* Strong leadership and team management capability.
* Excellent organisational and analytical skills.
* Ability to influence and build effective relationships with senior stakeholders.
* Experience developing and applying governance frameworks.
* High-quality reporting, assurance and scrutiny skills.
* Ability to manage competing priorities in a complex environment.
Key Skills
* Strong leadership and team management capability.
* Excellent organisational and analytical skills.
* Ability to influence and build effective relationships with senior stakeholders.
* Experience developing and applying governance frameworks.
* High-quality reporting, assurance and scrutiny skills.
* Ability to manage competing priorities in a complex environment.
Job Description
The Environment Agency is seeking an experienced and motivated PMO Manager to lead, develop and manage a high-performing Programme Management Office supporting the delivery of major change initiatives. This role plays a critical part in strengthening organisational capability, ensuring robust governance, and enabling successful delivery of complex programmes aligned to the People Strategy and wider organisational priorities.
As PMO Manager, you will establish and maintain the governance framework, standards and controls that ensure programme integrity, transparency and alignment with strategic objectives. You will work closely with senior leaders, programme managers and project teams to enable consistent planning, monitoring and reporting, ensuring that decision‑makers have access to timely and accurate information. You will support the commissioning, initiation and closure of projects and programmes, providing oversight, assurance and constructive challenge throughout the delivery lifecycle.
A central element of the role is relationship management—building strong partnerships across business areas, identifying dependencies, and ensuring effective coordination with other internal change programmes to avoid overlap or conflict. You will lead PMO reporting, including health checks, dashboards, benefits reviews and tranche assurance, enabling leadership to understand progress, risks and required interventions.
You will be responsible for looking at the feasibility of expanding the PMO service across People & Assurance including designing and embedding any agreed proposal. You will also be responsible for managing and developing the PMO team, setting clear objectives and promoting a culture of continuous improvement. This includes prioritising PMO workload, responding to ad‑hoc business needs, and ensuring that services are delivered efficiently and to a high standard.
This is a highly collaborative, fast‑paced and influential role offering the opportunity to shape and support significant organisational change that directly contributes to a better environment for people and wildlife.
The team
Our People Strategy & Assurance team drives clarity, alignment and delivery across P&I. We shape strategic workforce planning, enable evidence‑led decisions, and coordinate cross‑Directorate programmes that support EA2030. We create simple, user‑focused products, strengthen governance, and bring people, data and priorities together to help the organisation work smarter. You’ll join a collaborative, supportive team that values pace, curiosity and practical impact, working closely with senior leaders to enable confident, joined‑up delivery for the Environment Agency.
Essential
Experience/skills required
* Practitioner-level qualification in programme or portfolio management (e.g., Prince 2 or equivalent).
* Proven programme or project delivery experience.
* Previous experience working in a PMO or portfolio management environment.
Key Skills
* Strong leadership and team management capability.
* Excellent organisational and analytical skills.
* Ability to influence and build effective relationships with senior stakeholders.
* Experience developing and applying governance frameworks.
* High-quality reporting, assurance and scrutiny skills.
* Ability to manage competing priorities in a complex environment.
Contact and additional information
This role is based in a National team and offers flexible working arrangements.
Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will also be provided with all the equipment required for your role.
For questions relating to this role, please contact David Newborough – david.newborough@environment-agency.gov.uk
Interviews are expected be held 15th and 16th April via MS Teams.
It would be anticipated that this role would require some travel and overnight stays.
If you consent to be recruited onto a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and we may offer you an alternative post.
Competence 1
Programme and Project Management
Description
Please provide an example of when you have led or managed programme or project activity through a structured governance approach. Describe the context, your specific responsibilities, the actions you took, and the outcome.
Competence 2
Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Describe a time when you needed to influence senior stakeholders or partners to secure agreement or drive a change in direction. What was the situation, how did you approach it, and what was the result?
Competence 3
Communicates Effectively
Description
Give an example of when you had to communicate complex or sensitive information to a diverse audience. How did you tailor your communication, and what impact did it have?
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. #J-18808-Ljbffr