Programme Manager

Programme Manager

Final date to receive applications: 28 January 2026

Department:
Projects

Employment Type:

Permanent

Location:

Oxford

Reporting To:
Director of Projects and Change

Compensation: £80,000 / year

At UK Biobank, we help researchers answer some of the biggest questions about human health. Behind the scenes, that means bringing together people, data, and systems in ways that are thoughtful, well-governed, and built for long-term impact.

We’re now looking for a Programme Manager to take responsibility for the delivery of UK Biobank’s Data Linkage Programme, a strategically important area of work for the organisation. This is a role for someone who enjoys building clarity where things are evolving, connecting people across disciplines, and turning complex ambitions into progress that sticks.

As a pioneering and inclusive organisation, we value collaboration, curiosity, and practical delivery and we’re excited to offer a role where you can genuinely shape how something new takes form.

You’ll lead the end-to-end development and delivery of a major programme, working closely with the Executive team and senior stakeholders across UK Biobank, partner organisations, and data providers.

The programme sits within UK Biobank’s Data Linkage Programme, a key strategic priority as we expand how we link to external health records and datasets. You’ll report to the Director of Projects and Change and be accountable to the Director of Data Linkage, ensuring the programme approach aligns with organisational frameworks while accommodating the specific technical, governance, legal, and partnership considerations that come with data linkage.

This role suits someone who can bring momentum to environments with multiple perspectives, competing priorities, and evolving requirements — helping interdependent initiatives move forward and deliver lasting value.

• Translating strategy into deliverable programmes by aligning multi-disciplinary teams, managing interdependencies and navigating complex constraints.
• Defining and maintaining a clear programme vision, roadmap, outcomes and success measures aligned to organisational strategy and portfolio priorities.
• Assessing and shaping resourcing and capability across multi-disciplinary teams to deliver current and future data linkage ambitions.
• Identifying and managing programme risks and constraints, particularly around data quality, governance, ethics and timeliness, working with partners to mitigate impact.
• Providing pragmatic, hands-on leadership when needed, contributing to critical work while maintaining programme direction and long-term sustainability.

You’re comfortable working in complex, governance-heavy environments and enjoy bringing structure and progress to work that spans teams and organisations. You balance strategic thinking with practical delivery and communicate clearly with a wide range of stakeholders.

To be successful, you will have:

• Strong programme management capability including planning, dependency management, governance, assurance and benefits realisation with a proven track record of leading the development and delivery of complex, large scale programmes.
• Demonstrable experience working in highly regulated or governance-heavy environments, such as health research, public sector or data driven organisations.
• Proven ability to manage risk, uncertainty and change, including issues relating to data quality and external dependencies.
• Experience leading large, multi-disciplinary project teams within a matrix management structure, with strong stakeholder management skills and an ability to operate across organisational boundaries.

Working hours are 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday with some flexibility, 3 days onsite with hybrid working available. Located in Oxford.

Our passion for diversity and equality means creating a work environment for all employees that is welcoming, respectful, engaging, and enriched with opportunities for personal and professional development.

We’re proud to offer a benefits package that supports your health, financial security, and work‑life…