Job ID:
7757
Advertising Salary
Grade 7 £37,280- £40,777 (Bar at £39,862) per annum pro rata
Vacancy Type
Time Limited
All Locations
Town Hall Extension, Albert Square, Manchester, M60 2LA

About The Role

Working hours: 35 hours per week
Contract type: Temporary for 24 months
Closing date: 11.59pm, 29 April 2026
Interview method: in person
 
Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
 
This role is subject to:
  • Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. 
  • 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history. 
We have an exciting opportunity for a Programme Officer to join the Zero Carbon Team working on delivery of the city’s commitment to adapt to a changing climate and rapidly reduce carbon emissions. The Zero Carbon Team is part of the Council’s City Policy service. 

The City Policy service is at the heart of local government. We focus on key local, regional and national strategic issues the city faces. Zero Carbon is one of those priority areas. Zero Carbon is Manchester’s name for climate action, which for us is reducing carbon emissions and adapting to a changing climate, along with wider activity to protect the environment. We specialise in strategic thinking, productive partnerships, programme and project delivery, securing external funding and working with an inclusive approach. We work alongside Greater Manchester Combined Authority, with national government departments and a wide range of partner organisations to deliver the best possible outcomes for Manchester. 

If you’re successful, you’ll join a team of dedicated professionals pushing forward a high standard of support for climate action. You’ll be working with colleagues across the Council and other organisations on a broad range of activity to deliver climate action – both direct delivery by the Council and citywide leadership. This includes retrofitting more homes and buildings, increasing use of renewable energy, helping the city to adapt to the changing climate such as extreme flooding and heat stress, helping people to choose walking, cycling and public transport where possible, and facilitating the development of low carbon economic growth opportunities. To see what we’ve done so far and what’s next, take a look at www.manchester.gov.uk/ccap

Career progression 

The Zero Carbon team offers clear progression routes. Many people join at officer level (Grade 7) and go on to progress into Principal Officer level (Grade 9), or management posts, . either within the team or across City Policy and the wider Council.  Each of the five teams in the City Policy service have the same structure. City Policy supports its team to actively seek and benefit from personal development opportunities, with a great track record of supporting progression to other positions within the service or the wider organisation. 

For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Helen Harland, at 07940 724 276 and [email protected] to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.   

About the Candidate

Essential requirements for the role:
  • Excellent planning and organising skills: be able to successfully manage a busy programme of work.
  • Project Management skills: Demonstrable experience of contributing to the delivery of high quality programmes and projects, including planning and co-ordinating activity by others.
  • Strong communication skills including: the ability to correspond effectively, both verbally and in writing with a wide range of local stakeholders; and the ability to produce high quality, informative and accessible reports for a range of audiences, including the Council’s website.
  • Research and analytical skills: be able to research innovative approaches to climate issues, to evaluate and communicate to colleagues to identify opportunities, in conjunction with other members of the team/other services.
  • Be a team player, work well with others and collaborate effectively.
  • Knowledge of climate change and the environmental agenda.
  • An understanding or experience of environmental sustainability or low carbon projects or programmes, involving multiple partners. 
The experience below would be beneficial but is not essential:  
  • Completed or a willingness to undertake relevant environmental / sustainability training, for example, carbon literacy. 
  • Financial management: be able to plan, forecast and monitor expenditure against budgets 
We welcome applications from people with transferable skills and experience from outside local government.

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. 

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone. 

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

  • We take time to listen and understand
  • We work together and trust each other
  • We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
  • We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
  • We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer 

  • Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks. 
  • A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum. 
  • Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events. 
  • Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more. 
  • Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process. 
  • A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life. 
  • Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits. 

 

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council 

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people. 

Support During the Process

  • Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
  • Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone. 

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme 

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

  • Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
  • Current or former care leavers
  • Have a disability or long-term condition

 When You Join Us 

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

  • A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
  • Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
  • A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected]. 

What we will need from you if you're successful 

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.  

Pre-Employment Checks 

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for, see the top of the advert for details.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve. 

Other relevant information 

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role. 

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.
 
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) 
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. 
 
Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.

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