Overview
Programme Contract Manager – 0
Our Benefits
You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here: Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council.
About the role
Are you ready to lead a transformative programme that makes a real difference in people’s lives?
West Northamptonshire Council is looking for an experienced and driven Programme Contract Manager to lead on the delivery of a £32 million Connect to Work initiative across the South Midlands. Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, this ambitious programme aims to deliver positive employment outcomes for residents and businesses in Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire. Delivery will be through a network of Local Authority partners, with a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and measurable outcomes.
In this pivotal role, you’ll be responsible for overseeing the strategic and operational delivery of the programme, managing a small but dedicated team, and ensuring high performance from sub-contracted providers. You’ll also play a key role in embedding fidelity assurance models of supported employment, ensuring the programme delivers real, lasting change for individuals, communities, and businesses.
This role is until March 2030 and the end of the programme. It’s an exciting opportunity to lead a high-profile, high-impact programme that aligns with national priorities and local ambitions.
Interviews are expected to take place on Friday 24 October or Monday 27 October.
For an informal discussion about this role, please contact: Emma Panter emma.panter@westnorthants.gov.uk
About you
You’re a strategic and inspiring leader with a strong track record of delivering complex, multi-partner programmes – ideally within employment, skills, or economic development. You thrive in dynamic environments and bring clarity, confidence, and purpose to everything you do.
- Proven leadership experience in managing large-scale, grant-funded programmes with the ability to navigate complexity and drive results.
- Exceptional programme management skills with a sharp eye for detail and a commitment to delivering on time and within budget.
- A collaborative mindset with the ability to build and sustain effective partnerships across public, private, and voluntary sectors.
- Strong analytical capabilities using data to inform decisions, measure impact, and continuously improve service delivery.
- Insight into employment barriers particularly for individuals with complex health needs, and a passion for creating inclusive pathways into work.
About us
Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes.
We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we believe benefits our employees, the organisation and our communities.
Visit our jobs and careers section to find out more about our wide range of learning and development opportunities; apprenticeships; our wellbeing package; staff benefits; our commitment to equality, diversity and Inclusion.
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/jobs-and-careers
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
