Programme Manager

Job Title: Programme Manager – AI Transformation

Salary: Up to £100,000 Location: North of England / Scotland (Remote) 

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Department: Delivery

About ICS.AI

ICS.AI is the UK's market leader in Artificial Intelligence solutions for local government and the wider public sector. As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, we combine cutting-edge AI technology with deep sector expertise to deliver guaranteed, measurable outcomes through our SMART: Platform covering AI Contact Centres, Staff Copilots, and Social Care AI.

Our work has been recognised in Parliament for responsible AI innovation, and we are ranked #19 in TechRound's AI45 2026. With £12M in annual savings identified at a single council, 11M+ real-world AI interactions delivered, and 20+ public sector partners across the UK, we don't just talk about AI transformation — we prove it.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Programme Manager to join our growing Delivery team and lead high-profile AI Transformation Programmes for public sector clients across Scotland and the North of England.

Operating at a senior level, you will provide overall leadership across a coordinated portfolio of projects, with Senior Project Managers responsible for day-to-day delivery. You will own programme governance, manage executive-level client and third-party relationships, and ensure our AI platforms are successfully implemented, adopted, and delivering measurable, sustainable benefits.

As a senior member of the Delivery leadership team, you will also work closely with the Director of Delivery to contribute to delivery standards, programme management capability, and strategic improvement across ICS.AI.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multiple concurrent AI transformation programmes, accountable for outcomes across the full delivery lifecycle
• Act as senior point of contact for clients, managing executive-level relationships, Programme Boards, and escalations
• Own programme governance, integrated planning, reporting, and assurance frameworks
• Lead programme-level change management and organisational adoption strategies
• Manage programme budgets, commercial change control, and financial forecasting
• Own benefits realisation frameworks — defining, baselining, tracking, and evidencing outcomes
• Oversee cross-project risk, issues, and dependency management
• Ensure AI solutions are deployed in line with public sector expectations for governance, ethics, and responsible AI use
• Support the Director of Delivery in continuous improvement of programme management standards across ICS.AI

About You

You will be an outcome-focused, commercially aware programme leader with a strong track record in complex digital or AI-enabled transformation. You will be equally comfortable in a boardroom with council executives as you are in a delivery team discussion about risk and dependencies.

Essential:

• At least 7–10 years in project and programme delivery roles
• Proven experience leading complex, multi-project transformation programmes
• Experience operating in public sector or local government environments
• PRINCE2 Foundation qualified
• Demonstrable experience managing programme budgets, risk, and senior stakeholders
• Ability to confidently engage with AI concepts and translate them for non-technical audiences

Desirable:

• PRINCE2 Practitioner, MSP (Managing Successful Programmes), or ITIL Foundation
• Experience with AI, data platforms, automation, or intelligent digital services
• Familiarity with Generative AI concepts and their application in public sector contexts
• Experience governing emerging technologies in regulated or risk-aware environments

What We Offer

• Salary up to £100,000
• Remote working — flexible blend of remote and client-site delivery
• A senior role at the forefront of public sector AI in the UK
• Health and wellbeing support
• Learning and development investment
• Work with genuine social purpose as your programmes directly improve public services for communities across the UK
• A collaborative, high-performance culture that invests in its people
• The backing of an award-winning, fast-growing company recognised at the highest levels

ICS.AI is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.