies, and has a number of critical delivery milestones. It therefore requires strong programme leadership, effective governance and an individual who can establish and maintain delivery momentum.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain effective programme governance, controls, reporting and decision-making processes.
• Develop and manage an integrated programme plan, including milestones, dependencies, risks, issues and critical path activities.
• Lead cross-functional project and workstream groups across operational, technical, legal, commercial, financial and workforce areas.
• Drive delivery against key milestones, proactively managing risks, dependencies and slippage, and implementing corrective actions where required.
• Provide clear programme reporting, assurance and recommendations to senior leaders, ensuring timely visibility of progress and key decisions.
• Ensure effective escalation, issue resolution and accountability across all workstreams.
• Work collaboratively with partner authorities and stakeholders to develop and agree arrangements necessary for the transfer.
• Maintain accurate programme documentation and ensure decisions and actions are tracked through to completion.

This is a hands-on delivery leadership role, not a coordination position. The successful candidate will establish programme structure and governance, challenge progress where required, manage complex dependencies and ensure delivery remains on track.

What You'll Bring

• Experience within local government, transport, infrastructure or similarly regulated environments.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale programmes involving multiple stakeholders, organisations and interdependent workstreams.
• Strong expertise in programme governance, assurance, risk management, planning and delivery controls.
• Experience establishing and leading Programme Boards, workstreams and cross-functional delivery teams.
• Demonstrable success in driving delivery at pace, managing risks and dependencies, and resolving issues to protect critical milestones.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills, with experience working in politically sensitive or multi-stakeholder environments.
• Experience producing high-quality executive reporting and strategic recommendations for senior decision-makers.
• Strong understanding of organisational change, service transformation and operational delivery.

We kindly ask for no agency submissions please.

Key Dates:

Interview date: TBC