Programme Manager

The opportunity

As Programme Manager, 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:

• Salary - £65,000 to £84,000
• Bonus scheme - on target bonus - 15%
• Pension scheme - contribute up to 5% of your salary and Openwork will match you and put in an extra 5%
• Critical illness cover
• Income protection
• Death in service - 4x salary
• 27 days holiday + bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy up to an additional 10 days
• A range of other flexible benefits to include private medical insurance, dental insurance and much more.

Key Accountabilities

Programme Delivery

• Own the end‑to‑end delivery of key strategic programmes, ensuring intended benefits are realised
• Mobilise programmes with clear objectives, governance, KPIs, resource plans and delivery roadmaps
• Lead delivery across all phases, applying best‑practice frameworks, controls and reporting
• Proactively manage budgets, RAIDDs, risks, issues and dependencies
• Act as the primary point of contact for programme delivery across business, product and technology
• Remove delivery blockers and keep Executive sponsors informed, escalating issues promptly

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, motivate and support large cross‑functional programme and project teams
• Create a collaborative, high‑performance environment with effective communication and knowledge sharing
• Address issues and conflicts constructively to maintain delivery momentum

Cross‑Portfolio Management

• Manage inter‑programme dependencies, sequencing and conflicts across the change portfolio
• Build strong partnerships with other Programme Directors and contribute to portfolio‑level planning

Change & Transformation Leadership

• Lead and line‑manage Project Managers and other Change delivery resources
• Drive capability uplift, continuous improvement and best practice across the function
• Improve tools, processes and ways of working, and support the adoption of change standards
• Actively contribute to a positive, ambitious and inclusive Change & Transformation culture

What will you need to succeed?

Experience & Qualifications

• Significant programme management experience, ideally within financial services
• Proven delivery of complex, multi‑stream programmes in fast‑paced, transforming organisations
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity and managing significant programme budgets
• Project management qualification (e.g. APM, PMP, PRINCE2) advantageous

Knowledge

• Strong track record of delivering complex programmes on time, within budget and to agreed outcomes
• Deep understanding of programme lifecycles, change frameworks, tools and techniques
• Experience prioritising change and managing budgets and resources at scale

Skills & Competencies

• Delivery‑focused leader with strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Able to lead large, cross‑functional teams and influence senior stakeholders
• Highly analytical with strong problem‑solving, decision‑making and critical‑thinking skills
• Confident in managing risk, budgets and delivery plans
• Skilled in negotiation and conflict management
• Organised, adaptable and resilient, with a continuous improvement mindset
• 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.