Senior Programme Manager - D&LGR Community Engagement Workstream
Details
1. Reference: SCC/TP/287909/3621
2. Positions: 1
3. Category: Policy
4. Contract type: Fixed term
5. Working hours: 36 hours per week
6. Posted on: 31 July 2025
7. Closing date: 21 August 2025
8. Directorate: Resources
9. Location: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, RH2 8EF
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council.We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
The starting salary for this role is £70,975per annum, based on a 36working hour week.
This is a fixed term contract/ secondment opportunity until 31st March 2027.
We have an opportunity for a Senior Programme Manager to join us and help us to deliver our Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution (D&LGR) Community Engagement workstream.
Rewards and Benefits
* 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
* Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
* An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
* Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
* Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
* A generous local government salary related pension
* Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
* 2 paid volunteering days per year
* Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
About the community engagement programme
It's an exciting time to work in local government, as we seek to implement the government's vision for simpler local government structures and more devolved power and funding to local areas.
Surrey is in the first wave of local government reorganisation, meaning that we are developing proposals for Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution (D&LGR), with options to split Surrey into two or three unitary councils following reorganisation. We are working towards the government's timeline of new unitary elections in May 2026, and new councils implemented in 2027.
There is much to do, and this role will play a lead role in the Community Engagement Workstream. Following direction from government to hardwire community engagement into local authority structures, the council is progressing work on a strengthened community engagement model with the development of Neighbourhood Area Committees (NACs). We are piloting three NACs across the county in preparation for the creation of new unitary councils. Our model builds upon work we've already done to support community participation and engagement in towns and villages. Multi-agency working will be embedded from the start, with a wide range of partners involved. Our pilots will take a 'test, learn and grow' approach to exploring what works in localities with partners, supporting the development of a blueprint for the new unitary councils
Alongside the development of the model, the current councils' community engagement functions will need to come together under new unitary structures, and this role will support SCC's part of this work.
About the team
This role will report to the Director of Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation and will have strong connections to the Strategy and Policy Team. The Strategy and PolicyTeam is situated at the heart of the council and their mission is to lead thinking and stimulate collective action to enable delivery of the council's and residents' ambitions for Surrey. They add value and expertise around corporate strategy and strategic planning, policy analysis, design and development, strategic risk management and champion equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in all that they do.
The role will work closely with the Design & Transformation Service, which operates in a dynamic, agile environment, delivering strategic transformation initiatives across the council. Emphasising continuous improvement, the service requires team members to proactively identify opportunities for collaboration, optimisation, and efficiency gains. The team is committed to excellence, innovation, and strategic alignment, focusing on delivering value and driving positive change across the organisation.
About the role
In this role you will apply your knowledge, expertise and experience to deliver and oversee the Community Engagement Workstream of the council's Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme. This will include, for example:
1.Leading the design, execution, and delivery of the programme, ensuring alignment with the wider D&LGR programme and the Council's long-term strategic priorities and objectives.
2.Driving the development and securing approval of comprehensive business cases and change requests, ensuring they are strategically aligned with the council's vision of sustainability and community empowerment.
3.Engaging with programme governance, providing updates and strategic insights, ensuring programmes are on track to support and advance overarching goals.
4.Identifying and managing cross-programme dependencies, ensuring strategic coherence and seamless delivery to address complex challenges.
5.Leading on management of risks and issues across the programme, ensuring prompt escalation and resolution to safeguard the council's service delivery standards.
6.Delivering high-level, progress reports to senior management and key stakeholders, maintaining accountability throughout the programme lifecycle.
7.Working closely with the Head of Portfolio(s) and the PMO Lead to ensure that cross programme dependencies are mapped and managed.
8.Leading the delivery of programme assurance, ensuring that the programme remains on track and consistently delivers value, contributing to the Council's continuous improvement and long-term strategic success.
9.Line manage, oversee and mentor programme team members, managing and supporting their performance to build their professional capabilities.
Shortlisting criteria
To beshortlisted to interviewfor this position your application willclearly evidence:
* Significant experience leading and implementing complex, multifaceted transformation programmes
* Knowledge and expertise around community engagement within local government / public services
* Experience of managing stakeholders, influencing and negotiating in complex, political environments
* Understanding of the key strategic issues facing local government, the wider public sector and partners
To apply for this role we invite you to upload your CV and respond to the following application questions (with a maximum of 250 words per answer):
* What are your motivations for applying?
* Please tell us, and provide examples of, your experience leading and implementing complex, multifaceted transformation programmes.
* Please tell us about your experience in designing or delivering community engagement activity and what you think the key elements of a successful community engagement model for local government are.
* Describe a time when you built or strengthened relationships with partners/stakeholders and what your personal impact in the situation was.
Contact us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
You can contact the programme team via Julie Smith by email or on MS Teams.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 21/08/2025 with interviews planned for the week commencing 01/09/2025.
Local Government Reorganisation
Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.
Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.
Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!
The Surrey Way behaviours are a guide that supports our council to work together effectively and deliver our best for our customers and communities, and for each other. Discover more about ourbehaviours .
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description.Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:
* The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
* The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.
#J-18808-Ljbffr