Regeneration Programme Manager Ref: 33-25

Salary: Grade 6 Subject to Job Evaluation (£43,882 - £50,761 per annum)
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Location: Dereham/Thetford (remote-enabled)
Contract: 3-year Fixed Term contract

Big things are happening here in Breckland - and we want YOU to be part of it!

Thetford has just secured a massive £20 million from Government - and this is just the beginning. With the right leadership and ambition that £20 million could unlock £200 million worth of regeneration and investment.  We're looking for a brilliant, driven Regeneration Programme Manager to make it happen!

You'll work hand-in-hand with the Thetford Neighbourhood Board, our partners, and local people - bringing together ambition, funding, and energy to unlock new opportunities, drive inward investment, and create vibrant, thriving places.

You'll need to be confident managing complex programmes, experienced in stakeholder engagement, and a natural collaborator who knows how to bring people together around a shared ambition.

If you've got a background in regeneration, programme management, placemaking, or economic development - and you want to take on a role with real purpose and visible impact - this could be the job for you.

Alongside the major investment in Thetford, you'll also play a key role in shaping and delivering exciting regeneration projects across our other market towns - helping to breathe new life into high streets, support local economies, and create places our communities are proud of.

This is your opportunity to lead the biggest regeneration programme Breckland has ever seen - unlocking lasting change and helping shape a bold new chapter in the district's future.

At Breckland Council, we're bold, ambitious, and proud to be shaping the future of our amazing rural communities. In 2024 we were shortlisted in the LGC Best Place to Work Awards because we put our people first - creating a culture that values fresh thinking, collaboration, and real opportunities to grow. If you're looking for a place where your ideas count, your wellbeing matters, and your work truly makes a difference - Breckland might just be the place for you.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now - and help us turn £20 million into something extraordinary.

For more information or to arrange an informal chat about the role please contact Ralph Burton, Assistant Director, Property & Projects - ralph.burton@breckland.gov.uk  

Closing date: Midday, 13 August 2025

Job summary

Primary Functional Objectives of the Role

• Lead the delivery and programme management of key regeneration programmes and projects across Breckland, including the Thetford Plan for Neighbourhoods (PfN) programme, Watton Middle Street, the Digital Creative Media Centre, Dereham Market Place, and Thetford Gateway projects.
• Act as the strategic client and lead officer for regeneration programmes and projects, ensuring delivery is on time, within budget, and aligned to agreed outcomes.
• Support the Thetford Neighbourhood Board in all aspects of the delivery of the Plan for Neighbourhoods 10-year programme of £20m.
• Assist the Thetford Neighbourhood Board in all aspects of programme management of the fund and developing grant processes, grant monitoring processes, project development, communications, governance and budget management, as well as interfacing with the Government department.
• Provide strong programme and project management expertise, including the development and maintenance of programme plans, risk registers, and monitoring frameworks.
• Co-ordinate internal teams and external delivery partners to ensure coherent, joined-up delivery of regeneration activity and the Thetford Plan for Neighbourhoods programme.
• Shape and manage Breckland's regeneration pipeline, aligning it with wider growth, planning, and economic development objectives.
• Develop and oversee business cases, funding bids, and investment proposals to support regeneration priorities across the district.
• Engage and manage stakeholder relationships, including local communities, elected members, government departments, developers, businesses, and other partners.
• Ensure effective governance, decision-making, reporting, and communications for all programme activity.
• Support wider regeneration strategy and policy development across Breckland, contributing to long-term place-based transformation.
• Ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement.

Primary Leadership Objectives of the Role

• To provide visible confident leadership internally and externally

This job description is not exhaustive.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service, in consultation with the post holder as detailed in your Contract of Employment.

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Proven experience leading the development and delivery of complex regeneration or economic development programmes and projects.
• Strong track record of programme and project management, including planning, risk management, reporting, and financial oversight.
• Proven experience of leading place-based transformation regeneration programmes and working with local stakeholders to effect change ad ensure delivery.
• Demonstrable experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder programmes, with a strong understanding of partnership working across public, private, and community sectors.
• Experience of preparing and managing business cases and funding applications for public investment.
• Practical knowledge of development processes, including land acquisition, planning, procurement, and project governance.
• Experience of engaging with and influencing senior stakeholders, including elected members, government departments, and community representatives.
• Good understanding of place-based regeneration policy, urban development, and economic growth drivers.
• Experience managing the full lifecycle of capital projects, ideally within a local authority or public sector setting

Desirable

• Experience of working on town centre regeneration or public realm improvement projects.
• Understanding of rural regeneration and economic development in district council contexts.
• Experience of working with Government departments and funded programmes.
• Experience of bid writing.
• Knowledge of the Breckland district, particularly Thetford.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent level experience
• Programme management qualification or equivalent experience
• Comprehensive IT skills
• Hold a full UK driving licence or the means to travel independently

Desirable

• Professional qualification in project or programme management (e.g., PRINCE2, MSP, APM).

