Localisation Program Manager in London

About the Role

As the Localisation Program Manager, you are the strategic leader and owner of Wise’s global content localisation initiatives, bridging the gap between global product vision and local market linguistic and cultural requirements. This is a high-impact, strategic, and hands-on leadership role. You will empower and guide a team of Localisation Project Managers, drive significant process and technology improvements, and oversee complex, cross-functional localisation programs. Your mission is to ensure Wise’s content is consistently excellent, culturally resonant, and seamlessly delivered across all our global markets.

Responsibilities

• People Management & Team Leadership: Directly manage, lead, mentor, and develop a team of Localisation Project Managers, fostering their professional growth and career development. Conduct regular performance reviews, set clear goals, and provide constructive feedback to direct reports. Facilitate team meetings, promote collaboration, and ensure effective knowledge sharing among the Project Manager team. Be involved in the hiring, onboarding, and training of new Localisation Project Managers.
• Programme Strategy & Oversight: Define and drive the overall localisation programme strategy, vision, and roadmap, ensuring alignment with broader company objectives and product roadmaps. Provide strategic oversight and direction for multiple concurrent localisation projects and large-scale initiatives managed by the Project Managers. Establish comprehensive programme goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and robust reporting mechanisms to track progress, measure success, and communicate programme health to senior leadership. Identify, analyse, and manage interdependencies and risks across various localisation projects within the programme portfolio.
• Advanced Process & Workflow Improvement: Lead the identification, design, and implementation of significant, scalable process and workflow improvements across the entire localisation function. Drive the strategic adoption, integration, and optimisation of localisation tools, technologies (including advanced CAT/TMS, Machine Translation, and AI-driven solutions), and best practices across the team and with internal stakeholders. Develop, standardise, and maintain comprehensive documentation, methodologies, and training materials for localisation processes.
• Strategic Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Liaison: Act as the primary strategic liaison and partner to Regional Localisation Managers, fostering strong relationships and ensuring global alignment and collaboration on localisation strategies and execution. Manage high-level stakeholder relationships, proactively anticipating their needs, setting appropriate expectations, and ensuring effective communication of programme direction, status, and challenges. Represent the localisation function in cross-functional strategic planning sessions and initiatives, influencing decisions that impact localisation. Proactively anticipate, identify, and address programme-level risks, challenges, and opportunities, developing mitigation strategies.
• Strategic Budget Management: Develop and manage the overall localisation programme budget, including strategic forecasting, allocation of resources, and tracking spend across multiple projects and initiatives. Oversee strategic vendor relationship management, including performance evaluation, contract negotiations, and identifying new vendor partnerships to support programme goals.

Requirements

• 5+ years experience with proven programme management and people leadership experience, ideally acquired in a financial or tech company, working in a variety of content types and languages.
• In-depth knowledge of localisation industry and challenges/opportunities.
• Strong understanding and strategic leadership in selecting, implementing, and optimising CAT/TMS tools and other localisation technologies such as MT & AI in particular.
• Ability to work in high-pressure environment with concurrent timelines and priorities and a variety of content types and stakeholders.
• Adapts easily to change and is capable to flex their approach to make the best of project / SH requirements.
• Comfortable working with limited supervision and ambiguity, with the ability to influence others and build trust.
• Deep appreciation of cultural nuances and sensitivities.
• Excellent communication and organisation skills.

Indicators of success

• Successful delivery of strategic localisation programmes, driving measurable business outcomes and enhancing global user experience.
• Cultivates a high-performing and engaged team of Localisation Project Managers, fostering their professional growth and operational excellence.
• Drives continuous innovation and efficiency improvements in localisation processes, tools, and technological adoption.
• Manages budgets effectively, optimising resources while maintaining strategic impact and quality.
• Establishes and maintains strong, influential relationships with senior stakeholders, ensuring strategic alignment and advocacy for localisation initiatives.