Programme Manager

Head of Programme Delivery Full-time, Permanent
Location: Poole, Dorset (hybrid working)
Salary: Up to £80,000 per annum DOE + Benefits
The Opportunity:
Some programme leadership roles are principally about governance, reporting and maintaining delivery schedules. This one requires a much deeper understanding of the software being delivered.
This is an opportunity to lead the Programme Delivery function within an established software business delivering complex, configurable solutions to B2B customers.
The software is adapted around individual customers operational requirements, workflows and existing technology environments. Its successful delivery can involve detailed configuration, third-party integrations, APIs, SDKs and multiple technical dependencies.
You wont be expected to develop the software yourself as the business employs a strong engineering team, however you will need enough depth of software knowledge to understand how the complete solution fits together, question assumptions, recognise dependencies, and anticipate the implications of technical decisions.
This is not a role for someone who simply gathers information from a customer, passes it to a technical team and manages the resulting timeline. The successful person will understand what is happening beneath the project plan and be able to bring customers, Project Managers, Product specialists and software teams together around a realistic delivery approach.
Youll inherit a capable team and a varied portfolio of customer programmes. Some will be progressing well, while others may require fresh scrutiny, greater clarity, and a confident leader who can establish what is happening and bring delivery back under control.
Why This Role Stands Out:
Salary up to £80,000 per annum (may be slightly negotiable depending on experience)
Annual salary reviews with regular market benchmarking
Hybrid working 1 day per week remote from home
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Pension scheme with employer contribution and matched enhancements
Health Cash Plan including 24/7 GP access, dental and optical cover
Death in Service cover (4x salary)
Employee Assistance Programme
Paid volunteering days
Discretionary bonus
Modern office environment and collaborative culture
Team events, knowledge sharing and continuous learning opportunities
High levels of autonomy, trust and ownership
Structured training and development opportunities to help you grow
The opportunity to influence technical strategy within a growing technology business
What the Head of Programme Delivery Will Do:
As Head of Programme Delivery, youll lead and develop a team of Project Managers while providing strategic and hands-on oversight across multiple customer software programmes.
You will:
Lead, mentor and develop a team of Project Managers, creating clarity, accountability and consistently strong delivery standards
Oversee multiple complex software implementation, configuration and integration programmes from initiation through to successful delivery
Understand how customer requirements translate into configured software solutions, including the integrations and technical dependencies involved
Work closely with customers, Product, Software Development, Business Analysis and other internal teams to align requirements, priorities and delivery expectations
Identify technical, commercial and operational risks early, challenge assumptions and ensure dependencies are properly understood and managed
Bring structure and control to programmes affected by ambiguity, changing priorities or competing stakeholder requirements
Provide clear, accurate reporting to customers and senior leaders while continuously improving delivery practices without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
What Youll Bring:
Were looking for an experienced Head of Programme, Programme Delivery Lead or senior software delivery professional who has led Project Managers and developed their own career within a software environment.
Youll most likely have:
Substantial programme or project leadership experience within a software development, SaaS or software product business
Experience leading, managing and developing Project Managers rather than solely delivering programmes as an individual contributor
A strong understanding of configurable software solutions, system integrations, APIs, SDKs and the dependencies involved in end-to-end implementation
The ability to understand how software components, third-party systems and customer environments connect, without needing to be a hands-on developer
A proven record of delivering complex, customer-facing software programmes involving multiple technical and non-technical stakeholders
The judgement to diagnose delivery problems, challenge constructively and bring clarity to programmes affected by ambiguity or shifting priorities
Strong customer communication, commercial awareness and the ability to balance customer requirements with technical and operational realities
You may have started your career in software development, technical implementation, business analysis, or another hands-on software delivery discipline before progressing into project and programme leadership. The specific technology stack is less important than your ability to demonstrate a strong understanding of software architecture, configuration, integrations and the interdependencies that determine whether a customer solution will work successfully.
Why You Should Apply:
This role wont suit someone whose software programme experience has been limited to coordinating resources, relaying information, and monitoring milestones. It will suit someone who wants to understand what is really happening within a programme: how the software works, how the different components connect, what the customer needs, and what must happen technically for the solution to succeed.
If you enjoy leading people, untangling complex software delivery challenges, and creating alignment between customers and technical teams, this is an opportunity to make a visible impact within an established software business.
Apply now or contact Michelle at Leo Recruitment for a confidential conversation. You dont need a perfect CV, but your application should clearly demonstrate your software background, leadership experience and understanding of configurations and integrations.