Programme Delivery Lead - Digital Transformation in Gateshead

Lead digital change that delivers better outcomes for Gateshead Council. The Digital Transformation Programme Delivery Lead is a senior professional role with accountability for the leadership, governance and delivery of complex, high‑value digital transformation programmes that are critical to the Council’s strategic objectives. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the postholder will lead multidisciplinary programmes that span multiple services, technologies and partners. The role is responsible for translating corporate priorities into coherent transformation roadmaps, ensuring effective governance, financial control, benefits realisation and sustainable organisational change. The role requires strong organisational influence, professional judgement and the ability to operate credibly at senior management level, shaping delivery approaches and resolving significant risks and competing priorities.

What You’ll Get To Do

• Lead major digital transformation programmes end‑to‑end, delivering complex, multi‑stream initiatives aligned to our IT Strategy and Corporate Transformation Plan.
• Own programme success, with accountability for outcomes, benefits realisation, risks, dependencies and overall performance.
• Turn strategy into delivery, creating clear transformation roadmaps, investment cases and phased plans.
• Provide expert leadership across projects, ensuring consistency, pace and effective use of resources.
• Establish strong governance and assurance, reporting progress, risks and insights to senior leaders and boards.
• Influence at senior level, managing stakeholders, resolving conflict and building shared ownership of outcomes.
• Oversee budgets and suppliers, driving value for money and strong commercial performance.
• Identify and manage strategic risks, enabling timely decisions and proactive intervention.
• Lead change and adoption, embedding new ways of working that deliver lasting impact.
• Manage and support programme teams, ensuring alignment with Council policies and best practice.
• Own and evolve the IT Project Management Framework, driving consistency, performance, governance and benefits realisation.
• Deputise for the Strategic Service Manager when required and contribute to wider leadership priorities.

What You’ll Bring

• Professional project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, Agile, or equivalent).
• Proven expertise in leading large‑scale digital and business transformation in complex organisations.
• Strong knowledge and practical application of programme and portfolio frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience of end‑to‑end programme delivery across full lifecycle, from business case to benefits realisation.
• Extensive experience operating at senior leadership level, influencing decisions and managing complex stakeholder environments.
• Track record of managing large budgets and supplier relationships, delivering value for money and commercial outcomes.
• Strong understanding of governance, assurance, risk and financial management, ideally within a public sector context.
• Proven ability to lead and embed organisational change, delivering measurable service and performance improvements.
• Excellent strategic planning and prioritisation skills, translating vision into delivery roadmaps and plans.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong risk management, decision‑making and leadership capability, able to deliver in complex, fast‑paced environments.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work‑life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax‑efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand‑new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions after 12 months service.
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases after 6 months service.

Our Commitment to You

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve, and we welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Disability Confident

Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. In high‑volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate, and we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria based on the information provided in the application. Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.