Programme Contract Manager

Job introduction

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 is a fixed-term post until 31 March 2028, with the potential to extend to March 2030, subject to funding. 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.

Additional information

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.

Company information

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what its like to work at West Northants Council.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.