Senior Programme Manager

Main area Programme Management Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract 18 months (Secondment or Fixed Term opportunity for 18 months with potential extension) Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week Job ref 644-CE120

Employer Central East Integrated Care Board Employer type NHS Site Gemini House Town Ely, Cambridgeshire Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum (pro rata if applicable) Salary period Yearly Closing 17/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 27/11/2026

NHS AfC: Band 8a

We are Central East ICB, the new organisationentrusted with serving more than 3.5 million people across Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Hertfordshire.

We are responsible for making sure that the NHS can continue to support our community – now, and in the future. Everything we do will be guided by our core purpose: to do what best serves the population of this area.

We promise to focus on what makes the biggest difference to people’s lives – acting earlier to help prevent illness and detect disease and making it easier for our community to get the health care they need, closer to home, whenever that’s possible.

If you need support with the application process, please contact our People Team at .

Read about our priorities in our strategy document, Our Way .

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced Senior Programme Manager to join Central East ICB working across our Strategic Value Unit and Major Projects team within the Strategy, Planning and Evaluation Directorate.

This is a key role leading the delivery of complex and strategically important programmes that support the ICB’s commissioning and transformation priorities. Working closely with the Associate Director of Major Projects and colleagues across the system, you will turn strategic priorities into clear delivery plans and measurable outcomes.

You will bring strong programme and project management skills, excellent stakeholder engagement and the ability to work effectively across organisational and professional boundaries.

Please note: The ICB works in a hybrid manner with sites across Central East, staff will be expected to rotate between sites in line with team and organisational need.

Main duties of the job

You will:

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of complex projects and programmes, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives, timescales and budgets.


• Develop and maintain robust plans, milestones, project registers, risk management and governance arrangements.


• Support Leads with project planning, resource scheduling and delivery of complex analytical commissions.


• Monitor performance, risks and dependencies, taking action to keep delivery on track.


• Build strong relationships with ICB clinical, operational, commissioning, technical teams and wider system partners.


• Manage programme resources and budgets, ensuring effective use of resources and value for money.


• Use complex data, evidence and insight to support decision-making, improvement and innovation.


• Provide clear reporting and assurance to senior leaders on progress against milestones and KPIs.

Working for our organisation

We are committed to promoting equal opportunities to achieve equity of access, experience and outcomes and to recognising and valuing people’s differences. We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity; we see this as a strength and part of our founding mission, values and behaviours. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers patient outcomes.

We are committed to creating the best place to work, where your contribution is valued, your wellbeing is supported and all our colleagues can reach their full potential. We welcome and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of their protected characteristic. We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone, including making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition and support with the recruitment process for people with lived experience.

We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles.

We operate a Carer friendly working environment that is supportive and inclusive. We actively encourage Carers to self-identify themselves.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and commit to shortlisting suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria for an interview. Please inform us of any adjustments you may require.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The postholder will provide operational and programme leadership across a defined portfolio, translating strategic ambitions into achievable plans and measurable outcomes. You will maintain high standards of programme governance, performance and risk management while encouraging innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Working across a matrix environment, you will collaborate with colleagues across finance, digital, workforce, governance, clinical and corporate teams as well as NHS providers, local authorities, primary care and voluntary and community sector partners.

You will contribute to service transformation and system integration, helping improve quality, outcomes and efficiency and supporting equitable access and reduced variation for local people.

For full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role please refer to the job description and person specification documents attached.

Shortlisting Criteria

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g., health, care, public services, or management).


• Evidence of ongoing professional development and commitment to maintaining up - to-date knowledge and skills.


• Significant experience in senior management within a complex organisation, ideally in health or public services


• Project Management Qualification e.g. Prince 2 or equivalent experience


• Demonstrable success in delivering change, transformation, or service improvement programmes.


• Experience in strategic planning, commissioning, or service redesign to improve outcomes and efficiency.


• Proven management experience in a multi-agency or complex environment.


• Strong relationship -building and partnership -working skills across organisational boundaries.


• Analytical ability to interpret complex data and use insights to inform decisions.

Please Note:

• This vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of suitable applications are received. We recommend submitting your application early to avoid disappointment.


• Successfully shortlisted applicants will be contacted by email with an invitation to interview.


• Please note that we do not pay interview expenses, all costs are incurred by the candidate.

Notes on completion of applications:

• All reference requests will be made to your employer/previous employers' HR Department, covering the previous 3 years of activity.


• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.


• All eligible staff will need to have gained clearance through a standard/enhanced DBS check prior to working.


• All posts are subject to a probationary period.

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