Head of Programme Delivery
Reports to: Strategy & Programme Director
Location: Milton Keynes (hybrid, 3 days in office, 2 days from home)
The organisation
Our client is leading the development of a large scale, nationally significant infrastructure programme that will drive positive environmental change across the UK.
Operating across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, this is a complex, industry-led initiative with government involvement and a clear public impact. The programme is already in motion, with multiple workstreams, stakeholders and timelines in place. The next phase is about bringing this together into a coordinated, deliverable plan ahead of a fixed go-live next year.
This is not a typical role. It is a rare opportunity to help shape and deliver a nationally significant initiative with real environmental impact, delivering lasting positive impact for people, businesses and the planet alike.
You will sit at the centre of the programme, ensuring that complex, interdependent workstreams come together in a way that is credible, structured and deliverable.
The role
You will sit at the centre of the programme, and will own the integrated view across all workstreams, making sure plans connect, risks are surfaced early, and delivery stays on track. You are not responsible for delivering individual workstreams or building plans in isolation. Your role is to ensure the overall programme moves forward in a coordinated, structured and realistic way.
You will operate credibly at senior levels and act as a trusted point of contact for leadership, government and industry stakeholders, maintaining confidence throughout the programme lifecycle. You will bring structure, challenge where needed, and maintain focus on what matters most for delivery.
This role sits within a small central strategy and programme function and reports into the Strategy and Programme Director.
What you will focus on:
* Own and maintain a clear, integrated view of the programme across all workstreams
* Ensure alignment between workstreams, identifying and managing interdependencies and risks
* Establish and embed effective internal governance, enabling timely and well-informed decision-making
* Monitor progress against key milestones and intervene where delivery is at risk
* Bring clarity to programme priorities, ensuring effort is focused on what matters most for go-live
* Challenge workstream leads and senior stakeholders where plans lack clarity, credibility, or alignment
* Drive accountability across the programme, ensuring clear ownership and follow-through on actions
* Escalate issues proactively and effectively to maintain momentum and avoid delivery risks
* Act as a credible and confident representative of the programme in interactions with government, regulators, and industry stakeholders
* Manage a high volume of complex and often competing stakeholder demands, ensuring they are appropriately prioritised and addressed
* Maintain stakeholder confidence by providing clear, consistent, and transparent updates on progress and challenges
* Support and, where appropriate, lead key external conversations to drive alignment and progress
What they are looking for:
* Proven experience delivering or coordinating complex programmes involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
* The ability to operate credibly with senior stakeholders, including government representatives, and industry partners
* Strong judgement and prioritisation skills, with the ability to cut through complexity and focus on what matters most
* Confidence to challenge constructively and hold others to account, even in high-pressure or ambiguous situations
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and build confidence with a wide range of audiences
* A calm, structured, and resilient approach, maintaining control and clarity in demanding environments
You are likely to be:
* Naturally proactive, taking ownership rather than waiting for direction
* Diplomatic and collaborative, while also being firm and outcome-focused
* Motivated by purpose and the opportunity to contribute to a programme of national importance
The opportunity
This is a rare opportunity to play a central role in delivering a programme of national importance. You will be working on a complex, high-visibility initiative with real environmental and societal impact, alongside a broad set of stakeholders across industry and government. In return, our client supports and rewards their team through a range of benefits and initiatives, including:
* Competitive base salary
* Bonus scheme
* Holiday: 34 days inclusive of bank holidays. Additional holidays for length of service
* Flexible bank holidays - giving you the freedom to celebrate the days that matter most to you
* Hybrid Working: 60% office or field-based and 40% home-based, with some flexibility according to business and personal needs
* Pension: 5% employer contribution. If you increase your contribution, the company will match up to 10%
* Bike to work scheme and car salary sacrifice
* Private Medical Insurance
* Life Insurance
* Income protection
* Family Leave: Equal and progressive parental leave policy
* Additional paid leave for various life situations