The opportunity
As Programme Director, you’ll be accountable for the successful delivery of Openwork’s most important strategic programmes, driving real change that enables our Value Creation Plan.
You’ll lead complex, high‑impact programmes, motivate large cross‑functional teams, and provide strong leadership to Project Managers within the Change & Transformation function. You’ll also help shape the culture, capability and ways of working of our Change team by leading one or more 'practice' pillars.
This role is hybrid working, 3 days a week from the Swindon office.
The benefits:
1. Salary - £58,000 to £84,000
2. Bonus scheme - on target bonus - 15%
3. Pension scheme - contribute up to 5% of your salary and Openwork will match you and put in an extra 5%
4. Critical illness cover
5. Income protection - 1x salary
6. Death in service - 4x salary
7. 27 days holiday + bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy up to an additional 10 days
8. A range of other flexible benefits to include private medical insurance, dental insurance and much more.
Key Accountabilities
Programme Delivery
9. Own the end‑to‑end delivery of key strategic programmes, ensuring intended benefits are realised
10. Mobilise programmes with clear objectives, governance, KPIs, resource plans and delivery roadmaps
11. Lead delivery across all phases, applying best‑practice frameworks, controls and reporting
12. Proactively manage budgets, RAIDDs, risks, issues and dependencies
13. Act as the primary point of contact for programme delivery across business, product and technology
14. Remove delivery blockers and keep Executive sponsors informed, escalating issues promptly
Team Leadership & Collaboration
15. Lead, motivate and support large cross‑functional programme and project teams
16. Create a collaborative, high‑performance environment with effective communication and knowledge sharing
17. Address issues and conflicts constructively to maintain delivery momentum
Cross‑Portfolio Management
18. Manage inter‑programme dependencies, sequencing and conflicts across the change portfolio
19. Build strong partnerships with other Programme Directors and contribute to portfolio‑level planning
Change & Transformation Leadership
20. Lead and line‑manage Project Managers and other Change delivery resources
21. Drive capability uplift, continuous improvement and best practice across the function
22. Improve tools, processes and ways of working, and support the adoption of change standards
23. Actively contribute to a positive, ambitious and inclusive Change & Transformation culture
What will you need to succeed?
Experience & Qualifications
24. Significant programme management experience, ideally within financial services
25. Proven delivery of complex, multi‑stream programmes in fast‑paced, transforming organisations
26. Comfortable operating with ambiguity and managing significant programme budgets
27. Project management qualification (e.g. APM, PMP, PRINCE2) advantageous
Knowledge
28. Strong track record of delivering complex programmes on time, within budget and to agreed outcomes
29. Deep understanding of programme lifecycles, change frameworks, tools and techniques
30. Experience prioritising change and managing budgets and resources at scale
Skills & Competencies
31. Delivery‑focused leader with strong interpersonal and communication skills
32. Able to lead large, cross‑functional teams and influence senior stakeholders
33. Highly analytical with strong problem‑solving, decision‑making and critical‑thinking skills
34. Confident in managing risk, budgets and delivery plans
35. Skilled in negotiation and conflict management
36. Organised, adaptable and resilient, with a continuous improvement mindset
37. Expertise in project management tools (e.g. MS Project)
Why us?
At The Openwork Partnership, we're a dynamic, fast paced, and growing business with huge ambition. This is all made possible by the brilliant people who are part of The Openwork Partnership family. We're investing heavily in our colleagues, continuously striving to give them the platform to develop personally and professionally and reach their full potential. We’re also very proud of our culture, as one of the Best 100 Large Companies to work for in 2022. The Openwork Partnership values, and respects individuality and we are committed to building an inclusive culture and environment which truly recognises and celebrates our colleague’s individual differences and identities – just like our financial advice, for us, it’s personal. We believe everyone can make a difference and your race, religion, disability, and gender will never be a barrier. At Openwork, we have a strong ethic of care for each other where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will bring your best self to work if you are trusted to choose when, where and how you do it.