Programme Manager

Description & Requirements On behalf of DBT we are looking for a Programme Manager (Inside IR35) for a 6 month contract. This is a hybrid working role (two days a week office based
- London, Birmingham, Salford, Darlington, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast). Job Purpose: This role offers an exciting opportunity to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and work on two of the UK’s most ambitious Industrial Strategy interventions: the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) and the AI Growth Zones (AIGZ) programme. Delivered through one integrated programme team, these initiatives aim to accelerate the deployment of advanced AI infrastructure, unlock multi billion-pound investment, and strengthen the competitiveness of the UK’s strategic manufacturing sectors. Together, BICS and AIGZ form a core part of the UK’s long term plan to secure economic growth, support clean power ambitions, and ensure businesses can scale and innovate in a globally competitive environment. You will join a high performing, multidisciplinary programme team operating across several specialist workstreams, including Legislation, Eligibility, Subsidy Control, Implementation, Engagement and PMO. The programme is fast paced, high profile and delivery focused, requiring strong leadership to coordinate complex policy, digital, and operational activities while working closely with DESNZ, HMT, DSIT, delivery bodies and industry stakeholders. This role offers the opportunity to provide visible leadership on nationally significant programmes, shaping delivery approaches, driving progress across interdependent workstreams, and ensuring readiness for the successful launch of both BICS (Scheme Launch in 2027) and AIGZ. SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance. As a Programme Manager , your main responsibilities will be to:
• Communicates the vision and translates it into delivery objectives for the team. Leads the programme and team to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes.
• Oversee the development of integrated workstream plans, ensuring each plan is robust, realistic and underpinned by clear milestones, dependencies, risk management and resource requirements.
• Maintain the overall integrity and coherence of the programme and governance frameworks to support each project. Plans programme assurance activities.
• Work with project leads and the business to ensure dependencies are actively managed. Act as an arbiter and enforcer, resolving issues between various programme elements.
• Identify and manage stakeholder relationships, highlighting the need for SCS support. Appropriately manages internal and external relationships.
• Oversee risk and issue management, ensures mitigations are in place and resolved through negotiated agreements. Essential:
• Demonstrable experience leading a Programme Management Office and managing multidisciplinary teams, including direct line management responsibility for senior staff above
• Proven ability to provide leadership across multiple workstreams, business areas, and stakeholder groups, ensuring effective collaboration and delivery across organisational silos.
• Strong programme financial management experience, including budget ownership, resource planning, forecasting, and allocation of programme resources to meet delivery objectives.
• Experience delivering digital transformation and technology-enabled programmes within the public sector, with a track record of successfully implementing complex digital change initiatives.
• Experience in SCRUM Desirable:
• Experience of working with operation and grants teams Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas. Disability Confident As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, DBT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. Armed Forces Covenant DBT guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance. In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different". General information Posting ID PSR1JP00105716 Type of employment Contract Organisation Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Contract duration 6 months Location London Workplace Type Hybrid