Programme Manager

Location/s: London or Newcastle, UK

Recruiter contact: Alice Roostan

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

Overview of the role

We are seeking an accomplished Programme Manager to lead the coordinated delivery of our strategic Procurement transformation and improvement portfolio.

This is a high-impact role at the centre of Procurement’s evolution into a more consistent, efficient, insight-led and strategically aligned function. Working closely with Procurement leadership, programme sponsors, workstream leads and stakeholders across the organisation, you will translate strategic priorities into a clear, integrated and achievable programme of change.

You will establish the governance, plans, controls, and reporting required to deliver complex, interdependent initiatives across areas such as procurement operating models, processes and controls, supplier and contract management, data and analytics, technology, capability development, and organisational change.

The role requires more than traditional project administration. You will provide visible delivery leadership, constructively challenge priorities, anticipate risks and dependencies, and create the clarity and momentum required to turn strategy into sustainable business outcomes.

You will work in a highly collaborative environment, coordinating internal teams, subject matter experts, technology partners, and third-party consultants. You will ensure that programme activity remains aligned with Procurement’s strategic objectives while allowing operational teams to continue delivering business-as-usual services.

Key responsibilities and duties include

• Lead the end-to-end planning, coordination and delivery of Procurement's transformation portfolio, ensuring strategic objectives are translated into measurable outcomes.
• Establish and maintain an integrated programme roadmap, including milestones, dependencies, resource requirements, and benefits realisation plans.
• Develop and implement programme governance, reporting, risk management, and escalation processes to ensure effective decision-making and delivery control.
• Coordinate multiple workstreams across procurement governance, supplier management, technology, data, process improvement, and organisational change initiatives.
• Produce high-quality Steering Committee papers, executive updates, and programme performance reporting for senior leadership stakeholders.
• Lead programme-level risk, issue, assumption, and dependency management, ensuring appropriate mitigations and escalation pathways are in place.
• Work closely with programme sponsors, workstream leads, and business stakeholders to align priorities and maintain delivery momentum.
• Manage third-party delivery partners, consultants, and implementation providers, ensuring delivery quality, value, and adherence to agreed outcomes.
• Support the development of business cases, investment recommendations, and implementation plans to enable informed decision-making.
• Champion programme management best practice, continuous improvement, and consistent delivery standards across the Procurement function.
• Drive stakeholder engagement, communication, and change management activities to support adoption and successful implementation of programme outcomes.
• Track and report on programme benefits, ensuring initiatives deliver measurable value, efficiency improvements, risk reduction, and enhanced business performance.
• Candidate specification

Key skills and qualifications

• Demonstrable programme management experience within complex transformation, procurement, commercial, or business change environments.
• Strong understanding of programme governance, portfolio management, risk management, and benefits realisation principles.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams, workstreams, and delivery partners within a matrix organisation.
• Proven ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders, building credibility and alignment across diverse business functions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience developing business cases, managing budgets, and tracking value delivery.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining quality and attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 and programme management tools used for planning, reporting and collaboration.

Essential

• Significant experience delivering end-to-end transformation programmes or large-scale organisational change initiatives.
• Experience establishing programme governance, reporting frameworks, delivery controls, and performance metrics.
• Proven track record of managing complex stakeholder environments and influencing senior leaders to achieve programme outcomes.
• Experience managing programme-level risks, issues, dependencies, and resource planning activities.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams, external partners, and subject matter experts to deliver strategic objectives.
• A recognised programme or project management qualification such as MSP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMP, APM PMQ or equivalent.

Desirable

• Experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, Commercial, Finance or Shared Services transformation programmes.
• Experience supporting procurement technology implementations, including Source-to-Pay, Contract Management, or Supplier Management solutions.
• Knowledge of procurement operating models, supplier management practices, and procurement governance frameworks.
• Experience working within a global, geographically dispersed organisation.
• Professional procurement qualifications such as MCIPS or equivalent.
• Experience delivering change management or organisational design initiatives alongside technology and process transformation.

Personal attributes

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into practical, deliverable plans.
• Commercially focused with a strong appreciation of value creation, efficiency, and risk management.
• Highly organised and proactive, with excellent planning and prioritisation skills.
• Confident communicator and relationship builder who can influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Resilient and adaptable, able to lead effectively through ambiguity and changing priorities.
• Collaborative leadership style with a focus on delivery, continuous improvement, and team success.
• Analytical and data-driven, using insight to support decision-making and problem-solving.
• Committed to maintaining high standards of professionalism, integrity and accountability.
• We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including

• Financial wellbeing
• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.
• Health and wellbeing
• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.
• Enhanced family and carers leave
• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.
• Learning and development
• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.
• Networks, communities, and social outcomes
• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• If you're a service leaver, veteran, reservist or member of a military family, you can connect with our people through Armed Forces Careers - Connectr to ask questions, gain career insights and learn more about opportunities at Mott MacDonald.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.
• Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.