Senior Principal (Programmes)

Senior Principal – Programme Leadership (Local Public Services)

Location: London or Manchester (with regular client travel)

Lead true People-centric People Strategy Programmes. This is not IT / Tech, it's all about shaping and leading organizational effectiveness by putting people at the heart of all thinking,

At Korn Ferry, we help organisations redesign how work gets done. Within our Local Public Services (LPS) practice, we partner with councils and public bodies on some of the most complex and high‑profile workforce and organisational programmes in the UK.

As demand grows, we’re looking for an experienced Senior Principal to play a pivotal role in owning and leading large‑scale people centric programmes, bringing confidence, structure and pace to delivery – and enabling our senior leaders to focus on growth and impact.

The role

This is a true programme leadership role. You will take end‑to‑end ownership of complex client programmes, acting as the senior point of accountability for delivery, governance and client experience.

You’ll work at the heart of significant agendas such as:

• Organisation design and local government reorganisation
• Job evaluation and work & career architecture
• Large, multi‑workstream implementation programmes

Critically, this role is about implementation, not just design – guiding clients through complexity, managing senior stakeholders, and ensuring programmes land successfully and commercially.

What you’ll be doing

• Owning and overseeing large, complex programmes (typically £250k–£2m+)
• Acting as the primary client lead, engaging confidently with Chief Executives, CPOs and senior officers
• Setting and managing programme governance, pacing, risk and delivery discipline
• Orchestrating multi‑disciplinary teams and knowing when to pull in senior partners
• Running multiple programmes where appropriate, flexing across scale and complexity
• Creating confidence – for clients, teams and internal stakeholders – that programmes are being delivered well

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who brings gravitas, judgement and calm authority.

You’ll likely have:

• Strong experience leading complex programmes in consulting or similarly fast‑paced environments
• A track record of client-facing programme ownership, not just technical delivery
• Confidence operating in ambiguous, politically sensitive or highly scrutinised environments
• The ability to see the big picture, while still keeping delivery on track
• Experience from Big Four, advisory, transformation or large‑scale public sector environments is essential

Public sector experience is helpful – but not a blocker. We’re open to people who can adapt quickly, build trust fast, and lead with confidence.

Why Korn Ferry?

• You’ll work on high-impact programmes that affect entire organisations and communities
• You’ll have real autonomy and visibility, with the backing of a globally respected firm
• You’ll help shape how our LPS practice scales and delivers its most complex work
• You’ll be part of a collaborative, values‑driven culture that invests in its people

Location & flexibility

London is our preference given client demand, but Manchester is also an option, and travel is expected as part of the role. We believe in being where our clients are – and supporting flexible, sustainable ways of working.

If you’re driven by complex programmes, meaningful outcomes and leadership at scale, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.