Lead Program Manager

Opportunity: Lead Programme Manager (Strategic Transformation & Remediation)

Location: Remote-First (Occasional workshops in Buckinghamshire)

6 Month Contract

Day-Rate: £650 -720 Inside IR35

Are you a seasoned "heavy hitter" in the Programme Management space? Do you thrive when parachuted into dynamic environments to turn silos into streamlined success?

We are partnering with a leading, mid-sized specialist lender in the regulated financial services sector to find a high-impact Programme Manager for a critical 6-month mission.

This isn't a "business as usual" role. Our client is at a pivotal point in their transformation journey, with approximately 10 high-priority initiatives across discovery and delivery. They need a leader with significant gravitas and forcefulness to establish a holistic structure, manage resource contention, and provide the board with absolute confidence in the delivery roadmap.

The Challenge

The current landscape features brilliant individual projects that are currently operating in silos. Your primary objective is to break down these barriers by:

• Creating the Master Roadmap: Synthesising disparate plans into a single, cohesive delivery view that highlights interdependencies and high-level milestones.
• Navigating Resource Contention: Expertly negotiating and prioritising shared dev, test, and UAT resources to ensure the pipeline keeps moving efficiently.
• Implementing Lean Governance: Establishing robust but "not overbearing" controls and reporting structures that provide clarity without slowing down innovation.
• Stakeholder Mastery: Moving from "self-absorbed" task management to proactive, insightful communication that builds trust across senior leadership.

Who You Are

You are a seasoned contractor who specialises in programme remediation. You don't just follow a process; you challenge the status quo and bring fresh ideas to the table.

• Experience: You have a proven track record of leading complex, multi-workstream programmes within regulated financial services (mortgage sector experience is a massive plus).
• Personality: You possess the "gravitas" to influence senior leaders and the resilience to remain calm and professional under pressure.
• Technical Savvy: You understand the "big picture" of digital transformation—both front-end and back-end—and can comfortably work with tools like ADO, Excel, and MS Project.
• Scale: You excel in mid-sized, agile environments where resources are shared and negotiation is key, rather than large-scale retail banks with infinite headcounts.

The Details

• Immediate Impact: This is an urgent requirement. We are looking for a candidate who can hit the ground running within the next 2 weeks.
• Remote-First Flexibility: Work from home with occasional travel for high-impact workshops and team collaboration.
• Streamlined Process: A fast-tracked, two-stage interview process via Teams to ensure we don't lose top talent.

Ready to take control of a high-stakes roadmap and make a tangible difference?,

If you are a proactive leader who is "not precious" about how things were done yesterday and focused on how they should be done tomorrow, we want to hear from you.