Programme Support Manager.

About the job.  

National Highways have an excellent opportunity for a Programme Support Manager to join our team in Major Projects. The Programme Support Manager will coordinate a team of support staff to deliver a range of project administration activities which support project delivery and timely adherence to project governance and reporting requirement. 

Please note this role will be based from our Birmingham office however travel to other regional offices to attend team meetings may be required. 

• Provide day to day management to your team of direct reports and project Support staff; developing skills, capability and capacity, to optimise performance and deliver a high-quality project support service, ensuring all line management responsibilities are fulfilled including forward planning, performance management, attendance management, succession planning and supporting staff in their ongoing development. 
• Frequently engage with the project management teams, Senior Leadership Teams and Programme Leaders to ensure full understanding of their support needs and develop and co-ordinate resource plans for all roles. Ensure sufficient programme support resources are available to project managers when required. 
• Lead for the region on all internal staff communications, identifying relevant topics for the weekly staff briefings and ensuring a high standard of co-ordination and presentation, reviewing all NH communications and deciding on the best way of raising awareness, leading on the quarterly management plan staff update. 
• Act as a point of contact for internal stakeholders; gathering and providing information, responding to enquiries and resolving or escalating issues, to support adherence to project governance requirements and successful project delivery. 
• Lead the Bi-Monthly Line Managers’ Forum, bringing topical issues for discussion, disseminating new information, escalating issues and concerns to senior management or HR. 
• Manage the timely implementation of divisional process changes, supporting support services staff through effective communication and guidance, to ensure the realisation of business benefits

About you.

• Thorough understanding of project administration processes and procedures. 
• Experience with leading a team with a good understanding of line manager HR processes and procedures. 
• Competent user of standard office software products to enable production and maintenance of a range of complex documents and spreadsheets.
• Evidence of managing stakeholder relationships and evidence of skills to influence relationships for positive outcomes.
• Experience in supporting director level communication & administration. 

About us. 

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England’s motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.  

Major Projects are responsible for major enhancements to our road network. We make roads safer, journeys more reliable and unlock economic growth. At the same time, we seek out ways to create opportunities for sustainable travel, help nature to thrive and support our journey to net zero carbon.  

Our team work closely with the supply chain to design and construct road projects, as well as develop a pipeline of possible projects as we look to the future. ​​​​​​Our skills span many areas from customer experts, land and property advisers to project management. We understand the potential that our road schemes can bring.   

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.  

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.  

Why you should join us

At National Highways we believe in a connected country. We are passionate about creating a culture where colleagues feel connected, included and enjoy greater wellbeing to achieve this. We’re proud that as an organisation we are continually striving to do better and actively encourage and support our colleagues to do the same with their careers. 

So, if you put safety first, take ownership of your work, show passion for what you do, work effectively in a team, and demonstrate integrity in how you do it – then you’ll be a great fit for our organisation.

A connected and sustainable working approach has been adopted across National Highways. For some roles, this means being able to work in a hybrid way spending up to 60% of time working from a remote location such as home.

We offer many different ways to work flexibly and we’re open to discuss part-time working, job shares, and flexible start and finish times. 

Please wait until the interview stage before asking us about flexibility, and we will explore what is possible.

Our benefits package

• Our total reward package includes basic salary, the potential for a performance related bonus
• Contributory pension scheme with employer contribution of up to 10%
• Annual Leave starting at 26 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising by 1 day each year up to 31 days (plus Bank Holidays)
• Flexible hours and an approach driven by connected and sustainable working which includes hybrid working
• Life assurance of 4 times annual salary
• Health and wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7 365 days and network of mental health first aiders. Plus access to a wellbeing app to enhance your self-care 24/7, Occupational health service and flu vaccines
• A cycle to work scheme for the purchase of a bicycle and equipment for healthy, low carbon travel
• Significant investment in your career development, through learning and development, talent management, coaching, mentoring and on job experience

And we are

• Family friendly with enhanced maternity leave and pay, paternity leave (15 days), shared parental leave, adoption leave. Plus access to financial support for holiday play schemes and paid special leave (up to 5 days pa), eg for caring responsibilities
• Money friendly with access to a discounts platform including over 3000 discounts for supermarkets, eating out, leisure, holidays. Alongside a financial wellbeing programme
• Community friendly – offering paid leave to volunteer, 3 days basic/year

If you are successful, it is key to know all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory completion of our pre-employment checks which include:       

• Right to work check
• 3 year employment history references
• DBS criminal record check
• Social media and adverse journalism check
• Driving licence check (if applicable)
• Fit to work questionnaire (for all), followed by a medical check (if applicable)
• Qualifications and/or professional membership check (if applicable)

And finally 

We reserve the right to close before the advertisement expires.