Location
City of Westminster
Hours
Full Time - 37 hours per week. Flexible working options available including part-time hours, job share arrangements, or other flexible patterns. Regular in-person attendance required (approximately 60% of working week) with potential for more frequent attendance initially. Pre-agreed travel to London required.
Salary
£72,840 per annum
About the Role
Do you want to work on one of the most exciting transformation projects in the public sector? The Defence Housing Service (DHS) is being created through the Armed Forces Bill to deliver a step-change in housing for the UK’s Armed Forces and their families. Backed by a £9.2 billion investment, DHS will modernise tens of thousands of homes, introduce a more proactive and customer-focused approach to maintenance, and unlock new opportunities to develop housing on Defence land. DHS will combine public service values with greater flexibility to build the skills, systems and partnerships needed for the future.
As Deputy Head Programme Manager in the Future Contracts Team, you will lead the development, procurement and implementation of future accommodation repair and maintenance contracts that will shape housing services for Service personnel and their families for years to come. You will provide strategic leadership across a complex portfolio, driving innovative, sustainable and value-for-money solutions that meet evolving Defence and government priorities.
Working with multidisciplinary teams across commercial, technical, mobilisation, transition and assurance functions, you will ensure successful delivery of new operating models, enhance customer experience and secure lasting improvements across the Defence housing estate. This is a unique opportunity to lead large-scale change, influence strategic decision-making and make a meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of Defence customers.
Key responsibilities include leading the programme to implement future accommodation repair and maintenance contracts, driving replacement and enhancement of major housing and facilities management contracts, shaping future service delivery models, overseeing business cases and governance, ensuring value for money and legal compliance, managing supplier engagement and contract mobilisation, mitigating programme risks, providing senior-level advice and reporting, ensuring smooth contract transitions, championing customer needs, building strong stakeholder relationships, leading and inspiring a multidisciplinary team, and driving continuous improvement and innovation across the Defence housing estate.
Experience
- Significant experience leading complex programmes, delivering large-scale contracts or transformation initiatives within estates, housing, facilities management, infrastructure, or similarly complex environments.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with experience building relationships and providing advice or assurance to senior leaders, Boards, government stakeholders, or equivalent executive-level audiences.
- Proven experience managing service transitions, contract exits, supplier mobilisation, and implementing new operating models.
- Demonstrable expertise in programme governance, risk management, assurance, and reporting within a complex organisational setting.
- Strong leadership capability, with experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering successful outcomes through others.
- Understanding of working within organisations that operate robust governance and approval frameworks.
About you
Strategic and innovative leader with the ability to influence at senior levels and manage complex stakeholder relationships. Collaborative and inspiring manager who fosters a high-performing culture. Customer-focused with a commitment to delivering lasting improvements for Service personnel and their families. Adaptable and resilient, able to manage risks and challenges effectively while driving continuous improvement.
Qualifications
Programme Management Practitioner qualification (MSP, APM, or equivalent)
