Strategy & Planning Programme Manager in Hexham, Northumberland

Fixed Term Contract – Up to 2 Years

Help shape the future of one of England's most treasured landscapes. They protect some of our most inspiring landscapes, support thriving communities, welcome millions of visitors and tackle some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.

We're looking for an exceptional Strategic Planning Programme Manager to help shape our future. This includes our new Management Plan, Local Plan, Bridging Business Plan and subsequent Business Plan, ensuring they are ambitious, evidence-led and connected by a clear strategic vision. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of the National Park, working at the heart of an organisation committed to protecting nature, supporting communities and responding to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity recovery and sustainable development.

This is more than project management. You'll coordinate multiple workstreams, establish robust governance, oversee consultation and engagement, and ensure our strategic plans align with national policy, organisational priorities and the needs of our communities. You'll also play a key role in connecting organisational development, performance, communications and strategic projects, ensuring they work together to deliver our long-term vision.

You'll be a strategic thinker with outstanding programme management skills and a passion for delivering meaningful change. You'll have experience of leading complex strategic programmes, ideally within local government, the public sector or another partnership-based organisation, and you'll be comfortable working with senior leaders, elected Members and a wide range of stakeholders.

• Significant experience leading strategic programmes or major projects.
• Strong programme and project management expertise.
• Experience developing corporate strategies, business plans or policy frameworks.
• A qualification in programme management, project management, strategic planning or a related discipline is essential, and professional qualifications such as PRINCE2, MSP or APM are desirable.

You'll help shape the Authority's strategic direction, influence key decisions and work alongside passionate colleagues committed to delivering positive outcomes for our landscapes, communities and organisation. Join us and help shape the future.

26 days holiday plus bank holidays plus flexi leave

Award winning wellness programme

Work life balance

Development opportunities

If you'd like to apply, please visit our website, read the job pack and complete the application form.

Grade: Band 6

Contract: Fixed Term Contract (2 years)

Responsible For: No direct line management

To lead and project manage the programme encompassing the development and delivery of the Authority's next framework of corporate and strategic plans, including the Management Plan, Local Plan, Bridging Business Plan and subsequent Business Plan, ensuring they meet strategic objectives. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Directors, Members and key officers, the role will drive progress, coordinate contributions from across the Authority and ensure plans are developed to agreed timescales and quality standards.

• Develop and maintain an integrated programme plan for the preparation of the Authority's strategic planning framework, ensuring alignment between the Management Plan, Local Plan, Bridging Business Plan and subsequent Business Plan.
• Establish clear project governance, reporting arrangements, decision-making processes and programme controls to support delivery.
• Ensure that strategic plans collectively support the Authority's vision, statutory responsibilities, priorities and long-term outcomes and align with national policy.
• Provide strategic oversight across performance, insight and mapping, organisational development, strategic communications, strategic projects, and programme management, ensuring a coherent and integrated approach.

Project Management and Delivery

• Coordinate contributions from officers across the Authority to ensure effective development of plan content.
• Lead planning and coordination of Member engagement activities throughout the programme.
• Design and oversee consultation and engagement strategies relating to the Authority's strategic planning framework.
• Ensure that the Authority’s strategic plans align and connect with wider relevant national, regional and local plans and policies, such as those led by national and local government.

Performance, Evidence and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure plans are informed by robust evidence, data, insight and performance information.
• Working with HR and Corporate Support Manager, ensure the Organisational Development strategy is aligned with the Business Plan.
• Capture learning throughout the programme and make recommendations to improve future strategic planning processes.

Corporate Responsibilities

• Act at all times in accordance with the Authority's values, policies and procedures.
• Contribute to wider corporate initiatives and organisational development activities as required.
• Recognised qualification or substantial experience in programme management, project management, strategic planning, organisational development, public policy or related discipline.
• Significant experience of leading complex strategic programmes or projects within a public sector, local government or comparable environment.
• Experience of developing strategic plans, corporate strategies, organisational frameworks or policy programmes.
• Experience of managing risk, dependencies and programme performance.
• Excellent programme and project management skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning capability.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience within a National Park Authority, local authority or similar public body.
• Professional programme management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, APM, Agile PM).
• Experience of leading organisational strategy or business planning processes.
• Experience of change management and developing organisational culture.
• Experience of statutory planning or policy development environments.