Programme Manager

Genomics England partners with the NHS to provide whole genome sequencing diagnostics. We also equip researchers to find the causes of disease and develop new treatments – with patients and participants at the heart of it all.

Our mission is to continue refining, scaling, and evolving our ability to enable others to deliver genomic healthcare and conduct genomic research.

We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.

Job purpose

Our Programme Managers steer our most critical deliveries, working closely with our Product, Engineering, Security, and Assurance teams whilst engaging with Scientists, Bioinformaticians and third party suppliers and vendors to collectively achieve successful outcomes. You will be accountable for delivery which may include the planning, scoping, resourcing and budgeting of a project or programme of work; executing consistently to a high quality and aligning with governance requirements. This role will work closely with the Service Owner . In some cases, you may be working as part of a wider delivery group where there are Delivery Managers leading workstreams that are part of your overall programme.

This role sits in our Define and Deliver Scientific Research (DDSR) service, which aims to bring Genomics England’s research strategy to life through the consideration and prioritisation of scientific projects to delivery maximum impact. This role will support the Service Owner through a transitional period, ensuring current commitments are met and preparing the service for future research activities.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive programme plan with key milestones, ensuring alignment by integrating individual team and squad plans. Support strategic long-term planning, scope management, and re-planning as needed.
• Support the Service Owner in defining and prioritising programme requirements through the OKR process, and work across teams to resolve cross-organisational blockers.
• Monitor the progress and performance of teams and squads, ensuring alignment with goals and providing support to resolve issues in collaboration with Delivery Managers/Technical Delivery Managers.
• Establish and manage processes to capture and track risks, issues, actions, dependencies, and decisions, promoting a culture of proactive risk management across the programme.
• Support budget management alongside the Finance team, ensuring effective resourcing across squads and escalating any resourcing gaps to the Service Owner.
• Oversee procurement activities within the programme, ensuring compliance with procurement processes and collaborating with the Procurement team to monitor progress.
• Serve as secretariat for Programme Boards, supporting reporting for governance structures and coordinating external assurance activities such as ISO audits and Gateway reviews.
• Ensure clarity of ownership across teams for different aspects of the programme, and promote effective communication and knowledge sharing through consistent ways of working.
• Organise and coordinate team away days with the Service Owner to foster morale, trust, and team cohesion.
• Actively participate in the Delivery Chapter, contributing to best practice development and engaging in regular meetings and events.

Whilst we acknowledge relevant, suitable qualifications, we are mostly interested in your experience. We are looking for the following essential skills/experience where you have:

• Experience managing large-scale, complex programmes with multiple moving parts and cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable working in high-uncertainty environments, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity.
• Strong risk management skills, including identifying, tracking, and mitigating risks across a programme.
• Solid understanding of governance and reporting processes, with experience supporting decision-making at senior levels.

Closing date: Sunday 3rd August at 23:59

Salary from: £63,500

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including: 

• Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, additional leave for long service, and the option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).
• Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
• Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double-matches up to 10%, however you can contribute more if you wish), Life Assurance (3x salary), and a Give As You Earn scheme.
• Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).
• Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.

Equal opportunities and our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace 

Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background. 

Genomics England’s policies of non-discrimination and equity and will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, being pregnant or recently becoming a parent, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, whether full or part-time or employed under a permanent or a fixed-term contract or any other relevant factor.  

Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at work. Such behaviour is contrary to our virtues, undermines our mission and core values and diminishes the dignity, respect and integrity of all parties.  Our People policies outline our commitment to inclusivity. 

We aim to remove barriers in our recruitment processes and to be flexible with our interview processes. Should you require any adjustments that may help you to fully participate in the recruitment process, we encourage you to discuss this with us. 

Blended working model

Genomics England operates a blended working model as we know our people appreciate the flexibility that hybrid working can bring. We expect most people to come into the office a minimum of 2 times each month. However, this will vary according to role and will be agreed with your team leader. There is no expectation that people will return to the office full time unless they want to, however, some of our roles require full time on site attendance e.g., lab teams, reception team. 

Our teams and squads have, and will continue to reflect on what works best for them to work together successfully and have the freedom to design working patterns to suit, beyond the minimum. Our office locations are: Canary Wharf, Cambridge and Leeds. 

Onboarding background checks

As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates are subject to a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.  We therefore require applicants to disclose any previous offences at point of application, as some unspent convictions may mean we are unable to proceed with your application due to the nature of our work in healthcare.