Programme Support Officer

Job Introduction

Our Story:

Halton is a vibrant local authority with a rich history and heritage, featuring two iconic bridges that connect communities across the River Mersey. Located in Cheshire, Halton boasts excellent transport links between Liverpool and Manchester, as well as close proximity to both Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester Airports.

Our progressive community strategy aims to bring about meaningful, long-term improvements that enhance lives. It’s an exciting time to join us as we develop new policies and transform the way people access services.

We are immensely proud that when asked what’s great about working for Halton, the most popular response from our workforce has been ‘our colleagues’. 

Our Team:

The Programme Management Office is a centralised function within an organisation that oversees and supports the delivery of multiple projects that are part of a larger programme of work, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and overall business strategy.  Halton’s Programme Management Office has been established to oversee the activity that encompasses the Financial Delivery Plan, and in future other work that will contribute to the Council’s strategic objectives and financial sustainability.   

Based within the Change Delivery Unit, the Programme Office will play a key role in managing and developing the governance framework to oversee financial sustainability activity delivered both as part of the Change Delivery Unit or by operational services.

Hours: 37

Your Contributions:

As a Programme Support Officer, you’ll be based within the Programme Management Office of the Change Delivery Unit, which serves as the link between the Programme, Senior Leadership and the Executive in providing regular updates on the programme, delivery of its constituent projects and managing the programme governance.

You’ll be at the centre of the team providing the support essential to ensuring that our diverse and complex portfolio of work runs smoothly and successfully meets the scheduling, governance and performance requirements of the programme.

Over the next few years, the programme will see change happening right across the Council. It will involve us looking in detail at what we do, how we do it and why we do it – and asking ourselves if taking a new or different approach could be more efficient, productive or deliver better outcomes for local people and businesses.

 We know how much hard work is required to get this sort of change done, so while having the right balance of skills and experience are important to us, so too is having a ‘can-do’ attitude, open minded growth mind-set, willingness to learn and an ability to embrace uncertainty.

 Key responsibilities of the role will include:

• Assisting in the monitoring of budgets and resourcing of the delivery unit
• Supporting the co-ordination of documentation for, and following up agreed actions from, board or multi-disciplinary level meetings
• Handling programme enquiries from elected members, managers, project teams, residents and staff
• Wide-ranging programme support, managing multiple tasks in parallel to meet deadlines
• Support the maintenance of programme documentation and registers
• Support the collection of management information, and the subsequent preparation of regular and ad hoc programme reports and presentations
• Supporting programme events and communications
• Excellent organisational skills will be essential for what will be a fast paced, but highly rewarding role.

This is an excellent opportunity for somebody seeking to develop a career in project management.

Our Offer:

Aside from working with a great team, our employees have access to a fantastic range of benefits, including:
 

• A generous annual holiday allowance starting at 34 days per year (including bank holidays), increasing with long service with the option to purchase an additional four-days of unpaid leave for our Annual Christmas Closedown
• Membership of our defined benefit, salary-linked Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions
• 3 x Salary Life Cover via Local Government Pension Scheme
• Investment in your personal development 
• Free Car Parking at HBC sites 
• Flexible working arrangements 
• Extensive employee benefits platform including discounted shopping, car leasing, gym memberships, wellbeing hub and Employee Assistance Programme.

Next Steps:

At Halton Borough Council, we want all of our candidates to feel well-informed so if you would like to have an informal chat about this role, please contact Sarah Gurrell, Senior Deliver Officer - Programme Management & Governance -  sarah.gurrell@halton.gov.uk

Interviews will take place on w/c 1st June 2026.

At Halton Borough Council we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce and a vital part of this is to encourage diversity in all respects. We are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and tailored to best suit the needs and strength of the individual. This includes making adjustments for people with a disability, neurodiversity or with long-term health conditions. If you require accommodations, please reach out during the recruitment process so that we can make this the best possible experience for you – resourcing@halton.gov.uk

Please refer to the attached Job Profile for further information about the role and our values.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications. If you’re interested, please complete your application as early as possible.

We look forward to receiving your application!