Programme Director - IT & Transformation

Our client is a leading UK manufacturer is seeking a Programme Director to lead the largest transformation programme in its history - a full enterprise re-platforming - alongside a wider portfolio of strategic IT, business change & business plan initiatives. This is a newly created, highly visible role reporting directly to the CEO and partnering with the Group IT Director. The business is a customer-first, project-based, made-to-order operation in the North West, investing boldly in technology and capability to underpin long-term growth.

In year one, the role will be dominated by the enterprise re-platforming - partner and platform selection is in flight, with delivery to follow. You will own this client-side: programme delivery, business readiness, change management, adoption and benefits realisation, while the Group IT Director owns technology direction, architecture and vendor performance. Beyond the transformation, you will shape and lead a portfolio of cross-functional change initiatives spanning manufacturing, supply chain, commercial and finance.

This is a role for a senior delivery leader who is comfortable navigating complexity, influencing at all levels, and driving change at pace.

The Role

• Own end-to-end delivery of a portfolio of IT and business transformation initiatives, with the enterprise re-platforming as the year-one priority.

• Lead client-side delivery of the transformation, partnering with the Group IT Director on technology direction and vendor performance.

• Drive integrated programme planning, governance, gateway management and benefits realisation across all transformation workstreams (ERP, WMS, supply chain and operational technology).

• Hold delivery partners and platform vendors to account on scope, schedule, quality and contractual milestones.

• Lead business readiness, change management, training and adoption planning across the business.

• Own programme governance, risk management, financial tracking and reporting at portfolio level.

• Build strong, collaborative relationships across Operations, Production, Supply Chain, Finance and IT.

• Direct experience leading client-side delivery of a major enterprise platform implementation (e.g. ERP, WMS or equivalent tier-1 system) end-to-end - from partner and platform selection through delivery, adoption and benefits realisation.

• Proven experience managing complex programmes in a manufacturing or industrial environment.

• Strong background in both IT delivery and business transformation, with working knowledge of ERP, WMS, supply chain, production planning and operational technology systems.

• Demonstrable experience holding delivery partners and platform vendors to account on scope, schedule, commercial and contractual matters.

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication at senior leadership level.

• Strong financial, risk and dependency management capability.

• Formal Programme or Project Management qualification (e.g. MSP, PMP, PRINCE2, Agile) preferred.