At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and standardise project management across TCEU, ensuring effective delivery and governance.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company in London with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant community with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of project management while making a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in project management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Permanent Farringdon, London - Hybrid
Purpose of the Role
The Programme Lead is a new leadership role created to bring structure, consistency and accountability to TCEU’s project management function. Currently, Project Managers report directly to the VP of Product & Growth with no dedicated lead, no unified PM standard and no portfolio-level visibility. This role fixes that. The Programme Lead defines and embeds the TCEU PM standard — plans, RAID logs, milestones and change control — and line manages all Project Managers. They own the programme-level view of delivery health across TCEU while partnering closely with the Senior Product Manager to ensure roadmap commitments translate into executable, well‑governed delivery plans. At 50% billability, this role is embedded in one active project while spending the remaining time on community leadership, standards and portfolio governance.
Key Responsibilities
- Delivery Standards & Operating Rhythm: Define and embed the TCEU PM standard: project plans, RAID logs, milestone tracking, change control and stakeholder communication. Ensure every initiative of more than four weeks has a named PM, a live plan and a maintained RAID log. Own portfolio‑level reporting — providing a reliable programme health view for leadership at all times. Eliminate inconsistency across the PM community — one standard, applied by everyone, on every project.
- PM Community Line Management: Line manage all Project Managers across TCEU. Run regular 1:1s, performance reviews and development conversations. Identify capability gaps across the PM community and develop plans to close them. Cover sickness and holiday for Project Managers as required.
- Cross-functional Co-ordination: Partner with the Senior Product Manager to translate the portfolio roadmap into sequenced, executable delivery plans. Co‑ordinate cross‑team dependencies across Engineering, Data, Design and Operations. Ensure PMs and Scrum Masters share a unified delivery owner — keeping project governance and sprint execution in sync.
- Escalation & Risk: Own the escalation path for delivery blockers — ensuring issues reach the right decision‑maker quickly. Facilitate dependency and risk reviews across the PM community on a regular cadence. Provide proactive early warning of programme risk to the Head of Product & Delivery. Ensure blockers and risks surface early enough that options still exist when leadership is engaged.
Competency Expectations
The expectations below reflect the behaviours and skills required to operate effectively at this level:
- Problem Solving & Decision Making: Makes high‑impact decisions on programme governance, delivery sequencing and risk management. Balances the need for delivery pace with rigour, setting clear frameworks and guardrails that PMs operate within. Uses data, dependency analysis and scenario planning to navigate complexity with minimal upward escalation. Sets the decision‑making standard for the PM community.
- Technical Expertise: Deep expertise in programme and project management — plans, RAID logs, milestones, change control and portfolio reporting. Partners with Senior Product and Engineering leaders to ensure delivery plans are technically credible and commercially sound. Reviews and challenges delivery proposals and business cases to ensure alignment with strategy and capacity.
- Communication & Collaboration: Acts as the programme voice in leadership forums. Uses delivery data and risk insight to influence decisions and build confidence in programme health. Manages upward effectively — providing clear, concise portfolio status and surfacing risks early with options. Builds trust across Engineering, Product, Design and Operations through consistent and transparent communication.
- Leadership: Leads and develops the PM community, holding individuals accountable for outcomes and delivery standards. Shapes the programme management culture for TCEU — driving consistency, transparency and continuous improvement. Develops the next generation of PM capability through coaching, structured feedback and deliberate development planning. Champions diversity, inclusion and wellbeing in delivery planning.
Programme Lead · London · employer: TOYOTA Connected
Contact Detail:
TOYOTA Connected Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Lead · London ·
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their PM standards and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. We want to see you shine, so practice common interview questions and have your own ready to ask!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills through real-life examples. When discussing your experience, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly demonstrate how you've tackled challenges in project management. This will help us see your problem-solving abilities in action.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at TCEU. Let’s get you that Programme Lead role!
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Lead · London ·
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Programme Lead role. Highlight your experience in project management, especially around delivery standards and team leadership, as this is what we’re looking for!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you’ve led teams and managed projects in the past. Share specific examples of how you've developed PM standards or improved team performance. This will help us understand your fit for the role.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use bullet points where possible and avoid jargon. We appreciate clarity, so make it easy for us to see your qualifications and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the Programme Lead position. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at TOYOTA Connected
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Programme Lead role and its responsibilities. Familiarise yourself with TCEU’s project management standards, such as RAID logs and milestone tracking. This will help you speak confidently about how you can bring structure and consistency to their PM function.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Programme Lead, you'll be managing Project Managers and leading a community. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on your ability to develop talent and drive accountability. Highlight any experience you have in performance reviews or coaching, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Think of scenarios where you've had to manage risks or resolve delivery blockers. Be ready to discuss how you used data and analysis to navigate complex situations, as this aligns with the expectations for the role.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
The role requires working closely with various teams like Engineering, Data, and Design. Prepare to discuss how you've effectively coordinated across different functions in previous roles. Share specific examples of how you’ve ensured alignment and communication among diverse teams to achieve project goals.