At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a large-scale managed services program for a top UK Mobile Network Operator.
- Company: Join Cyient, a global leader in engineering and technology solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team focused on innovation and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Drive transformation with cutting-edge tech and make a real impact in telecommunications.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in telecoms, strong leadership, and proven transformation experience required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Cyient is a global engineering and technology solutions company.
As a Design, Build, and Maintain partner for leading organizations worldwide, we take solution ownership across the value chain to help clients focus on their core, innovate, and stay ahead of the curve.
We leverage digital technologies, advanced analytics capabilities, and our domain knowledge and technical expertise, to solve complex business problems.
With over 15,000 employees globally, we partner with clients to operate as part of their extended team in ways that best suit their organization’s culture and requirements.
Our industry focus includes aerospace and defence, healthcare, telecommunications, rail transportation, semiconductor, geospatial, industrial, and energy.
Job Description
The Program Director will be responsible for the overall leadership, governance, operational performance, transformation, and financial success of a large-scale managed services program for a leading UK Mobile Network Operator.
The role has end-to-end accountability for service delivery across Mobile Access Network Optimization, Network Performance Management, Value Added Services, PMO Services, and Portfolio Delivery.
The Program Director will lead a distributed organization of approximately 100 professionals and manage a complex ecosystem of customer stakeholders, strategic partners, contractors, and third-party service providers.
A key aspect of the role is the successful transition of people, processes, tools, and services from multiple incumbent providers into an integrated operating model.
The Program Director will also be accountable for driving a major business transformation program leveraging automation, AI, advanced analytics, and process re-engineering to deliver significant operational efficiencies, cost savings, service improvements, and customer experience enhancements.
The successful candidate will be an accomplished executive with extensive telecommunications experience, strong commercial acumen, exceptional stakeholder management skills, and a proven track record in leading large-scale transformation and managed services engagements.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Program Leadership
- Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the overall program.
- Develop and execute the multi-year delivery and transformation roadmap aligned with customer business objectives.
- Ensure contractual commitments, service levels, financial targets, and transformation objectives are achieved.
- Create and maintain a high-performance culture focused on customer success, operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the senior escalation point for all program-related matters.
- Customer Executive Relationship Management
- Act as the primary executive interface between the customer and the delivery organization.
- Establish trusted relationships with senior customer stakeholders, including:
- CTO/CIO
- Network Directors
- Operations Directors
- Transformation Leads
- Procurement and Commercial Teams
- Lead Executive Steering Committees, Quarterly Business Reviews, and strategic governance forums.
- Anticipate emerging customer needs and proactively propose value-enhancing initiatives.
- Drive customer satisfaction, retention, and long-term partnership growth.
- Transition and Transformation Leadership
- Lead the transition of services from incumbent internal teams, contractors, and third-party providers into the managed services model.
- Ensure seamless knowledge transfer, risk mitigation, continuity of service, and employee engagement throughout the transition period.
- Establish and govern the transformation program across people, processes, technology, and operating model dimensions.
- Define and execute transformation initiatives.
- Deliver measurable efficiency gains, productivity improvements, and operational cost reductions.
- Mobile Network Operations & Performance Management
- Maintain accountability for mobile access network performance and optimization services.
- Ensure delivery of network KPIs.
- Oversee optimization activities.
- Drive continuous performance improvements through analytics and data-driven decision making.
- Portfolio and PMO Governance
- Govern a portfolio of customer projects and transformation initiatives.
- Ensure effective planning, prioritization, execution, and benefits realization.
- Drive consistency in project management methodologies, reporting, risk management, and governance.
- Ensure program dependencies are actively managed across customer teams, suppliers, and partners.
- Financial Management
- Own full program P&L responsibility.
- Deliver committed margins while maintaining service quality and customer satisfaction.
- Drive productivity improvements and operational efficiencies.
- Ensure accurate forecasting, budgeting, financial reporting, and revenue assurance.
- Identify opportunities for service expansion and additional value creation.
- Supplier and Partner Management
- Manage a complex ecosystem of subcontractors, technology partners, and service providers.
- Establish performance management frameworks and governance structures.
- Drive accountability across suppliers to ensure contractual and operational obligations are achieved.
- Resolve conflicts and competing priorities across multiple organizations.
- Ensure supplier performance aligns with customer expectations and transformation goals.
- Service Delivery Excellence
- Ensure all service levels, operational KPIs, and contractual obligations are consistently achieved.
- Drive operational rigor through structured governance and quality management practices.
- Implement best practices across delivery, operations, optimization, and PMO functions.
- Manage critical incidents, escalations, and recovery activities when required.
- Risk and Compliance Management
- Establish comprehensive risk management frameworks.
- Identify and mitigate operational, commercial, financial, legal, security, and transformation risks.
• Ensure compliance with
- Customer requirements
- Industry standards
- Regulatory obligations
- Information security policies
- Data privacy requirements
- Maintain robust business continuity and disaster recovery readiness.
- People Leadership
- Lead and inspire a geographically distributed workforce.
- Develop succession plans and leadership pipelines.
- Drive employee engagement and retention.
- Foster collaboration across onsite, nearshore, and offshore teams.
- Build a culture of accountability, innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning.
