Programme Manager

Company Overview

Connect It Utility Services is a dynamic multi-utility services provider specializing in delivering comprehensive connection solutions across the Midlands and South of England. With over 25 years of industry experience, we are committed to exceeding customer expectations through high-quality service, innovative solutions, and motivated teams dedicated to excellence.

Overview

We are seeking an experienced detail-oriented Programme Manager to lead complex utility projects from initiation through completion. This pivotal role involves overseeing multiple interconnected programs, ensuring they align with strategic objectives, stay within scope, and deliver value on time and budget. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, exceptional organizational skills, and a passion for driving project success in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Leadership and Governance

Take overall ownership of the operational programming function and ensure consistent programme management standards are applied across all frameworks, projects and workstreams.

Establish and maintain programming governance, processes, reporting standards and controls to ensure operational programmes are realistic, achievable and based upon reliable information.

Provide direction to Programme Controllers regarding priorities, sequencing, resource allocation, programme risks and required management actions.

Ensure the operational programme remains the recognised single source of truth for delivery status and future workload.

Management of the Programming Team

Lead, manage and develop Programme Controllers and supporting planning personnel.

Allocate workloads across the Programming team based upon operational demand and business priorities.

Provide coaching, guidance and escalation support where programme conflicts, resource shortages or delivery constraints cannot be resolved at Programme Controller level.

Monitor the performance of the Programming function and ensure roles, responsibilities and accountability remain clearly defined.

Support succession planning and development within the department.

Authority to Challenge

Challenge unsupported or unrealistic delivery dates where works are not ready or where permits, traffic management, designs, access, materials, resources or dependencies are not confirmed. Dates must not be committed without reasonable confidence that the works can be delivered safely and successfully.

Resource Control and Forecasting

Coordinate direct labour, subcontractors, supervisors, plant, vehicles, materials and specialist resources. Maintain a rolling twelve-week resource forecast showing demand, capacity gaps, clashes, peaks, permit/resource misalignment and additional resource needs. Prepare a monthly resource capacity review with the Operations Manager and relevant senior managers, comparing confirmed and forecast workload with available capacity.

Resource Strategy and Capacity Planning

Own the business-wide resource and capacity planning process.

Maintain oversight of the rolling twelve-week resource forecast produced through the Programming function and ensure longer-term resource requirements are identified where appropriate.

Review confirmed and forecast workload against available:

• Direct labour
• Supervisors
• Subcontractors
• Plant
• Vehicles
• Specialist resources
• Traffic management
• Materials

Chair or lead regular resource capacity reviews with Operations and relevant senior managers.

Identify resource shortages sufficiently early to allow recruitment, subcontract procurement, resequencing or other mitigation measures to be considered.

Make recommendations to senior management regarding future resource requirements based upon forecast workload and framework demand.

Risk and Early-Warning Management

Oversee a weekly programme risk register recording each risk, potential impact, mitigation, owner, action date and status. Escalate permit, traffic management, resource, material, design, access, ground-condition, third-party, reinstatement, commercial or productivity risks early. Provide operational early-warning information to Project Managers and Commercial Managers where milestones, permit windows or completion dates are at risk; the role does not issue formal contractual early warnings.

Continuous Improvement

Lead continuous improvement of programming processes, systems and reporting.

Review recurring causes of programme failure, resource inefficiency, aborted visits, permit conflicts and reactive programme changes.

Work across departments to remove process bottlenecks and improve the flow of information into the Programming function.

Develop standardised planning and programming processes across frameworks where appropriate.

Support development and improvement of Salesforce, Inspire Planner, Power BI and other programme management systems.

Recovery and Intervention

Lead programme recovery activity where significant slippage, resource constraints or delivery failures occur.

Work with Programme Controllers, Project Managers and Operations teams to develop evidence-based recovery plans including:

• Resequencing works
• Resource reallocation
• Additional direct labour
• Subcontract support
• Revised working methods
• Permit or traffic management changes
• Revised operational priorities

Ensure recovery dates are realistic and supported by confirmed resources and dependencies.

Monitor recovery performance until the affected programme has returned to an acceptable position.

Performance Management and Reporting

Own the reporting framework for programme performance.

Ensure accurate management information is available through Salesforce, Inspire Planner and Power BI.

Provide senior management with regular reporting covering:

• Planned versus actual delivery
• Forecast completion
• Resource utilisation
• Twelve-week demand
• Longer-term capacity requirements
• Programme adherence
• Delays and causes
• Permit performance
• Missed starts and aborted visits
• Programme risks
• Recovery plans
• Framework performance
• Programming team performance

Use programme data to identify trends and recommend operational improvements.

The existing Controller role is responsible for maintaining these systems and producing detailed operational reporting. The Manager should be accountable for interpreting that information and driving management decisions from it.

Stakeholder Management

Act as the senior point of contact for programme-related matters.

Build effective relationships with Operations, Commercial, Project Management, Framework Management, Street works and other support functions.

Provide senior managers with clear information regarding delivery confidence, programme constraints and future resource requirements.

Attend operational, commercial, framework and senior-management meetings where programme performance or resource strategy requires representation.

Where appropriate, support discussions with customers regarding delivery programmes, capacity and recovery plans.

Qualifications

Essential

· Significant experience in programme management, planning, scheduling or operational delivery within utilities, construction or infrastructure.

· Experience managing or supervising planning/programming personnel.

· Strong understanding of operational resource and capacity planning.

· Experience managing programmes across multiple projects or workstreams.

· Good working knowledge of NRSWA, street works, utility installation and reinstatement requirements.

· Strong understanding of programme risk, dependencies and project readiness.

· Ability to analyse workload and resource data and translate it into operational decisions.

· Strong leadership and stakeholder-management skills.

· Confidence to challenge unrealistic delivery expectations and influence senior stakeholders.

· Strong commercial awareness and understanding of the financial impact of programme delays and inefficient resource utilisation.

· High level of organisation, problem-solving and decision-making ability.

· Experience using programme and reporting systems such as Salesforce, Inspire Planner, Power BI and Microsoft Excel.

Desirable

· Knowledge of NEC3/NEC4 programme, early-warning and change-control principles.

· Experience working within framework contracts.

· Experience producing and presenting programme and capacity information to senior management.

· Formal project/programme management qualification such as PRINCE2, APM or equivalent.

· Experience implementing new programme controls, processes or systems.

Join us as a Programme Manager and be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to delivering innovative utility solutions that make a real difference. Your leadership will drive successful project outcomes while supporting our mission to be the first choice provider for independent connections.

Pay: £45,000.00-£55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person