Programme Director

About the Role

Based at global headquarters, the Programme Director operates as an executive leader and strategic orchestrator within the Global Technology Strategy function. The Programme Director is accountable for defining, directing, and executing complex technology integration, separation, and divestment programmes to realise deal value and enable business transformation.

Operating in highly complex, fast-paced, and ambiguous deal environments, the Programme Director exercises strategic oversight over global, cross-functional matrix teams across multiple corporate divisions. The Programme Director leads strategic portfolio governance, aligns C-suite priorities, directs enterprise architects and senior delivery leads, and ensures flawless transaction execution while safeguarding business-as-usual operations and regulatory compliance.

Functional Responsibilities

Strategic Mobilisation & Transaction Leadership

• Direct global technical mobilisation activities post-close (and during late-stage DD), translating board-level M&A strategies into enterprise-wide delivery roadmaps and target operating models.

• Author and establish deal-level governance frameworks, steering committees, and executive decision-making forums across global business units.

• Align C-suite executives, business unit presidents, enterprise architects, and management consulting partners to establish clear programme parameters, budget ownership, and value creation metrics.

• Own the global M&A technology risk profile, establishing frameworks to manage structural dependencies and lead seamless transitions from deal signing to long-term integration/separation.

Programme Direction & Strategic Execution

• Provide overall leadership across high-stakes technical migrations, global network separations, enterprise carve-outs, and multi-region divestments.

• Oversee multi-million-pound/dollar technology portfolios spanning enterprise application stacks, cloud/hybrid architecture, cybersecurity, data sovereignty, and workplace technologies.

• Maintain portfolio momentum across concurrent global deals, acting as the ultimate escalation point for strategic roadblocks, cross-functional conflicts, and critical dependencies.

• Partner with executive leaders across Global Shared Services (Finance, HR, Legal, Data Privacy, Corporate Strategy, Procurement) to integrate technology roadmaps into wider corporate transformation goals.

Executive Stakeholder Management & Advisory

• Build high-trust advisory relationships with C-level leadership, Board members, transaction advisors, and newly acquired executive teams.

• Facilitate strategic alignment sessions, executive steering committees, and board-level decision forums across competing business priorities.

• Drive executive-level communications, translating complex technical risks, cybersecurity exposures, and architectural trade-offs into commercial and operational business outcomes.

• Establish strategic vision and structure in ambiguous deal scenarios, defining target operating models and organisational structures where ownership is undefined.

Portfolio Governance & M&A Playbook Ownership

• Establish robust global programme governance, portfolio assurance, and operational rhythms across all active M&A technology workstreams.

• Ensure complete portfolio visibility into critical milestones, value capture progress, enterprise risks, and TSA dependencies.

• Deliver concise, strategic status reporting and strategic recommendations to the Executive Board and Technology M&A Steering Board.

Enterprise Risk, Regulatory & TSA Management

• Proactively identify, own, and mitigate enterprise-level technical, operational, cybersecurity, and data privacy risks across deal lifecycles.

• Guide executive decision-making through complex trade-off analyses balancing speed-to-exit, risk exposure, business disruption, and technical debt.

• Lead complex Transition Service Agreement (TSA) strategy, negotiate operational boundaries, and direct exit strategies to minimise TSA reliance and penalties.

Financial, Commercial & Synergy Realisation

• Own and manage total multi-million-pound/dollar M&A technology budgets, driving capital allocation, synergy target realisation, and run-rate cost reductions.

• Partner with Global Shared Services Finance to oversee capital/operational expenditure allocations, synergy tracking, and write-downs.

• Direct commercial, licensing, and vendor exit strategies in collaboration with Global Procurement and technology vendors, optimising run-cost impacts, enterprise software transfers, and contract renegotiations.

Requirements and Qualifications

Professional Experience

• 10–12+ years of progressive technology leadership and programme management experience, with a proven track record of directing complex, global technology M&A integrations, separations, carve-outs, and divestments at scale.

• Proven leadership experience operating effectively within global, federated matrix organisations at the executive level.

• Extensive experience leading end-to-end deal lifecycles, including pre-deal technology due diligence, Day 1 readiness, TSA management, and Day 2/3 target state transformations.

• Deep experience establishing, negotiating, and executing complex Transition Service Agreements (TSAs).

Systems & Architecture Strategy

• Deep strategic understanding of modern enterprise technology landscapes, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), hybrid infrastructure, cybersecurity frameworks, and enterprise applications (SAP, Salesforce, Workday, etc.).

• Strong command of technology due diligence methodologies, data residency/compliance requirements, and target-state enterprise architecture.

Programme Management & Governance

• Expert capability in establishing corporate programme governance frameworks, steering committees, and portfolio management rhythms.

• Senior professional certification in programme/portfolio management (e.g., PgMP, PMP, MSP, or Agile/SAFe Leadership) preferred.

Commercial & Financial Leadership

• Exceptional commercial acumen with proven experience managing substantial capital and operational technology budgets (£10M+ / $10M+ to £100M+ / $100M+).

• Strategic capability in financial modelling, tech synergy valuation, software license negotiations, and TSA financial exit strategies.

Executive Leadership & Soft Skills

• Exceptional board-level communication, negotiation, and executive presence with high emotional intelligence.

• Decisive leadership style with a proven ability to bring order, clarity, and decisive action to highly complex and political deal environments.