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.
This fixed term contract role has a starting salary of £70,975 - £78,002 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.
The contract will be fixed until 31 March 2026.
We have a great opportunity to join our AND (Additional Needs and Disabilities) Transformation Team as a Senior Programme Manager. You’ll be part of a dynamic team where you'll lead strategic transformation initiatives that drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
We support hybrid working with the right balance. We come together in person for 2 days per week on average and support working from home the rest of the time. This will include at least one day in our Woking office a week and one other, possibly in other areas of Surrey dependent on business need.
Our Offer to You
1. 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
2. A generous local government salary related pension
3. Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
4. Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
5. An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
6. Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
7. Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
8. A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.
About Us
‘No One Left Behind’ is at the heart of everything we do in Surrey, shaping our priorities and approach to service delivery. The Children, Families and Lifelong Learning Directorate is investing in a dedicated transformation team to drive high impact change for children with Additional Needs and Disabilities. This team will lead projects to improve service delivery and efficiency, ensuring better outcomes for children and young people within a challenging financial context.
The team works closely with service leads and operational teams across Surrey County Council, as well as partners including health commissioners and providers, education settings, and the voluntary sector. The programme delivers improvements set out in the Partnership Improvement Plan following the 2023 Ofsted inspection, alongside the Partnership Strategy and Safety Valve agreement commitments.
To support you in your overall insight into the current position within Surrey please see below some helpful links for further reading and context:
9. Surrey Local Area SEND Partnership Improvement Plan and Surrey Inclusion and Additional Needs Partnership Strategy -
About the Role
In this role you will use your expertise in Additional Needs and Disabilities to shape and deliver programme activity, working closely with Senior Responsible Owners, Board members and wider stakeholders to ensure alignment with the council’s long term vision.
You will work to provide strategic updates at Board meetings and oversee programme resources, ensuring strong governance and addressing challenges to maintain progress and achieve successful outcomes.
The role requires agility and the ability to quickly build credibility in complex environments, developing strong relationships that balance support and challenge with a wide range of stakeholders.
YourApplication
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our :
10. Appropriate professional programme management qualification or equivalent experience operating at a senior level.
11. Substantial experience of leading and implementing complex, multifaceted transformation programmes.
12. Substantial knowledge and expertise within Children’s Services and / or Education and / or Health, ideally within the SEND arena.
13. Strong influencing and negotiation skills
14. Demonstrable skills and experience of working with senior stakeholders and partnership working across different organisations.
15. Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate problems, assess risk and identify/ suggest solutions
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:
16. Using a recent example please tell us about the key skills and experience you have in relation to complex programme management and large-scale change.
17. Please provide an example of a transformation project you led, detailing the challenges you faced, any strategies you used, and the measurable outcomes achieved?
18. Please tell us about a transformation programme you are most proud of and why.
19. Given what you know of the well documented challenges in the SEND space what do you see as the top priorities/ areas focus?
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 27/05/2026 with interviews planned to follow.
Interviews are planned for the 3rd/4th June and will be held in person at out Woking office.
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. Sophie Butt, Assistant Director for AND Transformation via MS Teams or E-mail.
Local Government Organisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
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! Please see more information here:
Our Commitment
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.
Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.