Head of Programme Management in London

Head of Programme Management in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Job Search Place Limited

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and manage multiple client-facing transition projects with a focus on efficiency and quality.
  • Company: Pension Insurance Corporation, dedicated to secure retirement incomes and exceptional customer service.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, private medical insurance, 28 days' leave, and a generous pension scheme.
  • Other info: Join a diverse team committed to innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the financial services sector while developing your leadership skills.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in managing large programmes and multi-million-pound budgets.

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

Pension Insurance Corporation ("PIC") provides secure retirement incomes through comprehensive risk management and excellence in asset and liability management, as well as exceptional customer service. Our purpose is to pay the pensions of our current and future policyholders.

A newly created role has arisen within our Origination department at PIC: we are recruiting for a Head of Transition Programme Management to join our Transitions function, which plays a critical role in the management and delivery of transition projects for clients. This involves delivering efficient project management processes, standards, and governance frameworks to reduce cost, mitigate risks and drive value across the Company.

The purpose of this role is to engage and develop strong working relationships with stakeholders at all levels to ensure key internal departments (Operations, Origination, Finance, Finance Actuarial, IT, Longevity Risk Management, Information Management, Legal and Risk) and PIC's third parties (Administration, Legal, Communications, Actuarial) to ensure that transition processes deliver on our commitments to clients and quality into the business.

You will partner with our Co-Heads of Transition Management to deliver strong business outcomes relating to systems, processes, and technology improvements and automation as appropriate, which deliver positive outcomes for the Company brand and market reputation as well as for our policyholders on a consistent basis.

Specific accountabilities assigned to the role of Transition Programme Manager:
  • Programme Leadership: Lead and manage a programme comprising multiple, concurrent client-facing transition projects, ensuring cohesive delivery and oversight.
  • Project Governance: Establish and maintain appropriate project governance, including reporting, documentation, and controls in line with internal standards.
  • Escalation: Act as a primary escalation point for clients, transition managers or third parties, ensuring a professional and responsive service that meets or exceeds expectations.
  • Planning and Scheduling: Oversee detailed programme planning, project scheduling and resource allocation to ensure timely delivery across all workstreams.
  • Budget Management: Manage the overall programme budget (multi-million-pounds), including individual project cost tracking, forecasting, and reporting. Ensure cost efficiency and accountability.
  • Stakeholder Management: Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Origination, Operations, HR, Finance, etc.) and external partners to align project objectives and deliverables with financial and human resource capacity.
  • Risk and Issue Management: Proactively identify and manage programme risks, issues, and dependencies, ensuring effective resolution or escalation.
  • Team Leadership: Provide leadership, guidance and development support to Transition Managers and connected internal teams and third parties across the programme.
  • Quality Assurance: Monitor the quality of project deliverables to ensure they meet business requirements and client satisfaction standards.

Keeps informed of industry trends, market developments, regulatory changes in insurance/financial services as well as best practices relating to the Transition.

Experience:
  • Proven track record of successfully delivering large, complex programmes, ideally across insurance, financial services.
  • Demonstrated experience of managing multi-million-pound departmental budgets.
  • Experience in leading client-facing onboarding programmes at scale.
  • Track record of delivering measurable outcomes in terms of client satisfaction, operational efficiency and commercial performance.
  • Significant experience working with executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to introduce and embed governance frameworks and risk management processes.
  • Evidence of fostering a high-performance culture and developing strong project managers.
  • Experience in budget management, and performance reporting.
  • Experience in developing effective monitoring and quality control processes.
Knowledge:
  • Deep understanding of programme and project management methodologies.
  • Strong knowledge of insurance operations, client onboarding and transition processes.
  • Awareness of governance, compliance and risk frameworks.
  • Familiarity with change management principles and application to complex client projects.
Skills:
  • Exceptional leadership and people management skills, able to inspire, coach and motivate a diverse team.
  • Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage credibly at Senior Executive levels.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with structured approach to issue resolution.
  • Highly effective communication skills (written, verbal and presentation) with the ability to distil complex information into clear, actionable insights.
  • Ability to balance strategic vision with hands on delivery oversight.
  • Skilled at driving continuous improvement, innovation and best practice adoption.
  • Commercial judgement and analytical mindset with the ability to analyse data and make informed decisions.
  • Good working knowledge of MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Word and Power BI.

DEI at PIC: At PIC, we believe that true innovation stems from embracing diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to building a workplace where every individual, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or socio-economic background, feels valued, heard and empowered to succeed. We hold ourselves accountable through ongoing initiatives, such as inclusive hiring practices, and equitable career development opportunities that support belonging and community. While we're proud of our progress, we recognise there's work ahead, and we remain dedicated to listening, learning and evolving together.

In addition to a competitive base salary and the opportunity to participate in our annual, performance related bonus plan, upon joining us here at Pension Insurance Corporation, you will get access to some great benefits, including private medical insurance, 28 days' annual leave (excluding bank holidays), a generous pension scheme and much more.

Head of Programme Management in London employer: Job Search Place Limited

Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development within a collaborative and inclusive work culture. As the Head of Programme Management, you will benefit from a competitive salary, private medical insurance, and a generous pension scheme, all while working in a dynamic environment that values diverse perspectives and fosters innovation. Located in a vibrant area, PIC offers a unique opportunity to engage with senior stakeholders and lead impactful projects that contribute to secure retirement incomes for policyholders.

Job Search Place Limited

Contact Details:

Job Search Place Limited Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Programme Management in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even reach out on LinkedIn. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that Head of Programme Management role.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching PIC and its values. Understand their approach to risk management and customer service. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in managing complex programmes.

Tip Number 3

Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss how you've led teams and managed projects in the past. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to inspire and motivate others, as this is key for the Transition Programme Manager role.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the team at PIC and contributing to their mission.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Programme Management in London

Programme Leadership
Project Governance
Stakeholder Management
Risk and Issue Management
Budget Management
Team Leadership
Quality Assurance

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Programme Management role. Highlight your experience in managing large, complex programmes and your ability to lead teams effectively. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role at PIC. Share specific examples of your past successes in project management and stakeholder engagement that relate to our job description.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We’re looking for someone who can inspire and lead a diverse team. In your application, make sure to highlight your leadership style and any relevant experiences where you’ve successfully managed teams or projects.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at PIC!

How to prepare for a job interview at Job Search Place Limited

Know Your Programme Management Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on your programme and project management methodologies. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully delivered large, complex programmes in the past, especially in insurance or financial services. Highlight specific examples that showcase your ability to manage multi-million-pound budgets and lead client-facing onboarding programmes.

Stakeholder Engagement is Key

Prepare to talk about your experience in stakeholder management. Think of instances where you've collaborated with various internal departments and external partners. Show how you can engage credibly at senior executive levels and how you've built strong working relationships to align project objectives with business goals.

Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills

As a Head of Programme Management, you'll need to inspire and motivate your team. Share examples of how you've fostered a high-performance culture and developed project managers in your previous roles. Be ready to discuss your approach to team leadership and how you provide guidance and support.

Be Ready for Problem-Solving Scenarios

Expect questions that assess your analytical and problem-solving abilities. Prepare to discuss how you've proactively identified and managed risks and issues in past projects. Use structured examples to illustrate your approach to issue resolution and how you've driven continuous improvement in your teams.