At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and coordinate the Procurement workstream for a high-profile integration project.
- Company: Join Santander, a tech-driven organisation focused on innovation and customer-centric transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, wellbeing support, global growth opportunities, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Embrace a collaborative culture with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in programme management and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
The predicted salary is between 66200 - 102994 £ per year.
Country: United Kingdom
IT STARTS HERE
Santander (www.santander.com) is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organisation, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible. This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference. Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.
THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE
CAO is looking for a Programme Manager based out of Unity Place on a fixed term contract for 18 months. Santander UK is looking for an S4 Programme Manager to lead and coordinate the Procurement workstream within the Sparrow Programme, supporting the successful integration of TSB. This is a complex and high-profile workstream with significant cross-functional, legal, commercial and supplier dependencies. The role will provide Programme Manager-level leadership across the Procurement agenda, ensuring that activity is effectively governed, risks and dependencies are actively managed, and key outcomes are delivered in line with the wider Sparrow Programme.
The Procurement workstream includes managing Part VII-related requirements, defining and delivering supplier contract treatment strategies, supporting the delivery of third-party synergies, coordinating supplier communications, and identifying and addressing legal and contractual risks.
To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:
- Providing end-to-end programme leadership for the Procurement workstream, establishing clear plans, governance, milestones and delivery priorities.
- Coordinating Procurement requirements arising from Part VII and ensuring relevant actions, dependencies and risks are understood and managed.
- Leading the development and execution of supplier contract treatment strategies in support of the TSB integration.
- Supporting on planning and monitoring of third-party supplier synergies and associated programme benefits.
- Coordinating supplier engagement and communications, ensuring activity is appropriately sequenced and aligned across Procurement and the wider programme.
- Working closely with Legal, Risk, Procurement and other key functions to identify, assess and resolve contractual, regulatory and delivery risks.
- Maintaining effective programme governance, including management of risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies, decisions, milestones and senior-level reporting.
- Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders across Santander and the wider integration programme, providing constructive challenge, escalating issues where required and maintaining focus on successful delivery.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring. The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Professional Experience
- Significant experience leading complex programmes or major workstreams within a large, regulated organisation. (Required)
- Demonstrable experience of programme leadership involving Procurement, third-party suppliers, commercial arrangements and/or supplier contracts. (Required)
- Proven experience managing complex cross-functional dependencies involving senior stakeholders, Legal, Risk, Procurement and other business functions. (Required)
- Strong track record of establishing programme governance, managing delivery risk and driving resolution of complex issues and dependencies. (Required)
- Experience of major business integration, acquisition, separation or transformation programmes. (Required)
- Experience of Part VII activity, banking integration or comparable regulatory/legal transfer programmes. (Preferred)
- Education
- Relevant professional qualification in programme/project management, procurement, commercial management or equivalent demonstrable professional experience. (Required)
- Recognised programme or project management accreditation, such as MSP, PRINCE2, PMP or equivalent. (Preferred)
- Languages
- English
- Hard Skills
- Programme planning, governance, RAID and dependency management, including high-quality executive reporting. (Required)
- Strong understanding of procurement, third-party supplier management and commercial/contractual considerations. (Required)
- Ability to translate complex legal, contractual, commercial and regulatory requirements into clear programme actions and delivery plans. (Required)
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess delivery risk, identify options and support effective decision-making. (Required)
- Experience managing programme milestones, benefits, interdependencies and senior governance forums. (Required)
- Soft Skills
- Strong senior stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to constructively challenge and drive decisions. (Required)
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex issues and communicate clearly to executive and cross-functional audiences. (Required)
- Strong leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to create structure and maintain delivery momentum across a complex workstream. (Required)
- Commercial judgement and a proactive approach to identifying and managing risk. (Required)
- Collaborative approach with the ability to work effectively across Procurement, Legal, Risk, Finance and wider programme teams. (Required)
WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT
At Santander, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return. Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you have on customers and communities, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally.
(Salary range will be completed by the recruitment team)
Salary Range: £68,662.00 - £102,994.00 per annum (depending on experience). This salary range represents the expected remuneration for the role. Annual salary is based on a standard 35-hour working week. Actual salary offered will depend on skills, experience, qualifications and location.
Competitive rewards that reflect the real impact you make and the value you bring.
Wellbeing that goes beyond work — we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support.
Support for every life stage — from menopause and pregnancy to parenthood and beyond, with enhanced family leave, childcare options and tailored wellbeing support.
Time to give back through volunteering opportunities that let you make a difference in the communities we serve.
Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what’s possible across our international network.
Ready to be recognised? It starts with you.
LOCAL COMPLIANCE
At Santander, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone — regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation. We’re committed to creating a recruitment experience that’s accessible, fair and welcoming for all candidates. We want our people to thrive — at work and at home — while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow. To make this possible, our roles are site-based with a hybrid working pattern, where colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles). When applying, please consider the travel distance, time and cost to your chosen office location(s).
WHAT TO DO NEXT
If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply. For further Guidance please visit Internal Mobility - Candidate Guidance. If you want to know more about the opportunity: Please contact Catia Correia Vicente - catia.correiavicente@santander.co.uk
Programme Manager | S4 | CAO | Milton Keynes | Internal Mobility employer: Santander UK
Santander UK is an exceptional employer that champions inclusivity and diversity, making it a fantastic place for professionals in the banking sector. With a strong commitment to employee growth and development, staff are encouraged to pursue meaningful career paths while enjoying a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation. Located in a vibrant city, employees benefit from a dynamic environment that fosters both personal and professional advancement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Manager | S4 | CAO | Milton Keynes | Internal Mobility
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Santander UK. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Santander UK.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Santander UK.
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Manager | S4 | CAO | Milton Keynes | Internal Mobility
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Santander UK and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Santander UK
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Santander UK will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Santander UK.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Santander UK.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Santander UK. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
