Head of IT Programme Delivery

Company Description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,500 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Head of IT Programme Delivery to lead the successful execution of our enterprise IT change portfolio. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring complex programmes are delivered predictably, transparently and with measurable business outcomes.

As Head of IT Programme Delivery, you will lead a team of Programme Managers, Project Managers and PMO professionals, providing the governance, discipline and leadership needed to deliver major technology and business transformation initiatives across the organisation.

Working closely with business leaders, IT stakeholders and external partners, you will drive delivery excellence, strengthen programme controls and ensure technology investments translate into tangible value for the business.

What you'll be doing

Strategic Programme Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing programme delivery function with clear accountability for outcomes.
• Define and evolve a consistent programme delivery framework across strategic initiatives.
• Establish best practices across planning, governance, risk management, reporting and service transition.
• Build delivery capability across programme management, project management and PMO teams.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex delivery challenges, risks and cross-functional dependencies.

Programme Delivery & Governance

• Own end-to-end programme delivery, ensuring plans, milestones, resources and funding assumptions are realistic and achievable.
• Drive successful delivery across waterfall, agile and hybrid methodologies.
• Ensure initiatives remain aligned to scope, budgets, business cases and expected benefits.
• Lead governance forums and provide clear reporting on progress, risks, financial performance and business readiness.
• Manage dependencies across technology, business and third-party delivery teams.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with senior business and IT leaders to shape priorities and manage delivery expectations.
• Translate strategic business objectives into executable programmes and measurable outcomes.
• Maintain strong stakeholder confidence through transparent communication and proactive risk management.
• Ensure effective change management, communication and adoption activities are embedded throughout programme delivery.

Continuous Improvement & Assurance

• Drive programme assurance, lessons learned and continuous improvement across the delivery portfolio.
• Identify and resolve systemic delivery challenges to improve predictability and efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with Architecture, Cyber Security, Data, Infrastructure and Operations teams to ensure solutions are scalable, supportable and sustainable.
• Oversee delivery partner performance and supplier relationships to maximise value and delivery quality.

About You

You are a proven technology delivery leader with experience overseeing large-scale programmes within complex enterprise environments. You combine strategic thinking with operational excellence and have a strong track record of delivering business-critical transformation initiatives.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping and delivering our technology and business transformation agenda. You will have a direct impact on strategic outcomes, lead a talented delivery team and help build a mature, scalable programme delivery capability that supports the organisation's long-term growth ambitions.

If you thrive in complex environments, enjoy leading high-performing teams and have a passion for delivering change that creates real business value, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex IT programme portfolios and transformation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of programme governance, PMO disciplines, benefits realisation and delivery assurance.
• Experience delivering across areas such as enterprise applications, infrastructure, cyber security, data, digital transformation or business change.
• Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with the ability to build and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong executive stakeholder management and influencing capability.
• Demonstrated expertise in dependency management, risk mitigation and complex problem solving.
• Commercial acumen with experience managing budgets, suppliers and competing business priorities.
• The ability to balance pace, quality, cost, risk and business value when making decisions.

Additional Information

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website.