Job Description

Programme Manager - Children's Social Care and Education Reform
Fixed Term / Secondment (12 months), Full Time
61,181 to 71,977 per annum
Location: Chelmsford*
Working Style:
Closing Date: 9th November 2025
*This is a hybrid-working role, with a requirement to work at a functional work location 2-3 days per month on average, depending on business need.
This opportunity will be offered as secondment or fixed-term contract for a duration of 12 months, with potential for extension.
The current programme of reform in Children's Social Care represents the most extensive changes in over two decades. This Programme Manager role will be central to supporting the implementation of change as set out in the Families First Partnership Programme and the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Operating within a complex and evolving system-and in the context of wider local government reform-the Programme Manager will lead the design and delivery of strategic policy reform across Children's Social Care and Education Services at Essex County Council. The role will coordinate multi-agency efforts to deliver integrated, responsive services that improve outcomes for children, young people, and families.
Working closely with internal teams and external partners-including Health, Education, Police, and the voluntary sector-the Programme Manager will oversee the development and execution of delivery plans aligned to national policy and local priorities. The role will ensure services are designed and delivered as part of a cohesive system that promotes wellbeing and protects children from harm.
Hosted within Essex County Council's Transformation Team, and with matrix management by senior leaders in Children's Services, the Programme Manager will apply the Council's established change methodology, standards, and governance to ensure consistency and quality in programme delivery.
Preferably, the successful candidate will have experience and knowledge of working within Children's Services. However, candidates with exceptional programme management expertise and a strong track record of engaging senior stakeholders will also be considered.
This position requires strategic programme leadership, budget oversight, and stakeholder engagement, with responsibility for tracking progress, evaluating impact, and reporting to senior leaders, governance boards, and external bodies.
Accountabilities

• Works collaboratively with service areas and partners supporting the development of compelling business cases.
• Builds effective stakeholder and partner relationships at senior level, which are influential and elicit support at senior level.
• Accountable for leading teams of people, to build professionalism and expertise through development activities.
• Accountable for developing and delivering a resourcing plan, including management of programme budget, for complex & large-scale programmes to ensure delivery of outcomes.
• Responsible for overseeing risk and issue management, ensures mitigations are in place to address issues between elements of the programme, resolving these through negotiated agreement or escalating.
• Works collaboratively with customers to agree quantified realisable benefits and metrics to monitor impact. Designing and actively managing the programme plan, ensuring outcomes are achieved.
• Accountable for maintaining the overall integrity and coherence of programme & governance framework to support each project. Plan programme assurance activities and manage dependencies within the programme and across other activities in the portfolio.
• Responsible for cascading the programme vision and translating these into delivery objectives which support the Strategic Aims of the Council. Lead the programme to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes.
• Responsible for providing technical leadership in both line and matrix management styles, to ensure successful delivery of programmes and for supporting the Portfolio Manager in leading, assuring and delivering the portfolio of work which delivers against the Strategic Aims of the Council.
• Specific targets & objectives defined annually within the performance management framework.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area, accredited to the level of APM Practitioner or MSP Practitioner.
• Experience of working as a Programme Manager within a local Government setting.
• Evidence of successfully implementing major change initiatives within a range of large organisations.
• Experience of working closely with Members and senior leaders and managers to overcome resistance to change.
• Ideally knowledge of children's services and education and experience of delivering complex change programmes within those environments.
• Ideally experience of working within a political environment with detailed knowledge of a public sector setting & the nuances involved in being part of a complex environment.
• Experience of working with complex multi-agency partnerships and stakeholder groups.
• Exemplary leadership capability evidenced in creating a high-performance culture, drawing on specialist skills and expertise effectively, bringing together diverse capabilities.
• Evidence of creativity in exploring innovative business opportunities which maximise opportunities for development of a financially sustainable service.

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Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about ) on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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