Programme Director in Manchester

Programme Director in Manchester

Manchester Temporary 90000 - 110000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
TFT

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a national building safety remediation programme and manage diverse teams.
  • Company: Join a leading consultancy in the construction industry with a focus on safety.
  • Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with potential for long-term client relationships and career advancement.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in building safety while developing your leadership skills.
  • Qualifications: 15+ years of experience in project management and strong leadership abilities required.

The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.

Employment Type: Fixed Term, Contract

Application Start Date: 07-07-2026

Application End Date: 31-12-2026

Location: Flexible on location

Country: UK

Work Style: Hybrid

Industry: Construction residential and commercial/office

Category: Project/program management

Position: Business analysis

Experience: 15+

Education: MAPM

Description:

The Programme Director is a new, dedicated post, fully funded by the client for an initial three-year term. The role provides full-time, single-client leadership of the programme – taking overall ownership of delivery, governance and the client relationship. The successful candidate will be the day-to-day face of TFT to the client's Remediation Delivery Committee and Fund Steering Committee, and will lead a team spanning TFT's PMO, workstream leads and technical specialists, supported by TFT's wider Technical Resource Pool.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Own end-to-end delivery of the remediation programme across various workstreams.
  • Chair or co-chair programme governance forums, including the fortnightly Remediation Delivery Committee, and represent TFT at the monthly Fund Steering Committee.
  • Maintain and enforce stage-gated portfolio management with defined artefacts, SLAs and KPIs; run portfolio-level risk management and escalation paths.
  • Develop and maintain portfolio- and building-level plans, timelines and risk registers aligned with Building Safety Act requirements.
  • Provide weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting to the client on progress, variances, escalations and enforcement coordination.

Client & Stakeholder Relationship Management:

  • Act as the primary day-to-day relationship holder with the client's Remediation Delivery Lead, Fund Managers, Assistant Fund Manager and Business Manager.
  • Build and protect a strong long-term relationship with the client, positioning TFT to extend the programme, or the individual's role, beyond the initial three-year term.
  • Liaise with third parties supporting the programme, including the appointed data coordination partner and legal escalation partner, and coordinate developer engagement across the client's panel of major national housebuilders and developers.

Team Leadership:

  • Manage the PMO Director and PMO Manager, and provide matrix leadership to the Workstream Leads and Technical Specialists (Building Safety and Developer Engagement).
  • Draw on TFT's Technical Resource Pool of building surveyors, project managers, quantity surveyors, structural and façade engineers, and CDM Principal Designers, allocating and prioritising resource across workstreams.
  • Set individual and team performance objectives, and support the professional development of workstream leads and PMO staff.

Technical Oversight & Statutory Compliance:

  • Provide oversight of Building Safety Act remediation compliance in conjunction with the Technical Specialists, including review of statutory notices (e.g. s235, Improvement Notices) and enforcement stakeholder liaison with Local Authorities and Fire Services.
  • Oversee the registration of Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), and manage a structured approach to Gateway requirements, submissions and approvals.
  • Ensure full statutory compliance across SRTs, the Remediation Code of Practice, BSR Gateway requirements, CDM Regulations and Golden Thread obligations.

Financial & Commercial Management:

  • Own the programme's fee and budget performance for TFT, working with the FinOps Manager on cashflow forecasting, cost recovery tracking and variance analysis.
  • Oversee professional services sourcing, contract alignment and recommendation of specialist contractors and consultants.
  • Support Building Safety Fund (BSF) and Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS) applications for orphan buildings.

Data, Reporting & Golden Thread:

  • Hold programme-level accountability for Golden Thread compliance across the portfolio, ensuring data is accurately captured, controlled and traceable in the programme's data management system and TFT's reporting systems.
  • Oversee data integrity for assessment and remediation records, and the production of executive reporting packs and dashboards for the client and TFT leadership.

Resident & Leaseholder Engagement:

  • Oversee TFT's input into clear, accessible communications to residents and leaseholders on assessment outcomes, remediation works, timelines and impacts, working with the appointed data coordination partner and Managing Agents.

Person Specification:

Essential:

  • MAPM (registered Project Manager, Association for Project Management) or equivalent programme/project management chartership.
  • Minimum 15 years' industry experience, including senior programme or project leadership roles.
  • Demonstrable track record of leading large, multi-workstream programmes for a major client – ideally in real estate, insurance, or building safety/compliance.
  • Strong working knowledge of building safety legislation (Building Safety Act, Higher-Risk Building regime) and experience managing large, multi-property compliance or remediation programmes.
  • Excellent governance, reporting and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to represent TFT at senior client and steering-committee level.
  • Strong people leadership skills, with experience managing multi-disciplinary teams in a matrix structure.

