Interim Programme Manager

Interim Senior Programme Manager (3-Month Contract) £550pd inside IR35 Local Authority - South East We are seeking an experienced Senior Programme Manager to lead a high-profile strategic review and develop a comprehensive business case to inform future service delivery decisions within a large public sector organisation. This is a 3-month interim assignment, working a 36-hour week, ideally suited to a programme professional who thrives in complex environments, can navigate ambiguity with confidence, and is comfortable delivering strategic work independently and at pace. The successful candidate will work closely with senior stakeholders and subject matter experts across the organisation. This is a hands-on role with no dedicated project team, requiring an individual who can lead analysis, engage stakeholders, develop recommendations, and drive delivery through personal ownership and initiative. What You'll Be Doing Reporting into senior transformation leadership, you will be responsible for leading the end-to-end development of a strategic business case, including the assessment of future delivery models and the provision of evidence-based recommendations. Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading research, analysis, options appraisal and business case development.
• Designing and delivering stakeholder engagement and market-testing activities.
• Assessing financial, operational, governance and implementation considerations.
• Producing high-quality reports, presentations and briefing materials for senior decision-makers.
• Identifying and managing risks, issues, dependencies and assumptions.
• Establishing effective governance and reporting structures.
• Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor throughout the review.
• Working autonomously to identify requirements, overcome challenges and maintain momentum. Key Deliverables During the contract, you will be expected to:
• Deliver a robust, evidence-based strategic business case.
• Complete an options appraisal of future service delivery models.
• Undertake stakeholder and market engagement activities.
• Develop high-level implementation and transition plans.
• Identify risks, opportunities, financial implications and dependencies.
• Present clear, actionable recommendations to support executive decision-making. About You You will be an accomplished programme manager with experience leading complex strategic reviews, transformation programmes, or business case development within large, multi-stakeholder environments. You will demonstrate:
• Strong programme and stakeholder management expertise.
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Experience developing business cases and evaluating service delivery options.
• The ability to work independently with minimal direction.
• Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills.
• A track record of delivering high-quality outputs within challenging timescales. Why Apply? This is a highly visible assignment offering the opportunity to shape the future direction of an important public service. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in informing strategic decisions and delivering meaningful outcomes for communities and service users.