At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and deliver strategic programmes, ensuring alignment and execution across teams.
- Company: Dynamic organisation focused on transformation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension contributions, and life assurance.
- Other info: Agile environment with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving complex projects and collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing large-scale programmes and strong planning skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 € per year.
The Programme Manager is responsible for driving the end-to-end delivery of our top strategic programme, moving it from planning into execution, and ensuring workstreams are aligned, sequenced, and delivering against agreed outcomes. This role provides structure, pace and control across a complex, cross-functional programme ensuring dependencies are managed, risks are surfaced early, and leadership has clear visibility of progress and decisions required.
Key Responsibilities
- Programme Planning & Delivery
- Build and maintain an integrated programme plan, linking all workstreams into a single coherent view.
- Translate high-level milestones into detailed, executable delivery plans and sequencing.
- Drive progression from Level 1 alignment into Level 2 delivery planning and execution.
- Ensure all MVP-critical milestones and decisions are defined, tracked, and delivered.
- Dependency & Risk Management
- Identify and manage cross-workstream dependencies and interdependencies.
- Proactively surface risks, constraints, and blockers and drive resolution.
- Ensure assumptions, risks, and dependencies are clearly captured and owned across workstreams.
- Governance & Reporting
- Establish and run programme governance (SteerCo, GEC, Board updates as required).
- Provide clear, concise reporting on progress, risks, and key decisions.
- Maintain core programme artefacts (PID, WIDs, integrated plan, benefits view) as a single source of truth.
- Ensure alignment across sponsors, workstream leads, and stakeholders.
- Cross-Functional Alignment
- Facilitate structured working sessions to align teams on deliverables, sequencing, and priorities.
- Drive collaboration across Product, Commercial, Technology, and Operations teams.
- Challenge and support workstream leads to ensure plans are realistic, joined-up, and deliverable.
- Resource, Capacity & Delivery Readiness
- Ensure clarity on resource requirements, capacity, and funding needs across workstreams.
- Support mobilisation of teams as the programme moves from planning into execution.
- Track delivery readiness and support go/no-go decisions at key milestones.
- Stakeholder Management
- Act as the central point of coordination for programme leadership and stakeholders.
- Maintain strong relationships with sponsors, workstream leads, and senior leadership.
- Ensure alignment on priorities, trade-offs, and decisions required to move forward.
Required Skills & Experience
- Proven experience managing large-scale, cross-functional transformation programmes.
- Strong planning capability - able to move from high-level milestones to detailed, executable plans.
- Track record of managing dependencies, risks, and complex stakeholder environments.
- Ability to drive pace, challenge constructively, and bring structure to ambiguity.
- Strong communication skills - able to simplify complex information for senior audiences.
- Experience working across multiple functions (commercial, product, technology, operations).
Ways of Working
- Dynamic and pragmatic, able to balance structure with pace and outcomes.
- An agile thinker, comfortable working with ambiguity and adapting as the programme evolves.
- Collaborative by nature, comfortable iterating with stakeholders to solve complex problems.
- Able to maintain appropriate process and discipline, without allowing process to become overly restrictive.
- Practical and pragmatic, recognising that as a 300m revenue organisation, we need proportionate, value-adding process.
What we offer
- Competitive Salary.
- Up to 5% matched pension contribution.
- 4x annual salary life assurance.
- 25 days annual leave plus.
Programme Manager - Oxford, Ox5 1hx in Arlesey employer: Essentra
As a Programme Manager at our Oxford location, you will thrive in a dynamic and collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. We offer competitive salaries, generous leave policies, and a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact our strategic goals. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that values innovation and teamwork, ensuring you have the resources and opportunities to excel in your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Manager - Oxford, Ox5 1hx in Arlesey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Nail that interview prep! Research the company and its culture, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. We want you to shine, so practice common questions and have your own ready too!
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Manager - Oxford, Ox5 1hx in Arlesey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Programme Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing large-scale programmes and how you've tackled dependencies and risks in the past. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since this role involves a lot of stakeholder management, it's crucial to demonstrate your strong communication abilities. Use clear and concise language in your application to show us that you can simplify complex information for senior audiences.
Highlight Cross-Functional Experience:We love candidates who have worked across different functions like commercial, product, technology, and operations. Make sure to mention any relevant experience you have in these areas, as it shows you can collaborate effectively with various teams.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget 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 gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at StudySmarter.
How to prepare for a job interview at Essentra
✨Know Your Programme Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the programme management principles and methodologies relevant to the role. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges and opportunities that come with managing large-scale, cross-functional programmes, as this will help you demonstrate your expertise and confidence.
✨Showcase Your Planning Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in translating high-level milestones into detailed, executable plans. Bring examples of how you've successfully managed dependencies and risks in previous roles, as this will highlight your ability to drive progression and maintain control across complex projects.
✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Abilities
Since the role requires simplifying complex information for senior audiences, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Use examples from your past experiences where effective communication led to successful stakeholder management or resolution of conflicts.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Flexibility
Highlight your collaborative nature and ability to work across multiple functions. Share instances where you've facilitated structured working sessions or driven alignment among diverse teams, showcasing your adaptability in dynamic environments and your commitment to achieving shared goals.
