Why We’re Hiring
WPP is leading a major transformation of its enterprise technology. Our Global CIO is building a global technology capability. The Finance, ERP and Consolidation Programme will consolidate finance and ERP systems onto Workday and Maconomy. A dedicated Programme Director is needed to orchestrate the people side of this transformation, ensuring new ways of working are adopted, benefits realized, and change fatigue minimized.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Define and maintain the programme vision, objectives, and roadmap.
- Governance & Assurance: Establish governance frameworks, manage risks, and ensure compliance.
- Benefits Realisation: Drive delivery of measurable business benefits.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships with senior stakeholders and sponsors.
- Resource & Financial Management: Oversee budgets, resource allocation, and vendor management.
- Change & Adoption: Ensure readiness and adoption of new capabilities.
Programme Management Tasks
- Develop the global vision and roadmap for the programme.
- Build strong relationships with leaders to influence and drive collaboration.
- Establish and lead transformation programmes across WPP Enterprise Technology.
- Ensure deliverables are of the highest quality with clearly articulated scope and quantifiable business benefits.
- Be accountable for programme definition, planning, orchestration, and delivery.
- Identify, define and manage all aspects of the programme’s projects.
- Coordinate dependencies with projects, suppliers, and stakeholders.
- Create visibility across teams to mitigate coordination challenges.
- Develop and maintain programme risk management plans.
- Work closely with the PMOs to ensure the programme is reported on accurately.
- Run stage gates for each project in the programme.
- Act as liaison between stakeholders, sponsors, and steering committee.
- Conduct financial analyses and cost‑benefit analysis on programme alternatives.
- Develop business cases to support programme investment.
- Manage third‑party suppliers/partners and contractual commitments.
- Performance manage project management staff.
- Ensure programme projects use Transformation Delivery Framework and Wrike.
- Support the PPM Centre of Excellence.
- Share activities and lessons learned across the PM community.
Qualifications
Experience & Background
- Extensive experience leading large‑scale, complex technology transformation programmes.
- Proven track record delivering enterprise‑wide platforms, cloud migrations, infrastructure modernisation or major application deployments.
- Strong background in portfolio, programme, and project management with waterfall and hybrid delivery.
- Experience working with multiple vendors, system integrators and third‑party delivery partners.
Leadership & Strategic Capability
- Ability to define and articulate a clear programme vision, roadmap and benefits case.
- Strong leadership presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- Experience leading matrixed teams and managing cross‑functional delivery across geographies.
- Demonstrated ability to set the right delivery culture, behaviours and expectations.
Governance, Control & Delivery Excellence
- Deep understanding of programme governance, including stage gates, reporting, RAID management and financial controls.
- Ability to establish and maintain robust delivery frameworks, quality standards and assurance.
- Skilled in risk management, including systemic risks, interdependency conflicts and mitigation plans.
- Ability to ensure regulatory, security and compliance alignment across programme components.
Financial & Commercial Management
- Strong capability in budget ownership, forecasting, cost control and benefits realisation.
- Experience conducting business cases, cost‑benefit analysis and ROI assessments.
- Ability to manage vendors against contractual commitments and performance KPIs.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Exceptional communication skills, simplifying complex programme details into executive‑level insight.
- Ability to build trusted relationships with senior sponsors, delivery teams and external partners.
- Skilled in managing change impacts, driving adoption and minimising business disruption.
Change, Adoption & Business Readiness
- Experience overseeing change management, communications, training and readiness.
- Ability to embed and sustain new processes, technologies and capabilities.
- Comfortable addressing change fatigue, capability gaps and resistance points.
Technical Competence
- Strong understanding of relevant enterprise technologies.
- Ability to balance technical constraints, architectural requirements and business needs.
Personal Attributes
- Highly organised, resilient and comfortable operating in ambiguous or evolving environments.
- Strong problem solver able to make clear decisions under pressure.
- Inclusive, people‑centred leader who motivates high‑performing teams.
Who You’ll Be Working With
WPP is embarking on a major 3‑year transformation to simplify, modernise and unify its technology platforms. The role supports operational efficiency, AI adoption, consistent delivery of value across agencies and markets while minimising disruption.
Equal Opportunity Employer
WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
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