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 ambi