Workstream Lead

On behalf of UKRI , we are looking for a Workstream Lead (Inside IR35) for a 6 month contract (Until May 2027) contract based in Swindon with an option to be in London at times with s 40% office attendance .

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK.

UKRI invests £8 billion of taxpayers’ money each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen. They work across a huge range of fields – from biodiversity conservation to quantum computing, and from space telescopes to innovative health care. They give everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, bringing together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.

We are seeking an experienced Workstream Lead to take ownership of a critical people change and restructuring programme within a large public sector organisation.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a highly visible and strategically important workstream, overseeing the movement of a significant number of roles across departments and delivering a complex programme of organisational exits. Working as part of a wider transformation agenda, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future structure of the organisation while ensuring successful delivery through effective governance, stakeholder engagement, and programme leadership .

As Workstream Lead , you will provide strategic leadership and accountability for the end-to-end delivery of a major restructuring and people change programme.

You will work closely with the Programme Director, PMO, subject matter experts, HR specialists, and external partners to ensure the programme delivers against its objectives , timelines, budget, and governance requirements.

This role requires a confident leader with significant experience in restructuring, redundancy programmes, and organisational change who can successfully navigate complex stakeholder environments while leading a multidisciplinary team through a sensitive period of transformation.

As a Worksteam Lead , your main responsibilities will be:

- Lead the delivery of a major restructuring and workforce transition programme from initial concept and design through to implementation and closure.
- Sponsor and oversee workstream activities including business case development, workforce planning, consultation processes, staff engagement, implementation, and programme completion.
- Manage and support programme delivery resources, including line management of programme management staff and matrix leadership of specialist subject matter experts.
- Drive programme governance, ensuring compliance with organisational policies, procedures, and change frameworks.
- Identify, escalate, and resolve programme risks, issues, and blockers, working closely with senior stakeholders to maintain momentum and delivery.
- Represent the workstream at senior leadership meetings, programme boards, and governance forums.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, employee representatives, trade unions, and external partners.
- Support effective communication and engagement activities to ensure transparency and positive stakeholder outcomes throughout the programme lifecycle.
- Ensure programme outcomes are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned to wider organisational transformation objectives .
- Promote continuous improvement and share lessons learned to strengthen future programme delivery.

Essential:

- Executed a Voluntary Redundancy programme in a Public Sector organisation
- Demonstrable experience leading large-scale restructuring and organisational change programmes.
- Successful track record delivering people-related transformation initiatives within a large public sector environment.
- Strong understanding of UK employment legislation relating to restructuring, organisational redesign, consultation processes, and redundancy programmes.
- Experience leading business-critical programmes from development and design through to implementation and closure.
- Trade Union exposure
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build credibility at all levels of an organisation.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to prepare reports, briefings, and governance papers for senior audiences.
- Experience working within complex governance frameworks and programme delivery methodologies.
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in a collaborative and evolving environment.
- Pragmatic, resilient, and flexible approach to problem-solving and programme delivery.

Person Attributes

- Passion for people-focused transformation and cultural change.
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Highly collaborative leadership style.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and delivery excellence.
- Ability to operate effectively in sensitive and politically complex environments

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

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, UKRI encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates . Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant / Commitment

UKRI welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the 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".