At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead digital transformation projects to enhance housing services for residents.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Waltham Forest, a hub of culture and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive workplace, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to support work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives through innovative housing solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in programme management and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
The predicted salary is between 68784 - 72399 £ per year.
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is seeking an experienced Senior Programme Manager (Housing Options) to lead delivery of the Housing Options Workstream within its ambitious Housing Digital Programme. You will drive transformation of digital experience for both Residents and Housing Staff, overseeing complex programmes from design through to implementation. Leading cross-functional teams, you will ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to high standards, while embedding best practice programme governance and reporting.
Key responsibilities include managing programme portfolios, mitigating risks, producing senior-level reporting, and building strong relationships with Residents, senior leaders, in addition to internal and external partners. You will act as a key advisor on complex, often sensitive issues, ensuring services meet resident expectations and deliver measurable improvements.
We are looking for a strategic, delivery-focused leader with strong programme management experience across large-scale change and digital initiatives within the social housing sector. You will bring excellent stakeholder engagement with particular emphasis on Residents, leadership and problem-solving skills. Join us to play a pivotal role in shaping innovative, resident-focused housing services.
Key Responsibilities:- Lead on analysing service requirements and the creation of business cases for digital projects for Residents and Staff.
- Act as the key interface between Housing services and corporate Digital and Technology teams on digital projects being delivered within the Housing Digital Programme.
- Manage and deliver complex digital transformation programmes and projects on time and within budget, to include the procurement and implementation of a Choice-based Lettings (CBL) solution.
- Build and maintain senior stakeholder relationships (Residents, Directors, partners, external organisations, including 3rd Party software providers).
- Exercise political awareness and judgement in complex environments.
- Lead and support continuous improvement, innovation, and service transformation initiatives.
- Ensure effective communication and reporting across projects and programmes at senior and operational levels.
- Proven experience managing complex programmes, portfolios, and business and digital change initiatives within a Housing Options and Support service covering functional areas that include Choice-based Lettings, Housing Register / Waiting List, Allocations, Homelessness, Temporary Accommodation; proven experience of implementing systems that support these functions.
- Ability to influence and lead across matrix organisations without direct authority.
- Strong stakeholder management, including Residents and senior leaders.
- Experience of handling complex, contentious, and politically sensitive issues.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and high workloads effectively.
- Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
- Professional certification in programme/project management desirable: PRINCE2 Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), Agile methodologies.
The below terms and conditions apply to this role: Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks; Satisfactory declaration of interest.
How to Apply:Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer:Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives:
- Promoting equality of opportunity
- Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage
- Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels.
- Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all.
Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.
To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.
For more information on the benefits of working for the Council, please visit this link.
Contact Information:If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Tom Iliffe, Head of Housing Digital Programme at tom.iliffe@walthamforest.gov.uk. If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk.
Fraud Awareness Notice: The London Borough of Waltham Forest only advertises vacancies via our official website and approved recruitment platforms (e.g. Jobsgopublic). We will never ask for payment or request sensitive personal or financial information as part of our recruitment process. If you are contacted by a third party claiming to represent the Council, please verify the vacancy via our official careers website before sharing any information. If you have concerns about a job advert or communication, please report it to: fraud@walthamforest.gov.uk.
**INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY** Senior Programme Manager (Housing Options) in Walthamstow employer: Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is an exceptional employer, renowned for its commitment to creating a healthy, fair, and inclusive workplace. With a focus on employee well-being, skills development, and diversity, the Council offers a vibrant work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration. As a key player in shaping resident-focused housing services, you will have the opportunity to lead transformative projects while enjoying a supportive environment that values your contributions and promotes professional growth.
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We think you need these skills to ace **INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY** Senior Programme Manager (Housing Options) in Walthamstow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In the public sector, having experience in community engagement, policy analysis, or project management stands out. Make sure to showcase any previous roles or volunteer work that reflects your understanding of public service values and how they've shaped your career path.
Showcase Your Knowledge of the Sector:When you’re applying for a government role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of the current political landscape and public policies. Consider including articles you've written or relevant projects that underline your capability to engage with these concepts effectively.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Waltham Forest
✨Get to Know Public Sector Values
Before your interview with Borough of Waltham Forest, dig deep into their mission and values, especially how they align with public service and community impact. Understand the key policies or initiatives they are involved in – you’ll want to show that you genuinely care about serving the community.
✨Brush Up on Regulatory Knowledge
Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
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The government sector thrives on collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully worked in diverse teams or involved stakeholders in your projects. Show us how you bring people together to get a common goal achieved – that's what public service is all about!
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Craft a few STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories that demonstrate your experience in similar roles. Whether it’s a project that made a difference in the community or a challenging situation you managed, be ready to express how your skills and experiences make you a valuable asset for Borough of Waltham Forest.
