Programme Delivery Manager at Defra, Newcastle, 6 Months, £Contract Rate

In the Defra group, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. We have developed a set of three strategic objectives covering our policy outcomes and corporate objectives. These objectives help us to deliver our ambitious vision to build our green and healthy future and provide a framework for all the important work we carry out.

Our objectives are:

• To pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future. 
• To lead the world in food, farming, and fisheries with a sustainable model of food production. 
•  
• To be an outstanding organisation focused on making a difference, with world class delivery capability.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs www.gov.uk. 

25 Year Environment Plan - GOV.UK www.gov.uk.

As a Programme Delivery Manager, your main responsibilities will be:

• Leading delivery and coordination of multiple HR transformation projects across Defra and ALBs
• Establishing and maintaining governance, planning, RAID logs, reporting, and dependency management
• Driving stakeholder engagement, challenging senior stakeholders to secure decisions and remove blockers
• Managing and prioritising programme risks, issues, and change control
• Leading collaboration across HR, IT, and wider cross‑government teams
• Ensuring strong documentation, knowledge transfer, and smooth handover at programme exit
• Operating effectively in a complex, fast-paced, and politically sensitive environment

Essential:

• Extensive experience as a Programme Manager / Senior Project Manager in complex environments
• Demonstrable experience working in large transformational programmes within the public sector environment
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including influencing senior leadership
• Highly collaborative, resilient, and proactive, with the ability to simplify complex problems
• Familiarity with technical programme environments and system terminology

Desirable:

• Experience supporting HR system transformation programmes (e.g. Oracle Fusion / ERP)