Programme and Projects Manager in Ely

Are you ready to lead transformational change in local government? East Cambridgeshire District Council has an exciting opportunity!

Location: The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4EE

Salary: £46,142 to £50,269 per annum

Job Type: Permanent or Fixed Term

Hours: 37 hours per week

Closing Date: 23 August 2026

About Us: East Cambridgeshire boasts excellent transport links, stunning countryside, vibrant markets, and welcoming communities. It is one of the UK's happiest and healthiest places to live. East Cambridgeshire District Council takes pride in its innovative approach to delivering sustainable and economically driven services that benefit residents, stakeholders, and the environment.

The Role: East Cambridgeshire District Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation, one of the most significant changes facing councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This programme will reshape how local government is organised, how decisions are made, and how public services are delivered for residents, businesses, and communities. We are working across seven councils to deliver this landmark transformation. As Programme and Projects Manager, you will lead and coordinate programme and project activity across assigned Local Government Reorganisation workstreams. You will translate complex and evolving objectives into clear plans, ensuring scope, milestones, resources, benefits, risks, and dependencies are understood and actively managed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead programme and project activity across assigned workstreams, aligned to Council priorities, statutory requirements, and wider programme milestones.
• Develop, maintain and quality assure programme and project plans, reports, risk and issue logs, and assurance documentation in line with PMO standards.
• Coordinate activity across services, workstream leads, project teams, and partner councils, ensuring dependencies are understood and escalated where needed.
• Provide clear, evidence-based progress reports, briefings, and decision papers for senior officers, programme boards, and elected Members.
• Identify, manage and escalate risks, issues, and delivery challenges, taking proactive action to prevent slippage and maintain delivery control.
• Support benefits realisation by defining intended outcomes and tracking progress against measurable improvement.
• Build strong working relationships across Council services, the seven councils, and partner organisations.
• Provide practical advice to managers and workstream leads on programme and project management methods, tools, and governance standards.

You:

• Significant experience of programme and/or project management across the full delivery lifecycle.
• A recognised programme or project management qualification, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Strong understanding of programme governance, PMO standards, assurance, risk and issue management, and benefits realisation.
• Experience of working across services, organisations, or partners to manage dependencies and deliver shared outcomes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear reports and presentations for senior audiences.
• Confidence to influence, negotiate, and constructively challenge senior stakeholders and partner organisations.
• Good judgement, resilience, and emotional intelligence when working with ambiguity and competing priorities.

Benefits:

• Flexible working
• Childcare scheme in approved cases
• Training and development opportunities
• Occupational health programme
• Holiday and sickness scheme entitlements

To submit your CV for this exciting opportunity, click Apply today!