Senior Strategic Planning Manager – AI

The Senior Strategic Planning Manager will play a critical role in supporting the successful execution of the UKI business strategy across Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) functions. The role will coordinate and track delivery of strategic initiatives, working closely with the Head of Strategic Planning to translate business priorities and opportunities into actionable plans and outcomes. A key focus will be driving transformational delivery, ensuring large-scale change initiatives are executed effectively and deliver measurable business value. Acting as a connector across functions, the Senior Manager will facilitate collaboration, monitor progress, and provide insight and analysis to enable informed decision‑making.

What You’ll Do

• Lead transformational programme delivery – drive the execution of large-scale strategic change programmes across COO and CCO functions, ensuring initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and achieve intended business outcomes.
• Support delivery of strategic initiatives – coordinate and track change activities across COO and CCO functions, ensuring alignment with business priorities and successful delivery of outcomes.
• Enable cross-functional collaboration – act as a connector across teams, helping stakeholders understand their roles and fostering clarity and alignment in execution.
• Translate strategy into action – work with the Head of Strategic Planning to turn high-level objectives into actionable plans, milestones, and measures of success.
• Put the customer first, always – champion the customer perspective in strategic planning and delivery; ensure insights, decisions, and prioritisation across COO and CCO functions are grounded in customer needs, driving improved experiences and long‑term value.
• Provide insight and reporting – monitor progress, identify risks and dependencies, and deliver clear analysis to support decision‑making.
• Champion effective ways of working – promote consistency, discipline, and adoption of structured change approaches to drive operational effectiveness and collaboration.
• Support the end‑to‑end strategic planning processes – contribute towards the coordination of the strategic planning processes, management and maintenance of the UK&I Big Bets, and triage of new strategic demand to ensure alignment with organisational priorities.
• Establish a delivery feedback loop – assess and report on delivery health across CCO and COO initiatives, capturing insight and lessons learned to inform future plans and strengthen strategic delivery.
• Capitalise on strategic opportunities & risks – coordinate and deliver change initiatives identified through horizon‑scanning across COO and CCO functions.

What You’ll Need

• 8+ years of experience leading transformational programme delivery within complex, multi-stakeholder environments, with accountability for end‑to‑end outcomes from business case through to benefits realisation.
• Strong background in mobilising and delivering change across product, people, processes and tools, with the ability to traverse across the entire organisation to galvanise around shared outcomes and initiatives.
• Experience establishing and operating programme governance frameworks, including steering committees, executive reporting, and decision‑making escalation pathways.
• Strong benefits realisation expertise, with experience defining, tracking, and reporting on business benefits, KPIs, and ROI of transformation programmes.
• Budget and financial management experience, including programme forecasting, cost control, and investment tracking.
• Proactive risk and issue management skills, with a track record of identifying, mitigating, and escalating programme risks and dependencies at scale.
• Hands‑on experience with delivery methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid), with the ability to flex approach based on programme context and organisational maturity.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain focus on delivery.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with experience preparing clear reports and insights for senior stakeholders.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across functions.
• Able to lead with confidence through ambiguity, providing clarity and direction for cross‑functional teams in uncertain or evolving contexts.
• Familiarity with change management approaches and a keen interest in developing expertise in this area.

Desirable

• Experience delivering AI transformation initiatives, including the implementation of AI/ML solutions, automation programmes, or data‑driven change that enhances operational efficiency and/or customer experience.
• Experience within operational, commercial, or customer‑focused environments.

What’s On Offer

• £/€1,000 learning fund
• Twice‑yearly bonus (with part of it guaranteed!)
• Unlimited Holiday
• Pension contribution scheme
• Private healthcare
• Hybrid Working
• Access to thousands of Udemy courses
• Invest via the Company Sharesave Scheme

We’re working to be an inclusive employer. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ways of thinking and working to apply. Everyone brings different perspectives and experiences; you don’t have to meet all the requirements listed to apply for this role.

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