Desirable:

  • MSP or Prince2 Practitioner (or equivalent programme governance qualification).
  • Experience of fire safety, structural or façade remediation programmes.
  • Familiarity with Golden Thread principles and digital data/reporting platforms.
  • Prior experience working with, or on behalf of, institutional real estate investors or insurers.

Success Measures:

  • On-time, on-budget delivery of programme milestones across all six workstreams.
  • Statutory compliance maintained across SRTs, BSR Gateway requirements and Golden Thread obligations, with no material enforcement escalations attributable to programme delivery.
  • Positive client relationship health, evidenced through client feedback and continuation/extension of the programme beyond the initial three-year term.
  • Programme fee income and cost performance delivered in line with the agreed TFT budget (circa £2.5m–£3m per annum).
  • High-quality, up-to-date reporting and data integrity across the programme's data management system and Golden Thread records.

This job description reflects the current requirements of the role and may be reviewed and amended in light of the changing needs of the programme and TFT's business.

Programme Director in Manchester employer: TFT

TFT is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and flexible working environment in the heart of London. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide comprehensive benefits and competitive salaries, ensuring that our team members thrive while delivering high-quality project management services for our commercial clients. Join us to be part of a collaborative culture that values innovation and fosters meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues alike.

TFT

Contact Details:

TFT Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Programme Director in Manchester

Get Your Foot in the Door

Temporary roles in construction often rely on quick recruitment, so make sure to visit local recruitment agencies that specialise in the construction sector. They usually have a go-to list of companies that need staff urgently, helping us connect with potential employers faster.

Leverage Community Connections

Construction is all about connections! Check out local trade events, networking gatherings, or even social media groups focused on your area. Engaging with the community can lead to insider knowledge about temporary job openings that might not be advertised anywhere else.

Showcase Your Skills with a Solid Portfolio

Even for temporary gigs, a visual portfolio can really set you apart. Take photos of previous projects you’ve worked on, or if you're fresh in the industry, show examples of your work during training. This can help us demonstrate our hands-on experience to potential employers, like TFT.

Apply Directly at Construction Sites

Don’t overlook the power of walking directly into construction sites. Many temporary positions are filled on the spot, so it’s worth popping by local sites and having a face-to-face chat. Bring your CV and be ready to impress, as companies like TFT appreciate proactive candidates ready to jump in when needed.

We think you need these skills to ace Programme Director in Manchester

Programme Management
Stakeholder Management
Building Safety Legislation Knowledge
Governance Skills
Team Leadership
Risk Management
Financial Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Relevant Experience:In the construction game, having hands-on experience matters! Be sure to showcase any previous temporary roles or projects you've worked on in your CV. Mention specific skills like safety protocols, tools you're familiar with, or types of construction work you've done – this will help you stand out!

Showcase Certifications and Training:If you've got any relevant certifications or training like a CSCS card or health and safety courses, flaunt them! Include them in your CV and mention them in your cover letter. It shows that you're not just ready to get to work but that you've got the essential safety knowledge, which is super important in the construction industry.

Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:For a temporary role, flexibility is key! In your cover letter, make sure to clearly state your availability – are you ready to start immediately? Can you work various shifts? Letting TFT know how adaptable you are might just get you the edge over other candidates.

Keep it Concise and Clear:When applying for temporary roles in construction, employers often appreciate brevity. Keep your CV and cover letter clear and to the point. Focus on the skills and experiences that align most with what TFT is looking for. Avoid unnecessary fluff to make it easier for them to see why you’re the perfect fit!

How to prepare for a job interview at TFT

Show Off Your Safety Knowledge

In construction, health and safety is non-negotiable. Get comfortable with specific safety regulations like COSHH or Working at Height – you might get asked how you’d handle risk assessments or unsafe conditions. We need to show that we prioritise safety above all else.

Be Ready for Hands-On Scenarios

Expect practical questions or even a mini test where you’ll need to demonstrate basic skills. They might set up a scenario and ask how you would approach a specific task. Let’s prepare by brushing up on our trade skills and thinking through past projects we’ve worked on.

Flexibility is Key

Since this is a temporary role, they’ll want to know if you can adapt quickly to different teams and situations. Let's think about past experiences where we've had to adjust on the fly. This will show we’re ready to hit the ground running!

Highlight Your Previous Experience

Temporary roles often require hitting the ground running, so make sure to have a few stories lined up that showcase your relevant experience in construction. We want to emphasise skills that might not be on our CV—like teamwork and problem-solving when things don't go to plan.