Senior Manager, Project Management Office (FCS139)
Senior Manager, Project Management Office (FCS139)
Contract: Permanent (Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)
Salary: £50,468 per annum plus benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working.
Location: Manchester (The role will be based in Manchester; however, we are operating a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site contact days with other members of the team, normally 1-2 days a week)
We are seeking an experienced PMO Lead to continue to develop a Programme Management Office (PMO) to support the next phase of the Arts Council’s transformation programme. The programme includes several complex and interdependent projects.
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a growing Programme Management Office (PMO) function, helping to bring clarity, consistency and momentum to a portfolio of complex change initiatives. You’ll be part of a collaborative and evolving team focused on improving how we deliver change across the organisation.
Arts Council England invests in creativity and culture so that everyone in England can experience and benefit from it. Joining us means being part of a mission-driven organisation that values inclusion, collaboration and continuous improvement.
You will play a key role in developing a newly established Programme Management Office (PMO) to support the effective delivery of a complex transformation programme. Working closely with senior delivery colleagues, you will shape PMO processes, governance and ways of working, adapting these to suit service owners who may be less familiar with structured project or agile approaches.
You will maintain oversight of plans, milestones, dependencies and risks across multiple projects, helping teams manage complexity and sustain momentum.
A central part of the role involves making programme and project management accessible and practical. You will explain concepts in clear, straightforward terms, adapting tools, language and approaches to build confidence and understanding across a range of experience levels. Rather than enforcing a single methodology, you will introduce flexible ways of working that reflect the needs of different teams, co-developing simple, effective tools and templates with delivery colleagues.
You will provide concise, insightful programme reporting that enables senior leaders to understand progress, risks and issues without needing technical detail. Building strong, collaborative relationships across Digital, Transformation and the wider organisation will be essential, as will your ability to adapt your communication style, engaging senior stakeholders while remaining approachable and supportive to teams. You will support the introduction of more consistent ways of working in a practical, empathetic manner, recognising that meaningful change takes time and partnership.
You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, particularly in IT, Finance, HR, Data, Procurement and Digital Transformation. The role may involve occasional travel, including overnight stays, to support programme delivery, stakeholder engagement and training. You will be expected to uphold the Nolan Principles of Public Life and the organisation’s values, with a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
You will bring significant experience of programme and PMO leadership, ideally within environments where structures and processes are still evolving. You will be comfortable operating without fully established systems or governance, taking a pragmatic and politically aware approach to navigating organisational complexity and competing priorities. You will build trust through sound judgement, clarity and strong relationships, rather than relying on formal authority.
You will have a strong ability to simplify complex information and communicate clearly in plain English, tailoring your approach and level of detail to suit different audiences. You will be confident influencing across teams and disciplines without direct line management responsibility, and bring a solid grounding in programme and project management that allows you to make informed decisions and offer constructive challenge, while applying your knowledge flexibly.
Experience in the public sector or similarly complex, values-led organisations would be beneficial, particularly where formal governance and multiple stakeholders are involved. An understanding of digital or organisational transformation programmes especially those delivered alongside live service environments would be advantageous, as would experience supporting individuals or teams who are newer to project, programme or agile ways of working. A genuine interest in building capability, developing confidence in others, and helping organisations establish more consistent and effective ways of working over time will be highly valued.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement: Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace, and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council.
If there are any adjustments that would support you in your application, please do let us know when you apply. If you are disabled, Evenbreak are able to provide support with your application. For further information please visit their website here
We participate in the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme which means that we offer an interview to any disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role they’re applying to, subject to the volume of applications received. Disabled candidates, those living with a long-term condition and/ or neurodivergent candidates may be eligible for this scheme. The scheme uses the definition of disability from the Equality Act 2010 to determine eligibility. More information is included in the application guidance.
About us: Arts Council offers a range of benefits to our employees including hybrid and flexible working, a generous annual leave allowance and the Arts Council Retirement Plan - a final salary scheme. To find out more, click here.
Our Code of Ethics requires that employees of the Arts Council are not able to receive an Arts Council grant, investment or loan funding - either in person, as a member of a partnership, or for any organisation they own. There are also limitations on board or CEO positions employees can hold in organisations we fund. For more information on this, please talk to the recruiting manager or contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
We believe our recruitment process should be inclusive and transparent. Find out what to expect with our application Guidance: How to apply and recruitment selection process | Arts Council England and more about our commitment to diversity on our website here.
To view the job description please click here
To view the recruitment pack which outlines more details about working for Arts Council please click here
Job ref: FCS139
Closing date: 17:00 Thursday 09 April
1st Interview: (virtual) Thursday 23 April
2nd Interview: (virtual) Friday 01 May
Please note: We do NOT accept CVs or cover letters as part of our recruitment process. If you require any documentation in an alternative format, please contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
