• Location: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Woodhatch, Reigate, RH2 8EF

Description

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council.We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

This role has a starting salary of £68,774 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week. This is a fixed term contract / secondment opportunity until March 2027.

Within our Design and Transformation Service, we have a vacancy for a PMO Lead.The team is based in Reigate, and will be expected in the office for approximately two days per week, with flexibility around service needs.

This role will work as part of our Transformation Delivery team to drive a range of transformation activities including the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation programme and associated workstreams.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About Us

The design and transformation teams are dedicated to shaping, driving, and facilitating sustainable change and improvement for residents in Surrey. By partnering with, challenging, and supporting our stakeholders, we strive to achieve better outcomes for our residents, against a challenging financial context.

OurDesign and Transformationservice is a hub of innovation and improvement, driving strategic change across Surrey County Council. The team is structured into three key areas:

• Design – focusing on service and business redesign
• Transformation – delivering change programmes and projects
• Data – enabling evidence-based decision-making

We work in a fast-paced, agile environment, collaborating across departments to deliver high-impact transformation initiatives. Our mission is to improve outcomes for residents, enhance efficiency, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.

About the Role

As the Head of Profession for project and programme management for the organisation, you will lead the corporate PMO, focusing on the effective scheduling and management of key transformation programmes. Your role is pivotal in building and embedding PMO standards, templates, and tools, ensuring high quality project and programme management across the Council.

You will oversee the portfolio of transformation programmes and strategic projects, providing guidance and collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure successful delivery. This role is central to driving continuous improvement and achieving strategic objectives across the Council.

As a PMO Lead, you will:

• Develop and implement PMO policies: Establish and embed policies, procedures, and governance frameworks to ensure consistent project and programme management practices and compliance across all priority transformation and strategically significant programmes.
• Oversee transformation portfolio: Manage the scheduling, programming, and delivery of the transformation portfolio, providing guidance and advice to project and programme teams, enabling effective resource allocation, and ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Manage PMO resources: Lead the identification, recruitment, development, deployment, and reassignment of PMO resources to support priority programmes and projects, building capability and capacity across the function.
• Monitor and report performance: Track and report on project and programme performance and progress, delivering timely and insightful analysis and escalating risks or issues to senior management and stakeholders
• Standardise tools and methodologies: Implement and maintain standardised project management tools, methodologies, and reporting frameworks to drive efficiency, quality, and informed decision-making throughout transformation initiatives.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration: Enhance coordination and minimise risks by facilitating effective communication and collaboration among project teams and a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification with substantial management experience in a demanding business environment.
• Extensive knowledge and practical application of change management, project management, and continuous improvement principles, supported by relevant PMO qualifications (e.g., P3O, APM, Prince 2).
• Proven leadership, people management, and interpersonal skills, including experience in leading, motivating, coaching, mentoring, and developing staff in a fast-paced, transformational environment.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities to devise and implement practical solutions, assess complex risks and benefits, and make informed decisions.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, high-level negotiation and influencing abilities, and a track record of successful collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
• Strong organisational and planning skills, including developing operational plans and contributing to strategic, longer-term plans that align with broader functional and organisational strategy.

Application Questions

To apply for this role we invite you to upload your CV and respond to the following application questions (with a maximum of 250 words per answer):

• Experience and Expertise: Can you describe your experience in leading a Programme Management Office (PMO) in a fast-paced, transformation environment? Please provide specific examples of how you have managed the identification, recruitment, development, and deployment of PMO resources to priority programmes of work.
• Governance and Methodologies: How have you developed and implemented PMO policies and procedures to ensure consistent project and programme management practices? Can you share an example of how you have standardised project management tools and methodologies to improve efficiency and effectiveness?
• Stakeholder Management and Communication:Can you provide an example of how you have facilitated communication and collaboration among project teams and senior stakeholders to enhance coordination and minimise risks? How did you ensure effective reporting and escalation of issues to senior management and stakeholders?

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an information discussion please contact Adrian Stockbridge.

The advert closes on the 30th July 2025 with interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.