Programme Specialist (Consultant)

Job Title: Programme Specialist (Consultant) – R&D

Location: London, hybrid (3 days per week on site)

Duration: Permanent

Start: ASAP

At Pace, our consultants genuinely care about the impact our work has on our customers and their customers alike. We are ‘problem solvers’ who call on our collective experience, knowledge and skills to support customers to access benefits early.

We are reimagining how consulting services are delivered, taking a human‑centred approach, and our work is having a material impact on people’s lives.

Due to growth of an ongoing programme of work, we are recruiting a number of Programme Specialists to join our existing team. The Programme Specialists closely support one of our key customers, The Advanced Research Invention Agency (ARIA), a scientific research funding agency, based in Central London.

Role:

The Programme Specialist will oversee the delivery of R&D programmes on behalf of ARIA. This role will work closely with the Programme Directors and operational teams to provide programme management expertise and operational support. The objective of a Programme Specialist is to create an environment that enables the Programme Director to succeed in driving forward and successfully executing their programme.

The Programme Specialist will be the key liaison between the Programme Team, Operational Teams and executive stakeholders, whilst providing insights and data into the Project Management Office (PMO) to support overall governance and portfolio management.

Accountabilities of the Programme Specialist will include:

• Programme and project management, including:
• Launching programmes and projects
• Internal and external stakeholder communications
• Programme design, milestone philosophy planning and timeline management
• Establishing and maintaining programme governance
• Change management
• Work in partnership and develop strong, trusted relationships with the Programme Team (Programme Director and Technical Specialist) to drive the programme through all stages of programme lifecycle – discovery, programme approval, solicitation, contract negotiation, delivery and closure.
• Interface with internal PMO teams and cross‑collaborate with operational teams, understanding requirements from wider functions such as procurement, finance and communications.
• Deliver effective and comprehensive RAID management and project reporting.
• Proactively identify and manage risks to the programme and projects.
• Plan, coordinate and facilitate stakeholder workshops and events with external communities

Operational Support

• Meeting planning and preparation
• Event and workshop planning
• Interface into R&D and Creator communities

Required skills and experience:

• Strong experience in programme or project management roles, with experience managing complex, high‑stakes projects. Ideally you will have led several long‑term projects (i.e. >6 months in length) from start to finish.
• Experience in all stages of the project lifecycle i.e. project initiation, planning, execution, control and close down.
• Experience in delivering programme structure and governance, whilst also able to work on more fast‑paced projects, balancing structure and agility.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to collaborate across diverse teams. Demonstrated experience of influencing key stakeholders across the organisation.
• Excellent engagement skills (including interviewing, facilitating, mediating and presenting)
• A proactive consulting mindset, capable of anticipating challenges and addressing them effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience working within related sectors such as R&D, science, technology, government and non-profit is desirable but not essential.

What’s in it for you?

• An opportunity to join a high‑growth, scale‑up consulting firm; we see an opportunity to make a material difference to how clients are served, and are on a mission to create environments that thrive for our clients.
• A dedicated focus on your individual personal development: managed through annual performance appraisals, individual personal development plans, and our bi‑weekly ‘continuous conversations’ programme.
• Access to Corporate APM membership benefits and additional professional development through a personal training budget (subject to approval of a relevant business case)

Company benefits include:

• Life Assurance*
• Critical Illness*
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme*
• Cycle To Work Scheme*
• Birthday Day off, Paid Volunteer Day off
• Enhanced Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave
• Work from Abroad policy
• Regular company and team events
• Discounted shopping with ADS Rewards

*Available to permanent employees only.

Your Pace team:

Pace is one of Europe’s fastest‑growing UK‑based management consultancies, transforming the industry with a focus on delivering measurable customer value.

Pace tackles complex challenges across the Legal, Central Government, and National Infrastructure sectors.

By optimising people and systems, we help organisations enhance efficiency, boost productivity, and achieve significant savings in time, cost, and resources.

At Pace, we recognise that we are only as good as our people. Apply today to find out about the great things we’re achieving together and the fun we have as a team.

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