Essential Behaviours

Collaborative

• I encourage individuals and teams to work, learn and deliver together
• I look for opportunities to coach, support and mentor people both inside and outside of my own team (s) or discipline.
• I listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge
• I look for ways to work in partnership with colleagues across services, Members and external partners #oneteam

Ambitious

• I act as a role model, leading by example: motivating, influencing and inspiring others
• I actively encourage innovation. If things go wrong, I see that as an opportunity to learn and develop
• I take ownership of change and help others to understand, adapt to, implement and embed change
• I always ask myself 'How could we do this better?

Results-driven

• I keep to my promises and challenge myself and others to deliver high-quality services
• I look for opportunities to develop people, nurturing future talent
• I understand our council priorities and how I make a difference.
• I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping a focus on results

Empowering

• I look for and act on opportunities where we can generate an income or drive down costs
• I take responsibility if things don't go well and learn from it for my own and for the organisation's development
• I show energy and drive to explore new opportunities and challenge the status quo

Supportive

• I give time to colleagues who need help or support, even when the pressure is on
• I understand and take care of my own well-being and of that of those around me
• I treat everyone with kindness, dignity and respect, valuing their thoughts, background and experience

Health & Safety (exposure to risk)

• The role has limited exposure to risk.
• The role will be required to maintain the health, safety and security of officers, stakeholders and partners at all time during the life of the project and whilst an employee of Breckland District Council

What's it like to work for us?

We are passionate about our people and pride ourselves on being a great place to work, we genuinely care and know that a happy workforce is a productive and motivated one! If you're still not sure, here are some stats from our 2024 staff survey to convince you..

• 94% said they feel trusted and empowered
• 90% of staff recommend Breckland as a great place to work
• 89% said they have had opportunities to learn and grow in the last 12 months
• 94% think Breckland provide positive action on health and wellbeing
• 91% said they felt supported by their manager

If you STILL need convincing, here's what some of our staff say...

• "Breckland is a fantastic employer, lots of opportunities and support"
• "Having only just started, it is a great place to work, everyone says hello, is smiley and chatty. I like the groups that are on, like carers shed and neurodiversity"
• "We are encouraged to take regular breaks and there are mental health first aiders and a wide range of good promotional aspects of healthy living and wellbeing."
• "In times of need the council offers excellent support."
• "BDC really does seem to care about the wellbeing and happiness of their staff."

At Breckland Council we have embraced the Government's agenda to modernise local government. Our approach is to lead change rather than follow it, and to add the best value we can to our communities. We achieve this by developing our employees to their full potential, providing them with the relevant knowledge, equipment, and authority to carry out their duties.

We are a dynamic and innovative organisation that is always testing and learning as we seek to continually improve. We have never stood still in response to the emergence of new opportunities, changing customer demands, and ongoing funding challenges. We have exciting plans for how to deliver the best possible services to our residents and businesses.

Breckland as a district is a special place nestled in the heart of rural Norfolk, spanning over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and forest, with five Market Towns and over 140,000 residents. We care, we listen, and we support people and businesses within our district. We have big ideas and we are innovative in our approach, coming up with ways to meet the needs of the local communities that we serve. Through our actions, we want to make things better.

But we know that we can't do it alone. We are a collaborative organisation and we work together with others to make a greater impact. We are also an organisation where our employees can grow and develop and are empowered to achieve and succeed. We are proud of our area, and by driving investment and enabling opportunities, we can maximise its full potential. We want to inspire aspiration to live, work, visit, or do business here: we want our district to be one of choice.

We will support and enable growth and change in our thriving, welcoming places where people and businesses choose to be, knowing their ambitions can be not just fulfilled but exceeded. By listening to people, by understanding what they need and by working together, we can shape what we have to offer. By doing so, we can benefit those who are already here and those who choose to come to live, work, visit, or do business.

We offer excellent conditions of service, including:

• A local government pension scheme (14 per cent employer contribution).
• Attractive holiday package (25 days increasing after three years' continuous Local Authority service by one day per year up to the maximum of 28 days, plus bank holidays)
• Free car parking.
• Remote-enabled working arrangements.
• A newly refurbished office. See what it is like working here by watching this short film: 
  

Our commitment to talent development, on the job learning and upskilling, training and professional memberships, will keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

If you would like an informal chat regarding this role please contact Ralph Burton (Assistant Director Property & Projects) by emailing ralph.burton@breckland.gov.uk  

Closing date - 13 August 2025. midday
 

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Equal Opportunities - We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer, recognising the benefits of sustaining a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the requirements of our vacancies. These are listed as essential requirements on the person specification.