Programme Director

The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more than £2.1 billion in property assets and over 55 % of the government’s office estate.If you are considering sending an application, make sure to hit the apply button below after reading through the entire description.We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work, leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers.And we are looking for innovative, solutions‑focused people to join our team.Here are some of the transformational programmes we lead: the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme.We also deliver cost‑effective property services such as asset management, lifecycle replacement and workplace services. Innovation and progress underpin our behaviours.We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self‑improvement are encouraged.Our four core values are at the heart of everything we do.Striving for excellence – we always aim to deliver great resultsEmpowering through respect – we insist on fair treatment for all, alwaysActing with integrity – we consistently do the right thingSucceeding together – we rely on each other to achieve successWe are committed to representing the communities we serve by making Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) part of everything we do.Our strong emphasis on EDI is not just about driving inclusion across our organisation, it is also about ensuring our services meet the needs of government departments and the civil servants who use our spaces.To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we especially invite applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ community.Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability, nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth.We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: you will make a meaningful impact, influence, have your voice heard, and help shape our future direction.The role reports into the GPA Director of Capital Projects and leads on the delivery of the portfolio of programmes.You will work alongside other Deputy Directors to ensure consistency of approach, governance, client and stakeholder engagement, working as a key member of the Capital Projects Directorate leading a high‑profile programme of work.The post holder must work closely with other GPA Directorates and other Government Department colleagues.We are looking for candidates with proven project and programme management skills honed in a property and commercial development environment.This role is as much about being a leader in the GPA as it is about being an exceptional project delivery professional, so it is crucial you are able to share our values and promote an inclusive organisational culture.If you’d like to make a difference, delivering an exciting and challenging programme supporting Civil Service reform then please get in touch.Beyond the bricks and mortar, the GPA is about providing great workplaces for our people. The Programme Director roles are central to this, leading on the delivery of one of several interlinked programmes across the Government office portfolio.This complex delivery challenge is at the heart of the success of GPA and the vanguard of creating modern environments and promoting flexible working practices for the Civil Service.This is an exciting and high‑profile role with significant delivery and commercial leadership responsibilities, as well as opportunities for career growth and progression.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership & Direction: Provide strategic leadership to the Portfolio team and Capital Projects Senior Leadership Team, fostering collaboration across the organisation, strategic partners, and key enabling functions such as IT, HR, and Legal.Working with other programme directors, contribute to an environment of continuous improvement, applying shared lessons learnt to improve project delivery across the GPA. Work with strategic partners to provide clear briefing and accountability.Lead the regional Programme team, coaching and supporting to develop individual and collective skills and experience.Leading Project Directors and support staff to interface with other GPA directorates and clients.Setting clear, strategic direction and plans for the commercial development, delivery and occupation of new buildings.Contributing to policy and standards including around design and ways of working, with responsibility for a portfolio of geographically grouped projects to reshape roles and align focus against essential scope and best athlete for tasks in conjunction with framework partners.Promote a commercial development approach across GPA and its strategic partners, while ensuring compliance with the Equality Act, health and safety obligations, and Civil Service standards.Understand and ensure that the constraints and considerations imposed on GPA as building occupier and Employer (such as with the Equality Act) as well as those of the Civil Service, are represented within the project deliverables.Programme and Portfolio Oversight: Oversee portfolio delivery and performance, managing demand in partnership with Asset Management and Portfolio Planning to build and prioritise a programme of projects that supports strategic objectives, workplace efficiency, and space optimisation.Drive programme management, PMO capabilities, and reporting, ensuring accurate monitoring of projects, resources, budgets, and benefits realisation against delivery milestones.Ensuring benefits are realised in line with the Business Cases, using appropriate levels of governance (in agreement with the Portfolio Management Office) and control throughout delivery and providing timely and accurate reporting to meet diverse stakeholder needs.Contribute to appropriate programme & project Business Cases and securing investment approval through the GPA Investment Committee, Ministers and the Treasury.Manage budgets, monitoring expenditure and costs against delivery and realised benefits as the programmes progress.Maintain robust risk management processes.Securing value for money from third‑party strategic partners.Project Initiation & Business Case Development: Lead project initiation and business case development, ensuring robust alignment with senior stakeholders, Programme Boards, and HMT, and securing approvals in line with governance frameworks and policies.Responsible for agreeing and setting the outline brief to the project director, along with achievable budget and programme targets.Collaborate with GPA colleagues to support strategic investment planning and the development of compelling business cases.Work with GPA colleagues on development appraisals providing a commercial developer perspective to advise on the redevelopment of existing freehold assets.Develop project proposals, business cases and routes to market that optimise cashable and non‑cashable benefit returns on investment.Governance, Risk & Compliance: Ensure effective governance, compliance, and risk management, including adherence to procurement, technical, contractual, and health and safety standards throughout the project lifecycle.Develop and maintain commercial approaches and financial benchmarks, proactively managing affordability, cost assurance, and value optimisation across a complex supply chain and within allocated budgets.Maintain robust risk management processes.Working Across Government & Stakeholder Engagement: Building strong relationships with senior leaders across government and externally.Working collaboratively across the GPA including in partnership with the Client Solutions Directorate and Operations Directorate, putting client experience at the forefront of delivery.Managing stakeholders across government at the most senior level and developing strong relationships across organisational boundaries in order to deliver programme benefits.Engage and influence senior stakeholders and customers, including Ministers, providing transparent communication, anticipating emerging needs, and ensuring a high‑quality delivery experience.Sustainability and Lifecycle Planning: Champion sustainability and Greener Government commitments, embedding environmental objectives into project delivery and property management throughout the asset lifecycle.Work with other directorates to ensure that needs of the building lifecycle are considered within the proposals, reducing energy usage and operational/maintenance costs. xpwpeyx Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme.#J-18808-Ljbffr