AMS PSR

On behalf of The Department for Transport, we are looking for a HR Programme Manager (Inside IR35) Until 30th April 2026 contract-based in Hybrid - 3 days in Leeds or London (or any other DFT offices in the UK).

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The Programme Manager will be primarily responsible for planning and overseeing the transition of staff from within the department to DfT Operator (DFTO), a key step in the move to GBR. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring the people transfer is well-structured, compliant, and delivered with minimal disruption to people and operations. There are also multiple people projects/workstreams for GBR and across DfT Change & OD, so it is essential for there to be a holistic approach and a single plan, for which this role will be responsible for.

Reporting to the Deputy Director and sitting within the HR function, you will work across multiple teams and collaborate closely with the Rail Reform & Strategy and Rail Services Group Teams, HR Business Partners, and senior stakeholders across the department and DFTO. The role requires a strategic thinker with proven programme delivery experience, excellent stakeholder engagement skills, adaptability in dynamic environments, and a solid understanding of organisational change within complex settings.

You will be responsible for setting up and overseeing governance structures and reporting mechanisms and ensuring the programme is effectively planned and that the business is fully prepared for a smooth and compliant transition.

As a JOB TITLE, your main responsibilities will be:

• Lead the development and coordination of the overall programme plan, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and timelines and wider governance arrangements.
• Establish and maintain effective programme governance structures, in line with wider governance arrangements.
• Identify, assess, and manage programme-level risks and issues, ensuring mitigation plans are in place and escalated where necessary.
• Produce regular programme updates, reports, and dashboards for senior stakeholders and governance boards.
• Coordinate resource planning across workstreams, identifying and addressing capacity gaps.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders including HR, Legal, Trade Unions, and the DfT Operator to ensure alignment and collaboration.
• Lead effective communication across the programme to support engagement and change readiness.
• Monitor progress against key milestones, resolving delivery challenges and ensuring successful outcomes.

Essential:

• Previous experience in HR Programme Manager role
• Public Sector Experience
• Stakeholder Managment  

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, DfT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

DfT guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".