Senior Transformation Programme Lead - Waste Services
Rugby (Regular on-site presence required)
Interim Contract - Until the end of January 2027
Day Rate - Competitive
The Opportunity
We are delighted to be supporting Rugby Borough Council in the appointment of a Senior Transformation Programme Lead to drive a high-profile Waste Services turnaround programme.
This is a critical interim assignment offering the opportunity to lead a complex, multi-disciplinary transformation programme aimed at stabilising and improving a frontline operational service facing significant challenges. The programme is a key corporate priority and focuses on restoring service performance, strengthening compliance, and embedding sustainable, long term change.
You will play a pivotal leadership role, working across operational and corporate functions to deliver measurable improvements in health & safety, compliance, governance, workforce capability, fleet operations, and service performance.
Given the operational nature of the service, this role requires regular on site presence, including early morning engagement with frontline teams.
Programme Overview
The Waste Service Turnaround Programme has been established to deliver:
- Stronger health & safety culture and compliance
- Improved environmental and regulatory standards
- Enhanced fleet, transport and vehicle maintenance operations
- Increased workforce capability, capacity and resilience
- Better depot management and operational performance
- Robust governance, assurance, and performance frameworks
- Sustainable organisational and cultural change
- A future-fit operating model for high performing waste services
The Role
As the Senior Transformation Programme Lead, you will take ownership of the end to end delivery of this complex programme.
You will:
- Lead and coordinate multiple interdependent workstreams
- Establish and maintain effective programme governance and assurance
- Drive delivery against key milestones, outcomes and benefits
- Manage risks, issues and dependencies
- Ensure alignment across operational, technical, and corporate teams
- Translate strategy into tangible service improvements
This role requires a confident leader who can challenge constructively, influence senior stakeholders, and maintain delivery momentum in a demanding environment.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Leadership & Delivery
- Develop and deliver a comprehensive programme plan
- Coordinate multiple workstreams to ensure successful delivery
- Monitor progress and ensure delivery against key outcomes
- Identify and remove barriers to delivery
- Embed sustainable operational and cultural improvements
Governance, Risk & Assurance
- Establish robust programme governance structures
- Maintain programme documentation (plans, RAID logs, actions)
- Provide regular reporting to Programme Board and Executive Sponsor
- Monitor risks and ensure effective mitigation strategies
- Track delivery of audit and inspection actions
Workstream Oversight
You will oversee delivery across:
- Health & Safety Improvement
- Workforce Development
- Fleet, Transport & Vehicle Maintenance
- Systems & Digital
- Environmental & Regulatory Compliance
- Quality Management & Performance
- Depot Operations & Service Improvement
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong relationships across operational teams and leadership
- Engage effectively with trade unions and frontline staff
- Coordinate external consultants and SME input
- Ensure clear communication across programme activities
Essential Experience
We are seeking candidates with a proven track record in:
- Delivering large scale transformation or turnaround programmes
- Leading change within complex operational environments
- Programme governance, reporting and assurance frameworks
- Risk, issue, and dependency management
- Driving health & safety and compliance improvements
- Managing multi disciplinary teams and specialist resources
- Influencing senior stakeholders, programme boards, and elected members
- Delivering measurable programme outcomes
- Experience within Local Government and/or regulated environments
Highly Desirable
Experience in one or more of the following areas is advantageous:
- Waste Services
- Environmental Services
- Fleet Management
- Transport Operations
- Vehicle Maintenance
Qualifications
Ideally, you will hold one or more of the following:
- MSP Practitioner
- PRINCE2 Practitioner
- APM Practitioner (or equivalent)