- Lead organizational change management activities related to transition and transformation initiatives.
Required Experience
- 15+ years of experience in telecommunications, managed services, network operations, or technology services.
- 10+ years of leadership experience managing large, complex programs.
- Proven experience managing programs exceeding GBP 15M annual contract value.
- Demonstrated success leading teams of 75-200+ resources across multiple geographies.
- Strong experience working with Tier-1 Mobile Network Operators.
- Proven track record delivering large-scale transformation initiatives involving automation and AI.
- Strong commercial and contractual management expertise.
- Experience managing executive-level customer relationships.
- Leadership Competencies
- Executive Presence
- Strategic Thinking
- Commercial Acumen
- Transformation Leadership
- Customer Centricity
- Influencing and Negotiation
- Organizational Change Management
- Financial Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Risk Management
- Operational Excellence
- Innovation Mindset
- Decision Making under Ambiguity
- Cross-Cultural Leadership
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or related discipline.
- MBA or equivalent business qualification preferred.
- PMP, PRINCE2, MSP, or equivalent program management certification desirable.
- ITIL certification desirable.
- Lean Six Sigma certification desirable.
- Experience in AI-driven operations, AIOps, and telecommunications automation platforms highly desirable.
Ideal Candidate Profile
An exceptional senior leader who combines the operational discipline of a Managed Services Executive, the strategic vision of a Transformation Leader, the commercial accountability of a General Manager, and the relationship skills of a Trusted Advisor.
They must be equally comfortable discussing board-level strategy, network performance KPIs, AI-enabled operating models, supplier negotiations, and organizational transformation while maintaining full accountability for a large-scale business-critical program.
Program Director in England employer: Cyient
Cyient is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, empowering employees to thrive in their careers. With a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement, the company offers extensive growth opportunities through leadership development and cross-functional collaboration. Located in the UK, the role of Program Director not only provides the chance to lead transformative projects for a major Mobile Network Operator but also to be part of a global team dedicated to solving complex challenges using cutting-edge technologies.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Program Director in England
✨Get Chummy with Industry Events
Dive into telecommunications networking conferences and expos. These are golden opportunities to meet potential employers like Cyient and learn about open positions directly from their teams. Keep an eye out for workshops or panels – they’re perfect for showcasing your passion and expertise!
✨Join Networking Communities
Find online forums or local meetups that focus on telecommunications and networking. Sites like LinkedIn Groups or Reddit communities can be great for connecting with professionals in the field. Just remember to participate in discussions – you never know when someone might mention job openings at places like Cyient.
✨Showcase Your Skills with Personal Projects
If you’ve got any personal projects or contributions to open-source networking tools, flaunt them! Create a portfolio that showcases your skills relevant to what telecommunication companies are looking for. It’s a great conversation starter during interviews and networking chats.
✨Utilise Online Job Boards Wisely
While we’re all about encouraging you to apply through our website, also keep an eye on job boards specific to tech and telecommunication roles. Websites such as Telecommunication Jobs and TechCareers often list full-time roles that may not appear elsewhere. Just be sure to tailor every application to grab attention – even small tweaks can make a big difference!
We think you need these skills to ace Program Director in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Know-How:When you're applying for a role in telecommunications and networking, it’s crucial to highlight your technical skills. Mention specific technologies you're proficient in, like IP networking, VoIP, or security protocols. Be sure your CV includes any relevant certifications such as CCNA or CompTIA Network+; they really show you've got the chops for the job.
Tailor Your Experience to Match Networking Projects:In your CV and cover letter, don’t just list your past jobs—showcase specific projects that align with the role! If you've worked on network design, implementation, or troubleshooting, weave those experiences in and highlight metrics to demonstrate your impact. This paints a vivid picture of how you'd fit into the role at Cyient.
Show Enthusiasm for the Industry:With telecommunications evolving rapidly, it’s important to express your passion for the field in your application. Mention any trends or innovations you've been following that excite you and how they'd influence your work. This can really set you apart and show that you're not just after a job, but a career!
Keep It Clean and Professional:While it’s important to be personable, ensure your application maintains a clean and structured format. Use clear headings and bullet points to make it easy for hiring managers to dig into your skills and experience. Remember, you’re applying for a full-time role, so a well-organised application will signal your seriousness about the position at Cyient.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cyient
✨Brush Up on Networking Protocols
Make sure you’re up to speed with the key networking protocols like TCP/IP, UDP, and perhaps even MPLS if it's relevant. We can expect technical questions about how these protocols function and the problems they solve, so a solid understanding will help you shine.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Got a portfolio? Bring it along! Highlight any relevant projects where you've designed or managed network systems. This is your chance to demonstrate practical experience; employers love to see how your skills can be applied in real-world scenarios.
✨Get Comfortable with Technical Scenarios
You might be faced with a case study or a technical troubleshooting scenario during the interview. Practise responding to common networking issues—like packet loss or latency problems. Thinking through these scenarios will help us sound confident and competent in our responses.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration Skills
In the telecommunications field, teamwork is key! Make sure to share examples of how you’ve worked collaboratively, whether in past jobs or projects at uni. Employers want to see that you’re not just technically savvy, but also great at working within a team setting.
