Programme Lead

The Programme Lead is pivotal in driving Manifesto's commercial, client, and strategic success, cementing our position as a leading digital experience agency. Reporting to the Programme Director or the Head of Project Management, this role shapes and delivers our most complex and high-value projects and programmes.

The Programme Lead plays a dual role: delivering excellence in client engagements while contributing to Manifesto's broader strategic goals. This role requires working in the business and on the business, actively contributing to critical forums and sharing insights to identify risks, opportunities, and solutions. While most of your time will be billable, adequate time will be allocated for non-billable responsibilities that align with our strategic goals.

Project and programme management can encompass various change and transformation initiatives, differing in complexity, budget, and strategic alignment. This role will focus on high-value, high-complexity initiatives and act as a role model, mentor, and sounding board for the broader team.

• Delivering projects and programmes that meet or exceed success KPIs, including budget, time, scope, quality, and client satisfaction.
• Proactively identifying and resolving risks and issues to ensure successful outcomes.
• Contributing to commercial success by meeting revenue forecasts and ensuring profitability across projects.
• Building strong, effective relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders to foster collaboration and trust and making a positive contribution to our client NPS.

• Lead the day-to-day management of high-value projects and programmes using agreed methodologies, ensuring alignment with client objectives and Manifesto's standards.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation and reporting to provide transparency and accountability.
• Proactively manage project overburns and ensure profitability aligns with forecasts.
• Ensure seamless onboarding and offboarding of projects, providing smooth handovers where applicable.

• Develop a deep understanding of client organisations, identifying opportunities to improve customer and supporter experiences.
• Build and nurture excellent client relationships through regular engagement and on-site meetings.
• Collaborate with Client Services and project teams to deliver cohesive, impactful solutions and build and maintain long-lasting partnerships with clients.
• Actively contribute to new business opportunities, including proposals, pitches, and content development.

• Role model agreed ways of working and behaviours as detailed by the Head of Project Management and wider Leadership Team.
• Mentor and coach junior team members, providing timely and constructive feedback to foster growth and development.
• Facilitate sessions on Agile ways of working and other internal and external delivery-related topics.
• Act as a proactive voice and leader within Manifesto's delivery community, contributing to Communities of Practice, thought leadership, marketing material and company forums.

• Adopt a mindset of continuous improvement and optimisation across all areas of delivery.
• Deepen knowledge of the digital experience sector and Manifesto's service offerings to stay ahead of industry trends.
• Contribute to governance and reporting forums, offering insights and recommendations to enhance working methods.
• Produce and promote marketing content through thought leadership, blogs, and social media.

• Resource complexity and nature of work teams: The Programme Lead works across high-value, high-complexity digital projects, involving multiple stakeholders, strict commercial targets, and varied client environments.
• Teams are dynamic and collaborative, with the Programme Lead acting as a central coordinator, leader, and delivery expert.
• Operate in agile, cross-functional teams that adapt to project needs.

• The Programme Lead solves multi-layered, high-impact problems that involve client expectations, project delivery risks, team dynamics, and strategic organisational goals. Complexity arises from the scale, ambiguity, and stakeholder diversity involved.

• Support change across clients, teams, and processes combining delivery expertise with influence, coaching, and a mindset of continuous improvement.

• Programme Director
• Head of Project Management
• Senior leaders in Manifesto
• Project managers, designers, developers, client service teams, growth team
• Communities of Practice
• Clients

• 1-3 year business plan

• Significant experience in project and programme management within an agency environment.
• Strong commercial acumen, with a deep understanding of the relationship between profitable delivery and agency success.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams and take a programmatic view to shape the best outcomes for clients.
• Accreditation or practical knowledge of Agile, Waterfall, and programme methodologies.
• Highly emotionally intelligent, confident, and outgoing, thriving in busy, people-oriented environments.
• Self-starter with the resilience to work in ambiguous, fast-paced situations.
• Passionate about delivery excellence and unlocking potential in client relationships.
• Proven experience supporting new business development and leading delivery elements in proposals and pitches.
• Skilled in coaching and supporting junior team members, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Expertise in facilitating workshops and sessions on delivery methodologies.
• Familiarity with industry-standard tools for project and programme management.
• Knowledge of emerging trends in digital experience transformation.

• Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe)
• Waterfall project management
• Programme and portfolio management frameworks
• Risk identification, mitigation, and resolution
• Use of project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, MS Project, Trello)
• Reporting and documentation standards
• Change management processes and tools
• Client relationship management and stakeholder engagement
• Workshop and session facilitation (especially Agile coaching)

• Proactive and resilient takes full ownership of project outcomes while fostering collaboration and trust among clients and teams.
• Demonstrates strong commercial awareness, emotional intelligence, and a client-centric mindset.
• Committed to continuous improvement and mentorship, driving both individual and organisational growth.
• Acts as a thought leader by sharing expertise and influencing positive change within the business and industry.

• Purpose - The beating heart of our organisation - the impact we make on people, places, and the planet. Purpose is our driving force and at the core of our organisation.
• Accountability - As we apply flexibility, pace and growth through our self-organisation, we are accountable to all of our stakeholders.
• Craft - Craft highlights our dedication to bringing precision, problem-solving, and creativity to our work, both with our clients and internally.
• Togetherness - Togetherness is how we work - it captures the energy, fun, and user-centred approach that we embrace. It signifies the collaborative spirit we bring to our work, including people at every level and creating a sense of belonging to our teams.