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LGR Head of PMO - Systems
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Oxfordshire County Council's are working together on one of the most ambitious change programmes the county has ever seen. Through Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), they are creating three new unitary councils and building the foundations for the future of local services across Oxfordshire.
The Head of Programme Management Office (PMO) Systems will be a key part of the journey. You'll lead the day-to-day delivery of the programme, turning strategic direction into practical action. You will build the PMO from scratch, define the programme governance, controls and reporting, provide the leadership and coordination needed to keep this ambitious programme moving forward at pace.
Your new role
You will establish the PMO then bring together the people, processes and information needed to deliver this programme successfully.
You will sit on the implementation board for Oxfordshire and will need to establish relationships across multiple Council's at the highest levels to ensure transformation activity is aligned, realistic and future proof.
PMO Leadership
- Establish and lead the system-wide PMO function from inception.
- Build PMO structures, standards, governance processes and reporting mechanisms.
- Develop and implement programme controls aligned to best practice.
- Create a culture of accountability, transparency and delivery excellence.
Programme Planning & Controls
- Develop and maintain the integrated programme plan covering all LGR workstreams.
- Manage programme dependencies, milestones, risks, assumptions and interdependencies.
- Establish robust critical path management and delivery tracking.
- Implement programme dashboards, KPIs and executive reporting.
Governance & Assurance
- Lead programme governance activities across Boards, Steering Groups and Executive forums.
- Provide Secretariat support to implementation and governance boards.
- Ensure all programme decisions, actions and approvals are auditable.
- Coordinate assurance reviews and readiness assessments.
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Stakeholder Management
- Build effective relationships across multiple councils and partner organisations.
- Work closely with HR, Finance, DDaT, Communications, Legal and Transformation leads.
- Operate as a neutral and trusted advisor across the wider system.
- Influence senior stakeholders to drive delivery outcomes.
Delivery Support
- Support the overall Programme Director and leadership team.
- Provide operational leadership across programme teams.
- Coordinate programme managers and specialist planning resources.
- Ensure consistency of delivery methodologies across workstreams.
What you'll need to succeed
We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate:
- Significant experience leading large-scale PMOs within local government or the wider public sector.
- Previous experience supporting or delivering Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), devolution, major shared service programmes or complex public sector transformation.
- Experience operating at Executive, Board and political governance level.
- Proven track record of establishing PMO functions in complex environments.
- Expertise in programme governance, planning, reporting and assurance.
- Experience managing multiple stakeholders across large, matrix organisations.
- Strong understanding of public sector governance and decision-making structures.
- Ability to rapidly build credibility and influence with senior leaders.
What you'll get in return
This is one of the highest-profile interim opportunities currently available within UK local government transformation.
Key attractions of the role include:
- Lead a nationally significant LGR programme across a system involving seven councils, helping shape future local government arrangements across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.
- Build a PMO from the ground up. The programme leadership has identified that a functioning PMO is not yet established, creating a rare opportunity to design governance, planning, reporting and delivery controls from inception.
- Operate at Executive level. The role will work directly with senior governance groups, implementation boards, Chief Officers and professional leads, acting as a strategic operational leader rather than a traditional PMO manager.
- Influence major organisational change. The successful candidate will help shape how future councils are created, bringing together workstreams spanning digital, data and technology, HR, finance, governance and service transformation.
- Visible and career-defining assignment. Oxfordshire's reorganisation programme is expected to run through the implementation period, providing the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and significantly strengthen a portfolio of public-sector transformation delivery.
- Strong financial package. Programme discussions identified an indicative market rate of approximately £800-£900 per day, positioning the role at the upper end of the interim local government market Inside IR35.
- Hybrid working model. Approximately half of working time is expected on-site and half remote, enabling close stakeholder engagement while retaining flexibility.
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