Programme Delivery Manager in Milton Keynes

About us

At Exchange for Change, we are building something the UK has never had before. Working across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, we are designing and delivering a Deposit Return Scheme from the ground up, creating a system that helps reduce litter and waste by encouraging people to return their empty drinks bottles and cans for recycling. We are industry led, and driven by purpose. A national movement with a clear mission. No bottle unreturned. No can left behind. This is not just another job. This is a rare opportunity to do meaningful work, shape a landmark national programme, and help deliver lasting positive impact for people, businesses and the planet alike.

Your role

As Programme Delivery Manager, you will support the Head of Programme Delivery in maintaining and driving the unified programme plan across Exchange for Change. You will help turn strategic intent into practical delivery, working across functions to track progress, identify risks, resolve blockers and provide clear, confident reporting to senior stakeholders. You will be part of the Strategy and Programme team, a small, central function at the heart of Exchange for Change, reporting into the Head of Programme Delivery. The team is responsible for shaping the direction of the scheme and ensuring coordinated, effective delivery across the organisation. This is a hands-on delivery role. We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable facilitating a senior governance meeting, chasing actions across multiple teams, producing a board-level presentation, maintaining programme controls and helping solve practical delivery challenges. Success in this role will come from a willingness to get involved, take ownership and make things happen rather than simply reporting on progress. You’ll be based at our Milton Keynes office (30min from London Euston) with the option to work from home 2 days per week.

Key Responsibilities & Priorities

• Develop and maintain the unified programme plan.
• Support the Head of Programme Delivery through taking ownership of developing and maintaining the integrated programme plan across Exchange for Change. Ensuring milestones, dependencies, decisions and critical path activities are visible, owned and actively managed.
• Translate high-level priorities into clear delivery actions, helping teams understand what needs to happen, by when, and where their work connects to the wider programme.
• Accountability for maintaining disciplined programme controls, including action tracking, risk and issue management, dependency mapping and regular progress reporting.
• Drive delivery through collaboration and confidence.
• Work across functions to monitor delivery progress, surface challenges early and help teams identify practical solutions before issues become blockers.
• Build trusted relationships with internal teams, external partners and senior stakeholders, using influence, clarity and follow-through rather than command and control.
• Act as a reliable day-to-day deputy to the Head of Programme Delivery, ensuring priorities are followed through and delivery conversations are focused, constructive and outcome-led.
• Prepare high-quality reporting and senior-level materials.
• Support and manage programme governance through preparation of clear, accurate and well-structured progress updates, presentations and briefing materials for C-Suite and senior governance audiences.
• Turn complex delivery information into concise insights, highlighting progress, risks, decisions required and areas needing leadership attention.
• Ensure programme information is consistent, current and credible, giving stakeholders confidence in the plan and the organisation’s ability to deliver it.

What success looks like

• There is a clear, credible and actively managed programme plan that gives leaders confidence in delivery across Exchange for Change.
• The Head of Programme Delivery is well supported, with the right information, materials and follow-through in place at the right time.
• Risks, issues, dependencies and blockers are identified early, clearly owned and actively managed through to resolution.
• Teams across the organisation understand their delivery responsibilities and feel constructively supported to meet them.
• Senior stakeholders receive concise, accurate reporting that supports effective decision-making and builds confidence in programme progress.

About you

You will bring:

• Experience in project, programme or portfolio delivery, ideally in a complex, cross-functional environment.
• Strong planning and delivery management skills, with confidence using programme controls such as milestones, dependencies, risks, issues and actions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to produce clear materials for senior and C-Suite audiences.
• The ability to work confidently across an organisation, building trust, coordinating delivery and influencing without relying on formal authority.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and project management software; experience with Wrike would be beneficial but is not essential.
• A practical understanding of project and programme management disciplines, with formal P3M or project management experience including governance, risk management, dependency management, milestone tracking and executive reporting.

You are likely to be:

• A naturally proactive individual. Someone who can find innovative solutions to problems and takes ownership rather than waiting for direction.
• Dynamic, energetic and resilient, able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Highly reliable, organised and calm under pressure, with a reputation for doing what you say you will do.
• Collaborative and credible, able to earn respect and trust while maintaining momentum and accountability.
• Motivated by purpose and the opportunity to contribute to a programme of national importance.

The opportunity

Work that makes a difference - and a place where you can too. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help establish a scheme of national importance, working with purpose-driven colleagues and partners to deliver visible, real-world impact. You’ll contribute directly to meaningful environmental and social change and in return, we support and reward our team through a range of benefits and initiatives, including:

• Competitive base salary.
• Bonus scheme.
• 34 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays, additional holidays for length of service.
• Flexibility with holidays. You may work on a local public holiday and take an alternative day off, giving you the freedom to celebrate the days that matter most to you.
• 5% employer pension contribution.
• Life Insurance: Cover of 4 times base salary.
• Private Medical Insurance: Includes GP access and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for wellbeing support.
• Income protection.
• Family Leave: Maternity, adoption, parental, and paternity leave policies will be developed to be progressive and inclusive.
• Hybrid Working: 60% office or field-based and 40% home-based, with some flexibility according to business and personal needs.