Programme Manager (Hiring Immediately) in London

Would you like to join our excellent, high-performing team?

About Sygna: Sygna is a fully independent, international leader in commissioning and technical project management. We specialise in delivering high-performance building solutions for data centres, commercial offices, gigafactories, pharmaceutical laboratories, and historic buildings. From project inception and commissioning to post-occupancy evaluation, we certify building services and technology systems, ensuring your design is delivered accurately, efficiently, and reliably. December 2023 marked a significant milestone with the EMEA senior management team successfully completing a management buy-out (MBO) of Sygna (EMEA). Following the MBO, Sygna is experiencing record-breaking growth. Under the full ownership of our senior leadership team, we are committed to expanding our client relationships, delivering best-in-class commissioning services, and driving innovation in technical project management across global markets.

Why join Sygna? Are you someone who takes pride in delivering outstanding results, possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and has an exceptional eye for detail? If so, we want YOU to be a part of our team.

Job Description

The Programme Manager (Scheduler) will be responsible for the development, management, and governance of project programmes across the business, with a primary focus on Commissioning Management (CxM)–led projects within the Data Centre division. Reporting to the Divisional Director, Major Projects - EMEA, the role will typically hold primary programme ownership for 1–2 live projects, while also providing prioritised programme and scheduling support to the wider business as required. This role plays a critical part in enabling successful project delivery by ensuring commissioning, construction, and client milestones are accurately planned, integrated, and communicated.

Programme Ownership & Control

• Owns and manages integrated project programmes for assigned projects, ensuring alignment between commissioning, construction, and client deliverables.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Works closely with Project Commissioning Managers, Project Managers, contractors, and internal stakeholders to manage dependencies, sequencing, and programme risks.

Portfolio & Business Support

• Provides structured and prioritised programme and scheduling support across the wider business where required, without diluting primary project ownership.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Produces clear programme reporting and dashboards while promoting consistent scheduling standards, tools, and best practice across the organisation.

Key Outline Duties

• Take primary programme and scheduling ownership for 1–2 live projects at any one time, predominantly within the Data Centre / CxM portfolio.
• Develop, maintain, and control detailed, integrated project programmes, aligned to commissioning, construction, and client milestones.
• Act as the programme lead for assigned projects, working closely with Project Commissioning Managers and Project Managers.
• Provide prioritised programme and scheduling support to the wider business as required, in line with leadership direction.
• Support short-term or advisory scheduling requests across other projects where capacity allows.
• Review, challenge, and integrate contractor and stakeholder programmes into overarching project schedules.
• Identify programme risks, clashes, and critical path impacts, proposing mitigation and recovery strategies.
• Produce programme reports, dashboards, and look-ahead schedules for internal leadership and client-facing teams.
• Support bid and pre-construction activities by developing high-level programmes, phase plans, and commissioning sequencing.
• Ensure commissioning activities (Levels 1–5, IST, client training, and handover) are realistically programmed and resourced.
• Track programme changes, variations, and extensions of time, clearly communicating impacts to stakeholders.
• Promote consistent scheduling standards, templates, and best practice across the business.
• Report directly to the Divisional Director, Major Projects - EMEA, supporting strategic planning and informed decision-making.

Desirable Criteria

• Proven experience in a Programme Manager, Planner, or Scheduler role within construction, MEP, or mission-critical environments.
• Experience working on data centre or other high-functioning / mission-critical projects.
• Strong understanding of Commissioning Management (CxM) and its interaction with construction and project delivery.
• Demonstrated experience owning and managing programmes for individual projects.
• Advanced proficiency in programme and scheduling tools (e.g. Primavera P6, Asta Powerproject, MS Project).
• Ability to review, challenge, and integrate complex contractor programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to balance deep project focus with short-term portfolio support when required.
• High attention to detail with a clear, structured approach to programme control.
• Experience supporting bid-stage programming or tender submissions is advantageous.
• Familiarity with ISO-aligned processes and programme governance is beneficial.
• Degree or equivalent experience in construction, engineering, or project controls.
• Professional accreditation (e.g. APM, PMI) is advantageous but not essential.

Benefits include but are not limited to:

• Competitive Salaries
• Pension contributions
• Private healthcare
• Regular employee socials
• Business travel insurance
• 25 days annual leave each calendar year (pro-rated from start date) plus bank holidays. After 5 years of service this will increase to 30 days.
• Buy or Sell Annual Leave Scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Exclusive discounts on a wide range of products and services, including gift cards from brands like Argos, B&Q, Costa, M&S, and Sainsbury's.
• Referral Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Interest Free Travel Loan

Our clients trust us to ensure the highest standards are delivered and we are looking for people who have a can-do attitude and share our enthusiasm for exceeding customer expectations. If that sounds like you then let's talk. If this job is not quite right for you but you like Sygna as much as we do, then reach out to us too; We have ambitious plans, and you may be the perfect fit for the next stage of our adventure.

We offer a competitive remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience to the right candidate.

Note: The general responsibilities listed herein above are not exhaustive and as such additional duties, which are related to this position in the Company, may be added to the above list at the discretion of the EMEA Managing Director as and when it is deemed necessary. Similarly, as the company grows, there should be an expectation that job roles will be refined over time, to accommodate collaboration with new and existing colleagues. The schedule of delegated authority (SODA) applies to this role and shall always be adhered to without exception.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. The information provided will be treated in strict confidence. Personal data collected will be used for recruitment purposes only.