Programme Director

Programme Director

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Atos SE

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and manage complex programmes, ensuring successful delivery and performance.
  • Company: Atos, a global leader in digital transformation with a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: 25 days leave, pension scheme, private medical, life assurance, and unlimited learning opportunities.
  • Other info: Inclusive employer committed to diversity and support for all applicants.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by leading diverse teams and driving programme success.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in programme management and strong leadership skills required.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Key Responsibilities

  • Hold end-to-end accountability for programme and transition delivery, recovery, and commercial performance from pre-contract through production launch.
  • Translate Atos strategy and contractual commitments into structured, executable programmes aligned to business objectives, cost, timescale, and scope.
  • Lead programme governance across complex, multicultural environments with multiple internal teams and third-party suppliers, ensuring compliance with Atos and customer standards.
  • Own contractual and commercial delivery, including scope definition, workstream alignment, and active management of risks, issues, and dependencies to protect revenue and margin.
  • Establish and control programme financials, including budget creation from bid stage, workstream allocation, forecasting, and transparent financial reporting.
  • Direct programme planning, delivery, and synchronization of Atos and third-party milestones across sourcing, onboarding, build, validation, and launch phases.
  • Challenge business and technical solutions constructively to drive improvements in speed, cost, quality, and delivery effectiveness.
  • Lead, motivate, and hold programme leadership teams accountable through clear objectives, performance reporting, and recovery planning where required.
  • Act as the primary internal point of leadership for programme activities, leading senior customer reviews covering cost, schedule, quality, and technical performance.
  • Drive continuous improvement through the adoption of programme standards, KPIs, best practices, lessons learned, and effective operating rhythms.

Skillset and Experience

  • Leadership: Provide senior, visible leadership across complex programmes, owning outcomes and accountability. Set and communicate clear programme strategy aligned to Atos and customer objectives. Act as a coach and role model, fostering high performance, inclusion, and collaboration. Demonstrated capability to lead large, multicultural teams 50–300+ staff across geographies. Strong commercial, contractual, and procurement awareness.
  • Project Organisation: Plan and control large, multi-stream programmes with third-party and external dependencies. Manage scope, milestones, risks, issues, and change through structured governance. Operate effectively in multi-programme environments, managing multiple cost and revenue streams. Adapt delivery approach to changing customer needs and complex environments.
  • Delivery Management: Take overall accountability for end-to-end programme delivery and operational readiness. Ensure services are production-ready, including CMDB, monitoring, and support enablement. Define requirements and acceptance criteria with stakeholders to remove ambiguity. Balance rapid delivery of business benefits with service quality and customer experience.
  • Commercial Drive: Strong understanding of the impact of decisions on cost, margin, profitability, and risk. Own programme-level change control, including impact analysis and senior approvals. Maintain contractual compliance while negotiating solutions that protect Atos’ commercial position. Partner with Account Management to resolve issues early and sustain strong client relationships.

Qualifications

  • Proven experience as a Programme / Transition Director or equivalent.
  • Fully mobile in terms of assignment location.
  • Proven track record managing £10M+ programmes, typically contributing to £50M+ TCV deals.
  • Experience leading complex portfolios and delivering against commercial targets.
  • Degree in a business or technical discipline, or equivalent experience.
  • At least one recognised external Project / Programme Management certification.

Benefits

  • 25 days annual paid leave + National Holidays
  • Pension Scheme – contributions matched up to 10%
  • Private Medical Scheme
  • Life Assurance
  • Income Protection
  • Flex Benefits Program
  • Unlimited Learning Opportunities

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are a care leaver friendly employer. If you require additional support with your application, please contact our recruiter or send an email to the dedicated email address. As a Disability Confident employer, we encourage applications from all applicants, especially differently abled applicants. We aim to ensure that those who meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. We are committed and willing to make reasonable adjustments to the application and assessment process to accommodate your needs.

Programme Director employer: Atos SE

At Atos, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As a Programme Director, you will benefit from unlimited learning opportunities, a competitive benefits package including a matched pension scheme and private medical coverage, and the chance to lead diverse teams across complex programmes. Our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion ensures a supportive environment where every employee can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our success.

Atos SE

Contact Details:

Atos SE Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Programme Director

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Programme Director role.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its projects. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but the perfect fit for their team!

Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! You need to be able to clearly articulate your leadership style and how you’ve successfully managed large programmes in the past. We suggest rehearsing with a friend or in front of a mirror until you feel confident.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you that Programme Director position!

We think you need these skills to ace Programme Director

Programme Management
Transition Delivery
Commercial Performance
Governance
Risk Management
Financial Management
Stakeholder Engagement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities of the Programme Director role. We want to see how you can translate Atos strategy into actionable programmes!

Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role requires strong leadership, don’t hold back on sharing examples of how you've led multicultural teams or managed large-scale programmes. We love seeing how you motivate and drive teams towards success!

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your achievements and skills at a glance. Clarity is key!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!

How to prepare for a job interview at Atos SE

Know Your Programmes Inside Out

Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of programme management. Familiarise yourself with Atos' strategies and how they align with the role of Programme Director. Be ready to discuss how you would translate these strategies into executable programmes.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in multicultural environments. Think about times when you motivated large teams or navigated complex challenges, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.

Understand Financials Like a Pro

Brush up on your financial acumen, particularly around budget creation and forecasting. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed programme financials in the past and how you would ensure transparency and compliance in this role.

Be Ready to Discuss Continuous Improvement

Think about how you've driven improvements in previous roles. Prepare to talk about specific KPIs or best practices you've implemented and how they contributed to the success of your programmes. This will show your commitment to excellence and innovation.