Programme Director

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

This role offers flexible hybrid working, with attendance at our Chelmsford office typically required around 2 days per week but is depending on business need. Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working while maintaining regular in-person collaboration with colleagues.

Essex County Council is investing in its future by establishing a new Service Modernisation function to transform how services are designed and delivered. The function will help the Council improve outcomes for residents, increase productivity and deliver sustainable financial benefits, while building the capability needed to modernise services at scale.

The Role

The Programme Director for Service Modernisation is a senior leadership role responsible for establishing and leading a new Council-wide Service Modernisation function.

The successful candidate will create the operating model, governance, delivery pipeline and multidisciplinary capability required to identify, prioritise and deliver high-value opportunities to redesign services, simplify processes, improve productivity and achieve measurable financial benefits.

Working across Essex Digital Service and the wider Council, the postholder will bring together digital, product, service design, data, technology, transformation, change and operational expertise to deliver better outcomes for residents and staff. They will also lead an initial portfolio of high-priority modernisation activity.

The role requires an experienced digital leader with a strong track record of leading complex, multidisciplinary digital functions and building sustainable organisational capability. The successful candidate will need to operate confidently with Members, Chief Officers and senior leaders, while maintaining a strong focus on practical delivery and measurable outcomes.

Accountabilities

• Establish and lead the Council-wide Service Modernisation function, including its operating model, governance and delivery pipeline.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to redesign services, automate processes and improve outcomes for residents and staff.
• Identify and prioritise opportunities to simplify services, reduce avoidable demand, improve productivity and deliver financial benefits.
• Establish the function as a sustainable organisational capability.
• Ensure modernisation activity is user-centred, evidence-led, inclusive and aligned with the Council’s digital, data, technology and organisational priorities.
• Provide senior advice to Members, Chief Officers and service leaders on service modernisation.
• Oversee delivery, investment, risk, dependencies and benefits across the Service Modernisation portfolio.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Significant experience of leading digital, transformation or service modernisation within a large or complex organisation.
• Strong track record of leading complex multidisciplinary digital teams and functions from strategy through to implementation.
• Significant experience of end-to-end service redesign and organisational change.
• Strong understanding of digital delivery, data, automation and technology.
• Experience of building organisational capability and establishing sustainable delivery functions.
• Proven ability to deliver measurable productivity, financial or service improvements.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness, including investment and benefits management.
• Ability to influence and operate credibly with senior leaders and Members in a complex environment.

Assessment Process

Interviews are scheduled for Friday 13th November.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email strategic.resourcing@essex.gov.uk

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