Head of Programme Delivery

Role: Head of Programme Delivery (HR Systems Project)
Location: Milton Keynes (Average 2 Days a Month In-Office)
Salary: £85,000 - £92,500
Contract: Fixed-Term (Finishes July 2026)
Network IT is recruiting for a Head of Programme Delivery to lead a major HR Systems transformation programme. This fixed-term role (to July 2026) will take ownership of two high-profile workstreams – Systems, Automation & Innovation and Position Data & Establishment Control – ensuring delivery to time, budget, and strategic objectives.
This is a hands-on programme leadership position, ideal for an experienced change leader with a track record of delivering complex HR, data, or systems transformations. The successful candidate will combine strategic programme oversight with detailed project management, strong stakeholder engagement, and the ability to drive adoption of new ways of working across a large, complex organisation.
Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end delivery of the HR Systems Project, ensuring outcomes are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with institutional objectives.
• Oversee planning, dependencies, resource allocation, risk management, and reporting across both workstreams.
• Drive stakeholder engagement across People Services, Digital Services, Finance, Faculties, and Business Units.
• Manage relationships with 3rd party suppliers and partners, ensuring performance and value for money.
• Establish and maintain robust governance, reporting, and escalation structures.
• Champion adoption of automation, AI, and data governance disciplines, embedding new practices and behaviours.
• Maintain programme budget oversight, reporting progress and risks to leadership and governance groups.

Experience Requirements:

• Significant experience leading large-scale, complex programmes in HR, digital systems, or transformation.
• Proven track record of delivering major change initiatives, ideally including SAP SuccessFactors or equivalent enterprise platforms.
• Strong knowledge of data governance, organisational design, and change management principles.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior/executive levels.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and hands-on delivery levels, driving outcomes at pace.
• Demonstrable people leadership skills, fostering inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing teams.
• Experience working within large, complex environments with diverse stakeholder landscapes.