Contract: FTC until March 2027
Location: We welcome applications from those looking for hybrid working, (minimum 2 days per week) from our Handforth office in Cheshire.
About the Role
The PMO Lead (Darwin) owns the programme management office for Darwin – our multi-year initiative to ready and deploy the new Provet practice management system across the Vet estate. Operating as the Programme Lead’s critical friend, you will shape and run the governance, planning and financial control that keeps Darwin on track, on budget and aligned to our purpose: creating a better world for pets and the people who love them through a world-class pet care platform.
Working predominantly from our Support Office in Handforth (with occasional travel to practices), you will partner with Technology, Finance, Central Delivery, Procurement, Audit & Risk, suppliers and practice teams to turn insight into action. Success relies on curiosity, resilience and the confidence to navigate ambiguity, quickly spotting issues, challenging constructively and adapting plans so our colleagues and clients experience a seamless transition to the new PMS.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Governance & Control
* Maintain and evolve the Darwin RAIDDA log, ensuring every risk, assumption, issue, dependency, decision and action is recorded, actively managed and escalated where needed.
* Lead the change control process, co-chair the Change Board and guard scope, cost and time baselines so decisions are transparent and data-led.
* Provide weekly PMO status reports that surface achievements, variances and emerging hotspots, prompting timely course-correction.
* Facilitate internal assurance and external audit requirements, championing robust yet pragmatic governance that keeps the programme moving forward.
* Foster an environment where constructive challenge and adaptive thinking are encouraged, enabling the team to navigate uncertainty with confidence.
Financial Management
* Own end-to-end financial oversight for Darwin across FY25–27, maintaining an accurate cost tracker and library of SoWs, change notes and invoices.
* Build annual forecasts in partnership with Finance, explaining drivers, assumptions and variances to ensure clarity and accountability.
* Monitor actual expenditure versus forecast, interrogating supplier charges and driving value through effective challenge and negotiation.
* Produce concise, insight-rich finance summaries for SteerCo and portfolio reporting, highlighting trends, risks and mitigation options.
* Cultivate a strong working relationship with Finance and Procurement, embedding resilient and adaptive financial controls.
Integrated Planning & Reporting
* Support workstream leads to develop, baseline and maintain detailed plans that roll up into a single Darwin master schedule.
* Continuously assess critical path, dependencies and resource constraints, recommending mitigations to safeguard delivery.
* Embed a culture of accurate, timely reporting, using clear templates and coaching teams to focus on meaningful milestones and outcomes.
* Provide ad-hoc scenario modelling to test alternative plans when priorities shift or challenges arise.
* Translate complex data into crisp, actionable insights for senior stakeholders, ensuring decisions are informed and forward-looking.
Resource & Supplier Management
* Lead Darwin’s resource planning, securing the right skills at the right time, tracking contractor assignments and managing extensions in line with budget.
* Coordinate account provisioning and on-boarding activities, ensuring new starters hit the ground running and colleagues remain engaged.
* Chair weekly calls with Provet and other vendors, holding them to account on delivery commitments, service quality and financial integrity.
* Monitor supplier performance, escalating issues promptly and facilitating swift resolution to protect programme milestones.
* Champion collaborative ways of working that balance firm governance with the agility needed to meet evolving business needs.
Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership Support
* Act as the Programme Lead’s deputy when required: chair team meetings, steer workshops and represent Darwin at governance forums.
* Prepare clear, compelling materials for SteerCo, JVC, Audit & Risk and central portfolio updates, ensuring our story, risks and asks are understood.
* Identify cross-workstream themes early, brokering solutions and drawing on subject-matter expertise to keep everyone aligned.
* Coach project teams in delivery best practice, fostering continuous improvement and a positive, problem-solving culture.
* Role-model adaptability, resilience and inclusive collaboration, encouraging colleagues to challenge constructively and embrace change.
Experience & Qualifications
Essential
* Proven track record leading a programme or portfolio PMO for complex, multi-year technology or business change initiatives.
* Deep expertise in risk, issue, change, financial and resource management within fast-paced environments.
* Demonstrable experience shaping and running governance forums, producing senior-level reporting and influencing at Exec/SteerCo level.
* Strong financial acumen with hands-on experience managing multi-million-pound budgets, supplier contracts and cost control.
* Advanced planning and analytical skills with the ability to distil complex data into clear, concise insights.
* Resilient, adaptable and comfortable navigating ambiguity, with a talent for constructive challenge and collaborative problem solving.
Desirable
* Formal project or programme management qualifications (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, PMO-specific accreditation).
* Exposure to large-scale retail or healthcare technology deployments, ideally within a multi-site environment.
* Experience working in an agile or hybrid delivery environment.
* Knowledge of practice management systems or veterinary operations.
Disclaimer
This role profile sets out the current duties of the post that may vary from time to time without changing the character of the job or the level of responsibility entailed. However, all role profiles are regularly reviewed and updated accordingly in line with business needs.
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