Specialisms
I specialise in the following areas:
- Programme Management
- Project Management
Robert gives CEOs and Executive Directors the senior capacity they need to move complex priorities forward. He turns ambiguity into clear, deliverable plans, stabilises programmes in crisis, and leaves behind stronger teams, governance and capability.
An experienced Interim Programme Director and transformation specialist, Robert has over 15 years’ experience delivering complex, politically sensitive change across local and central government. He works with CEOs, Mayors, Executive Directors and senior leaders to design and deliver transformation strategies, strengthen governance, and restore control and confidence in high‑risk programmes.
His portfolio includes multi‑million‑pound regeneration, transport, climate, commercial and service‑reform programmes. He is frequently engaged to stabilise challenged portfolios, reset delivery approaches and develop operating models, governance frameworks and business cases that enable organisations to progress critical priorities at pace.
Recent assignments include strategic delivery roles for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Norwich City Council/Homes England, DEFRA, MHCLG/DLUHC, BSI/UNFCCC and the Cabinet Office.
Robert brings a calm, collaborative leadership style with the ability to get into the detail during crises, while empowering teams to take ownership once stability is restored.
Key Strengths/Areas of Expertise
- Programme and portfolio recovery (crisis → stabilisation → delivery)
- Strategic transformation leadership
- Operating model design & organisational change
- Governance, assurance & performance frameworks
- Executive-level stakeholder engagement (CEOs, Mayors, Executive Directors, Boards)
- Efficiency savings.
- Financial sustainability, business cases & benefits realisation
- Digital and service modernisation
- Risk, issue & dependency management
- Multi-agency and political environment delivery
- Capability building, coaching & leadership development
Professional Qualifications
- MSP Practitioner
- PRINCE2 Practitioner
- ILM Level 7 – Strategic Leadership & Management (Fellow)
- BSc Exercise & Sports Science
- Additional Training: Agile, Governance, Cyber Security, GDPR, Financial Reporting, Programme Assurance
Testimonials/Case Studies
Mark
“Rob Anderson joined the council in August 2022 as interim Project Director at a pivotal time when the organisation was embarking on significant transformation across multiple service areas, including property and economic development.
From the outset, Rob has been invaluable in supporting both my team and the wider transformation programme. He played a critical role in establishing robust governance frameworks to manage complex projects effectively. Rob consistently embraced and applied best-practice project management techniques, ensuring that projects were delivered with clarity and control. His approach ensured that risks and issues were identified, mitigated, and actioned promptly, and that dependencies were fully understood and managed.
Rob’s contribution has been central to several major initiatives for Norwich, including:
- Transformation of the non-housing property service, improving efficiency and service delivery.
- Delivery of the council’s wider ‘Future Shape Norwich’ program
- Initiating delivery of £35 million of Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) funding to kick-start the Anglia Square development.
- Progressing plans for the future of City Hall to RIBA Stage 3, establishing deliverable solutions for this landmark building.
- Setting out project plans to unlock the regenerative housing delivery and economic growth potential of East Norwich a site which has potential to deliver up to 4,000 homes and 4,000 jobs.
Rob combines strategic insight with practical delivery skills, making him an exceptional asset to any organisation undertaking complex change. His professionalism, collaborative approach, and ability to navigate challenging programmes have been instrumental in achieving tangible outcomes for the council and the city.
I would not hesitate to recommend Rob for any senior project or programme leadership role”.
Notable Achievements/Value Added
- Led recovery and governance reset of SYMCA’s £600m Mass Transit Renewal
- Initiated delivery of £35m HIF funding to unlock the Anglia Square regeneration
- Designed and secured approval for the £4.5bn Cladding Remediation Programme TOM
- Directed the Future Shape Norwich transformation across multiple service areas
- Delivered an International Workshop agreement to define Net Zero with UNFCCC/ISO launched at COP27 with global consensus (150+ countries) in 5 months.
- Established portfolio governance and performance structures for multiple councils
- Delivered UK-wide Brexit legislation programme involving 50+ staff and four nations
- Built organisational capability and embedded best-practice PMO, governance, and delivery disciplines
- Led the Essex Olympic Legacy Venue development– the first ever Olympic MTB course o open to the public
- Known for turning around failing portfolios and returning programmes to Green
Relevant Sector Knowledge
- Local government (district, unitary, county, combined authority)
- Central government departments and arm’s-length bodies
- Regeneration, housing, transport and infrastructure
- Climate, environment and sustainability programmes
- Digital modernisation and service transformation
- Commercial reviews with in services, financial sustainability and corporate planning
- Public-sector governance, assurance and statutory reporting
Training/Coaching Programmes/Workshops offers
- Leadership development and mentoring for project leaders without the PM qualifications
- Governance & assurance fundamentals for local authority leadership teams
- Programme recovery workshops (Crisis → Stabilisation → Delivery)
- Risk, issue & dependency management training
- Building PMO capability & performance culture
- The big Project Checklist before you say yes to the big project
LGR Experience & Expertise
Extensive experience across local government including combined authorities (SYMCA), unitary authorities (Norwich City Council), county councils (Essex County Council), London boroughs (Hammersmith & Fulham, Tower Hamlets) and partnerships with Homes England. Expertise spans transformation, regeneration, corporate services, commercial services, transport, infrastructure, housing delivery, climate programmes, financial planning and corporate governance.