Programme Director

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday - Hybrid working to be agreed

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of ASCO's multi-year Business Systems Transformation Programme, ensuring the agreed roadmap, milestones, budget and business benefits are achieved.
• Develop and maintain the programme roadmap, delivery schedule and governance framework, securing Steering Committee approval and managing changes to agreed plans.
• Take overall responsibility for programme budget, forecasting, resource planning, risk management, change control and delivery performance.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of ASCO employees, contractors and consultants, ensuring clear accountability and effective collaboration.
• Oversee cross-system dependencies, data management and governance, ensuring alignment with the agreed group data model.
• Manage the performance of delivery teams, contractors, consultants and vendors, addressing issues and underperformance promptly.
• Ensure programme priorities remain aligned with the Board-approved roadmap and wider business strategy, managing competing requirements and maintaining control of programme scope.
• Oversee relevant regulatory and compliance deadlines, ensuring appropriate ownership and delivery.
• Ensure clear product ownership for each system and effective requirements management and sign-off processes.
• Monitor progress and benefits realisation against the agreed investment model, providing regular reports to the Steering Committee and responding to independent assurance reviews.
• Lead programme communications and business change across ASCO's locations, identifying opportunities for early value through AI initiatives.
• Present programme progress and key decisions to the Steering Committee, escalating matters requiring Board attention.

Minimum Competencies (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours)

• Extensive programme leadership experience, with the ability to manage complex, enterprise-scale business systems transformation and implementation programmes.
• Strong commercial, financial and governance skills, with a proven ability to deliver against agreed budgets, timescales and business objectives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the credibility to engage and influence at Board, executive and operational levels.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear business decisions and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to build, motivate, mentor and develop high-performing, cross- functional teams.
• Strong judgement and decision-making skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively, manage competing priorities and maintain control of programme scope.
• Evidence-based and proactive approach to delivery, with a strong focus on accountability, risk management and benefits realisation.
• Adaptable and commercially aware, with an understanding of emerging technologies and the potential for AI to deliver business improvements.

• Recognised programme or project management qualification, such as APM PMQ, PMI PMP/PgMP or PRINCE2, or equivalent.
• At least 10 years' experience leading complex, enterprise-scale business systems implementations.
• Proven track record of delivering enterprise software programmes from inception to completion, using both Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Experience delivering programmes across multiple countries and legal entities.
• Direct accountability for managing multi-million-pound programme budgets.
• Demonstrable experience building and leading high-performing, cross-functional delivery teams.
• Significant experience managing stakeholders at Board, executive and investor level.

Desirable Qualifications/Competencies

• Knowledge of data migration, data management and data governance within large-scale transformation programmes.
• Background in logistics or an associated sector, such as supply chain, marine, energy services or industrial services.
• Track record of delivering AI-enabled business improvements as part of wider transformation programmes.
• Understanding of integration or API-led platform delivery.
• Previous involvement in a fast-growing, investor-backed business.
• Capability to establish a Programme Management Office (PMO) or programme management function from the ground up.
• Knowledge of multi-jurisdictional data residency requirements and GDPR.
• APM Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) qualification.