At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic change initiatives and drive delivery across multiple business areas.
- Company: Join Santander, a tech-driven organisation focused on customer-centric transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, wellbeing support, global growth opportunities, and flexible working.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while shaping the future of banking with innovative solutions.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in programme management and strong leadership skills required.
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.
Retail & Commercial Banking is a global business integrating all our retail and commercial banking activities to better serve our customers, improve efficiency and drive value creation.
THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE
The Everyday Banking team in Retail Banking are looking for a Programme Manager based out of Milton Keynes, other primary head office location will be considered. This role is a 12 month FTC/Secondment. It’s a fast-paced and dynamic environment, providing opportunities to shape and deliver some of the most strategic priorities of the Bank, so it’s a great time to join and make a difference.
As a Programme Manager, you'll lead large-scale strategic change initiatives that span multiple business areas and functions. You'll be responsible for driving delivery, ensuring alignment to business strategy, and realising measurable business benefits through effective leadership, governance and stakeholder management.
We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:
- Leading complex programmes and change initiatives from mobilisation through to delivery and benefits realisation.
- Developing and maintaining programme roadmaps, business cases, governance and delivery plans.
- Managing programme budgets, forecasts, resources and financial control.
- Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders, sponsors and delivery teams across the organisation.
- Identifying, managing and mitigating programme risks, issues and dependencies.
- Overseeing multiple workstreams to ensure successful delivery against strategic objectives.
- Manage complex interdependencies across programmes, business functions and third-party suppliers.
- Providing clear reporting, insight and recommendations to executive stakeholders and governance forums.
- Driving cultural and business change while ensuring effective stakeholder engagement and adoption.
- Lead programme governance, ensuring effective decision-making, transparency and executive oversight.
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
- Extensive experience leading complex programmes and large-scale business change initiatives (Required)
- Proven track record of managing programme budgets, resources, risks and benefits realisation (Required)
- Experience operating at Executive, Director or Senior Leadership Team level (Required)
- Education
- Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience (Preferred)
- PRINCE2 Practitioner, MSP, PMP or equivalent project/programme management qualification (Preferred)
- Continuous professional development in programme, change or transformation management (Preferred)
- Hard Skills
- Programme governance and portfolio management (Required)
- Benefits realisation and business case management (Required)
- Dependency, risk and issue management at programme level (Required)
- Soft Skills
- Exceptional leadership and influencing skills (Required)
- Strong communication and executive-level presentation skills (Required)
- Strategic thinking, problem-solving and decision-making capability (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: £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). We welcome applications on the understanding that, should you be offered this role, there may be no relocation package available. Santander will pay the employer mandatory government fees that are required to pay in connection with visa sponsorship. You may be liable for your own personal employee immigration and relocation costs.
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 Name – pinaki.dey@santander.co.uk
Programme Manager | S4 | Everyday Banking (RBB) – TSB Integration | Multiple locations | Internal Mobility in Milton Keynes employer: Santander UK
Santander UK is an excellent employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration within the financial services sector. Employees benefit from a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and comprehensive health coverage, alongside opportunities for professional growth in a supportive environment. Working in this dynamic location not only enhances career prospects but also allows for meaningful contributions to risk management in technology and operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Manager | S4 | Everyday Banking (RBB) – TSB Integration | Multiple locations | Internal Mobility in Milton Keynes
✨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 | Everyday Banking (RBB) – TSB Integration | Multiple locations | Internal Mobility in Milton Keynes
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.
