Senior Air Quality Programme Manager

Do you have the passion and expertise to lead the delivery of cleaner air in the West Midlands? Can you translate clean air ambitions into real-world action plans?

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) seeks a highly motivated and results-oriented Senior Air Quality Programme Manager to champion the implementation of our newly adopted regional Air Quality Framework. 

This role leads a critical regional initiative to improve public health and environmental sustainability. You'll leverage your technical knowledge, leadership skills, and relationship-building expertise to deliver the Air Quality Framework alongside local authorities and key stakeholders.

This role is being advertised as a two-year fixed term contract. 

What will you be doing? 

• Lead the implementation of the Air Quality Framework, providing strategic direction and collaborating effectively with local authorities throughout the region. This involves an initial budget of £1.8m.
• Work with key regional stakeholders to coordinate and collaborate around delivery, including championing regional efforts to improve Air Quality with Defra and other national bodies.
• Supporting both technical elements of the Air Quality Programme as well as behaviour change, communications and engagement work. 
• Implementing a robust monitoring and evaluation of activities to track the Air Quality Framework's progress and impact.
• Prepare well-structured reports for various political boards, including the Environment and Energy Board, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and the WMCA Board.
• Oversee all programme aspects, including budget management, project documentation, progress updates, and insightful reporting.
• Manage staff funded by grant programmes to deliver different aspects of the regional Air Quality Programme.
• Develop a clear understanding of the interrelationships between climate change, natural environment, and Air Quality plans.
• Secure additional funding opportunities (grants or broader investments) to support the ongoing delivery of the Air Quality Framework.

About you

• Demonstrable experience in Air Quality management, with a proven track record of delivering large-scale projects.
• Strong leadership and programme management skills, including budget management, reporting, and risk mitigation.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of Air Quality policy frameworks at international, national, regional, and local levels.
• Experience in grant applications and securing funding.
• Full member of the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) (Desirable) 

How to apply

On clicking ‘apply for this job’, you will first be prompted to create an account. You will have the opportunity to upload a CV, which will be used to auto-populate your profile. Please note, we do not see your CV once you have applied. Our shortlisting decisions are based on what you tell us in your profile - and so it is important to format your profile so that it really stands out. Make sure to include your employment history and include any essential education and qualifications. You will be asked to provide a supporting statement. If you already have one that you have prepared earlier, you can simply copy and paste this into the application form. 

Applicants will need to evidence that they have the legal right to work in the UK. If we make an offer of employment, we will need to check that you are eligible to work in the UK before you start work. 

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes a Local Government Pension Scheme, 28 days of paid annual leave, Cycle to Work Scheme, and discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers. For more details, please visit the benefits page on our careers site.

Location and working pattern – what you can expect. 

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane. It is expected that you can split your time between the office and working remotely, with at least 2 days a week spent in the office. 

Creating an inclusive workplace.

Our vision is to create a better connected, more prosperous, fairer, greener, and healthier region. We aim to achieve this vision by living our values, which include being a partnership organisation, valuing and respecting our people, fostering a can-do attitude, and encouraging innovation. We are dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace that reflects the communities of the West Midlands region. WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as "Leaders in Diversity," and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We are also a Disability Confident Employer, committed to interviewing all applicants with disabilities who meet the essential role criteria. WMCA believes that building a team with varied backgrounds and experiences will benefit us as an employer and enhance our work.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying. If your values align with ours and you are dedicated to working towards a future that we can all be proud of, we would love to hear from you.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk). We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

Thank you for considering joining our team at WMCA. We look forward to receiving your application and the opportunity to work together towards our shared goals.