Strategic Planning Programme Manager in Northumberland

Fixed Term Contract – Up to 2 Years

£41,771 - £46,142 per annum

Help shape the future of one of England's most treasured landscapes. National Parks are special places. 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.

Working directly with the Chief Executive, Directors and Members, you'll bring together people, ideas and evidence to create an ambitious, integrated framework that will shape the Authority's future for years to come. 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. It's about leading change, influencing at the highest level and ensuring our strategic ambitions become deliverable, measurable outcomes.

About the role

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. Working across the organisation and with external partners, you'll build strong relationships, challenge constructively and keep momentum across a programme involving senior leaders, elected Members and a wide range of stakeholders. 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.

About you

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.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and consultation skills.
• Confidence working with senior executives, Boards or elected Members.
• Outstanding communication, influencing and facilitation skills.
• The ability to translate complex information into practical, deliverable plans.

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.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact. 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. If you're motivated by meaningful work, thrive in complex environments and enjoy bringing people together to achieve ambitious goals, we'd love to hear from you. Join us and help shape the future.

• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays plus flexi leave
• Award winning wellness programme
• Days out in the National Park
• Work life balance
• Supportive culture
• Development opportunities

Job Purpose

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. Lead and coordinate consultation and engagement on these plans with partners, stakeholders, and members of the public. 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.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Programme Leadership
• 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.
• Connect the teams delivering these functions and work closely with the Leadership Team and Directors to drive organisational priorities and outcomes.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders regarding programme delivery, timelines and strategic alignment.
• Project Management and Delivery
• Develop and maintain programme documentation, delivery plans, milestone schedules and reporting mechanisms.
• Monitor progress against agreed timescales and deliverables, taking corrective action where necessary.
• Coordinate contributions from officers across the Authority to ensure effective development of plan content.
• Commission, coordinate and manage external consultants or specialist support where required.
• Produce regular progress reports for Directors, Leadership Team, Members and relevant governance bodies.
• Ensure all Plans have measurable aims and objectives and can be monitored against targets.
• Governance and Member Engagement
• Develop and implement governance arrangements to support the development and approval of strategic plans.
• Lead planning and coordination of Member engagement activities throughout the programme.
• Prepare reports, briefings and presentations for Members, committees and governance groups.
• Ensure governance processes are compliant with statutory and organisational requirements.
• Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement
• Design and oversee consultation and engagement strategies relating to the Authority's strategic planning framework.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to secure meaningful involvement in plan development.
• Ensure consultation findings, evidence and stakeholder feedback are effectively captured, analysed and reflected in final plans.
• 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.
• Work with relevant staff to identify evidence requirements and commission supporting research where necessary.
• 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. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post.

Person Specification

• Essential Qualifications
• Degree level qualification and professional experience.
• Recognised qualification or substantial experience in programme management, project management, strategic planning, organisational development, public policy or related discipline.
• Essential Knowledge and Experience
• Significant experience of leading complex strategic programmes or projects within a public sector, local government or comparable environment.
• Experience of coordinating multiple workstreams involving senior stakeholders.
• Experience of developing strategic plans, corporate strategies, organisational frameworks or policy programmes.
• Experience of governance, committee processes and reporting to senior decision makers.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement, consultation and partnership working.
• Experience of managing risk, dependencies and programme performance.
• Experience of influencing and working effectively with senior leaders at strategic Board level.
• Essential Skills
• Excellent programme and project management skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning capability.
• Highly developed communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence and negotiate at senior levels.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to analyse complex information and translate it into practical actions.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder management skills.
• Desirable
• 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.