Principal Resources and Programmes Officer

Working Hours: 35 hours per week (hybrid / flexible working)

Contract Type: Temporary to February 2028

Closing Date: 11.59pm, 24 December 2025
Interview method: in person
Interview date: 19 January 2026
 
This role is subject to:

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  2 references - where possible, we require 3 years' history

  
  

• Politically Restricted Post  This post is classified as politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as amended by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. This act imposes restrictions on political activities by employees who hold certain positions. Further guidance will be indicated in the appointment documents.  

  
  

This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in the delivery of the Council's action on climate change.

In this role you will play a key role in helping manage delivery of the Council's Climate Change Action Plan This has been approved in November 2025 following successful delivery of the CCAP

As part of the Zero Carbon Team in City Policy, you will play a key role in ensuring that the Council delivers its ambitious and deliverable plan to meet its objective to be Zero Carbon by 2038 and remain within its science-based Carbon emissions targets over this period.

This involves working across a range of internal MCC services including Estates, Capital Programmes, Finance, Neighbourhoods and Strategic Housing, alongside other strategic partners in the city across the public, private and education sectors.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• Programme and project management of actions in the CCAP.  Monitoring and reporting against actions in the CCAP periodically to the Council's Zero Carbon Coordination Group, Strategic Management Team, relevant Scrutiny committees and the Executive.
• Identifying and developing projects to support the delivery of actions within in CCAP.
• Managing systems and processes to support the delivery of projects.
• Developing strong relationships with colleagues and other stakeholders at all levels involved in the programme.
• Overseeing the work of other colleagues in the team and other teams to ensure the work is completed on time and to agreed standards.
• Managing budgets, ensuring accurate and correct data is recorded and attention to detail is maintained.
• Organising and facilitating internal and external meetings working across both the private and public sectors.
• Developing funding bids to attract additional resources to projects and programmes.

About the Candidate

We are looking for candidates with knowledge of climate change and the environmental agenda and with recent experience managing projects or programmes on matters related to environmental sustainability or low carbon.

A successful candidate will be committed to our climate change and Zero Carbon objectives, have strong programme and project management skills and experience and be able to work effectively with a range of internal and external partners.   You will work with stakeholders to deliver agreed actions and think strategically to identify gaps and new actions. You will have experience of working effectively both as part of your own team in the service and in wider teams drawn from other services and partners with an ability to develop strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders. You will have experience of managing the work of others including managing budgets, deadlines and other data with attention to detail and accuracy.

About Us

We're the local council for one of the UK's most vibrant and diverse cities. 

Working for Manchester isn't just a job – it's an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it's strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you'll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone. 

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We 'own it' and we're not afraid to try new things
• We're proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer 

• Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks. 
• A buzzing pension - You'll be enrolled in the UK's largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum. 
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events. 
• Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more. 
• Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process. 
• A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life. 
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits. 

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council 

At Manchester City Council, we're dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people. 

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone. 

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme 

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition

 When You Join Us 

We're a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected]. 

What we will need from you if you're successful 

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.  

Pre-Employment Checks 

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks will depend on the role you've applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You'll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We'll require references from your current and previous employer(s).

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve. 

Other relevant information 

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we'll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role. 

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.
 
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
 
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