Data Programme Manager

Reports to: Head of Architecture
Contract Duration: 12 Months
Rate: £650 Outside IR35
Location: London (Hybrid: 1–2 days/week in office)
Start date: ASAP

Summary of the Role’s Main Purpose
The Programme Manager will lead the delivery of a key workstream as part of a large-scale organisational transformation. This workstream is focused on data enablement and supports broader efforts to improve how the organisation captures, governs, and uses data. This includes initiatives across organisational culture (e.g. data fluency), process (e.g. data governance), and technology (e.g. platform integration, data capture). A significant part of the role includes onboarding and managing an external strategic partner to help shape a data and technology integration roadmap and business case. The Programme Manager will work closely with internal stakeholders, including Marketing and Technology teams, to ensure outcomes are delivered effectively and transitioned into business-as-usual.

Key Accountabilities
Lead and motivate cross-functional delivery teams, creating a culture of high performance and accountability.
Structure, organise and drive delivery across multiple data-focused initiatives to realise value at pace.
Shape and directly manage key initiatives, ensuring operational execution and focus.
Establish and maintain appropriate governance aligned with organisational standards.
Own and refine business cases to justify investment and track delivery against benefits, costs, and risks.
Work with stakeholders to define, track and report on measurable programme benefits.
Forecast and manage budgets, working closely with Finance to support affordability and business case outcomes.
Manage resourcing, including procurement and capacity planning.
Ensure smooth transition of programme outputs into operational teams and sustainable business-as-usual ownership.
Deliver consistent and transparent reporting across workstream and programme stakeholders.
Build and maintain strong internal relationships, influencing stakeholders at all levels.
Identify, assess, and manage risks, dependencies and issues across the workstream.
Uphold and embed equality, diversity, and inclusion practices in all areas of work.

Key Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
Essential
Experienced programme leader with a proven ability to shape team culture and lead through change.
Strong track record managing full programme lifecycle (initiation to BAU handover) in large, complex organisations.
Proficient in developing business cases including benefits realisation and financial tracking.
Skilled in planning, governance, and delivery in matrixed environments with cross-functional dependencies.
Experience managing high budgets, including third-party suppliers and delivery partners.
Effective communicator and influencer with stakeholders at all organisational levels.
Willingness to take a hands-on role where needed to drive delivery and unblock challenges.
Strong interpersonal skills to build collaboration across boundaries and functions.
Confident in identifying and actively managing programme-level risks.

Specific Skills Required
Proven leadership experience on large-scale data programmes across:
Organisational change (e.g. cultural enablement, fluency)
Process transformation (e.g. governance, compliance)
Technical implementation (e.g. data capture, CRM/Martech integration)
Experience working across Marketing and Technology teams to deliver data-driven, personalised customer or supporter experiences.
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, delivery-oriented transformation environment.

Technical Tools & Platforms
Familiarity with the following platforms is beneficial:
CRM systems such as Salesforce
Google Analytics 4
Power BI
Optimizely or similar testing/personalisation tools
Martech and data platform integration technologies

Interview Process
2 stage