Role Overview
Sword is a leading provider of business technology solutions within the Energy, Public and Finance sectors, driving real transformation change for our clients by leveraging proven technology, specialist teams and domain expertise to build strong technical foundations across platforms, data and business applications. The Programme Governance Lead is responsible for designing, implementing and optimising governance frameworks that enable effective, efficient and proportionate oversight of programme delivery. The role ensures governance is integrated with business operating models and decision‑making structures, delivering the right level of control, transparency and insight without unnecessary overhead. This position is critical for establishing delivery confidence, enabling timely decision‑making and ensuring alignment between strategic objectives and execution.
Responsibilities
* Design and implement end‑to‑end governance frameworks tailored to programme scale and complexity, including Unified Portfolio & Delivery Frameworks, Stage Gate Models and Hybrid delivery frameworks (Waterfall / Agile integration).
* Define governance structures such as decision forums (SteerCo, Design Authority, Programme Boards), roles, accountabilities and escalation pathways.
* Ensure governance frameworks are scalable, repeatable and aligned to industry best practices (e.g. MSP, ISO 21502); ensure integration with operating and decision‑making models.
* Align governance fully to the organisation’s business operating model, decision‑making hierarchy and authority structures.
* Define clear decision rights, thresholds and approval mechanisms.
* Enable the effective flow of information from delivery teams to executive stakeholders.
* Align governance with financial controls, commercial structures, risk and compliance frameworks, and Business Process Modelling & Optimisation.
* Develop process models (BPMN or equivalent) to define and communicate governance workflows, including stage‑gate processes, change‑control lifecycle and risk/issue escalation.
* Identify inefficiencies and drive process simplification and optimisation.
* Document governance processes clearly, ensure they are understood by stakeholders and consistently applied across the programme; design governance to be fit‑for‑purpose and proportionate to programme size, risk profile and delivery maturity.
* Streamline approval processes, reduce duplication of reporting and focus on decision‑enabling artefacts to avoid excessive bureaucracy.
* Tailor governance approaches for Agile vs Waterfall workstreams, early discovery vs delivery phases and for continuous improvement.
* Establish and run governance cadence and reporting cycles.
* Provide oversight and quality assurance of governance artefacts, decision packs and programme reporting.
* Monitor governance effectiveness and implement continuous improvements.
* Introduce and maintain standard templates, governance playbooks, ways‑of‑working guidance and stakeholder engagement & enablement materials.
* Engage senior stakeholders to secure buy‑in and adherence to governance; act as a trusted advisor to the Programme Director and leadership teams; facilitate governance forums and decision‑making sessions.
* Provide guidance and coaching to Project Managers, PMO teams and business stakeholders.
Requirements
* Essential:
o Proven experience designing and implementing governance frameworks for complex programmes.
o Deep understanding of Portfolio, Programme and Project governance models, Stage Gate methodologies and Hybrid delivery approaches.
o Strong business process‑modelling capability (e.g. BPMN).
o Experience integrating governance into business operating models and decision‑making structures.
o Demonstrated ability to design lean, proportionate governance.
o Strong facilitation and stakeholder‑management skills at senior/executive level.
* Desirable:
o Experience in Energy, Infrastructure, Utilities or large transformation programmes within highly regulated environments.
o Knowledge of ISO standards such as ISO 21502 and ISO 9001 and familiarity with governance, planning and reporting tools.
Behavioural Competencies
* Structured and systems‑thinking mindset.
* Ability to simplify complex concepts into clear governance models.
* Strong influencing and stakeholder‑engagement capability.
* Pragmatic, outcome‑focused approach.
* Ability to balance control with agility.
* High level of credibility and professional integrity.
Benefits
The role is offered on an initial contract basis and may be based on an Outside IR35 Limited Company or PAYE engagement, with potential to transition into a permanent staff role. Benefits include competitive salary, personalised career development plans, flexible working arrangements, a generous annual leave allowance, enhanced family‑friendly benefits, a pension scheme, access to private health, well‑being and insurance schemes. At Sword we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and are proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. All applicants receive fair and equal consideration, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
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