Programme Advisory Associate Director

An exciting Associate Director – Programme Advisory job is available with a leading multidisciplinary consultancy in London near Victoria. The successful candidate will lead programme advisory assignments, manage consulting teams and help major infrastructure clients improve their PMO, project controls, organisational maturity and programme delivery capabilities.

Project Details

The Associate Director – Programme Advisory will work across some of the UK’s most complex and high-profile infrastructure programmes.

Assignments may relate to roads, bridges, railways, water infrastructure, aviation, defence and other major capital investment programmes. The successful candidate will work with multidisciplinary consulting teams to help clients establish, improve and transform their programme management and delivery arrangements.

Projects will vary in scope and may include PMO establishment, project controls improvement, programme maturity assessments, business change, organisational design, governance reviews and programme delivery optimisation.

Responsibilities and Duties

The Associate Director – Programme Advisory will lead the delivery of strategic programme advisory and PMO consultancy services for major infrastructure clients. The role will combine client-facing advisory responsibilities with the management and development of programme advisory consultants.

Key duties and responsibilities will include:

• Lead programme advisory commissions across the full programme lifecycle, from initial strategy and mobilisation through delivery, transformation and continuous improvement
• Manage, mentor and develop programme advisory staff working across multiple client assignments
• Establish and lead major transformational programme management offices and project management offices
• Design, develop and implement effective PMO operating models covering people, processes, governance, assurance, controls, tools, systems and management information
• Undertake programme and PMO maturity assessments to evaluate existing capability, identify gaps and recommend practical improvements
• Provide strategic advice relating to PMO transformation, programme governance, organisational design and project delivery optimisation
• Lead project controls improvement assignments covering planning, scheduling, cost control, risk, change control, reporting, performance management and assurance
• Support clients with business change management and the implementation of new programme delivery processes, behaviours and operating models
• Develop proportionate programme governance and assurance frameworks suited to complex infrastructure environments
• Analyse complex programme information and translate findings into clear, practical and evidence-based recommendations
• Facilitate senior stakeholder interviews, workshops and working sessions in face-to-face, virtual and hybrid environments
• Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, maturity assessment findings and transformation roadmaps for senior client audiences
• Build trusted and lasting relationships with clients, delivery partners, colleagues and stakeholders at all levels
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams of programme managers, project controls specialists, engineers, commercial consultants and technical advisers
• Support the development of programme advisory propositions, methodologies and consulting tools
• Contribute to business development activities, proposals, bids and the identification of new programme advisory opportunities
• Promote technical excellence, knowledge sharing and consistent delivery standards across the programme advisory team

Desired Skills and Experience

The successful Associate Director – Programme Advisory must have substantial consultancy experience and a strong track record of advising clients on complex infrastructure programmes.

Essential skills and experience include:

• Significant programme advisory, PMO, programme management or project controls experience gained within a professional consultancy environment
• Previous experience managing and developing programme advisory, PMO or project controls staff
• Strong experience across the full programme lifecycle, including the establishment and delivery of major or transformational PMOs
• Essential infrastructure sector experience gained on programmes involving roads, bridges, rail, water, aviation, defence or comparable major capital projects
• Demonstrable experience designing, establishing or transforming PMOs, including their governance, processes, systems, tools, reporting and organisational structures
• Experience undertaking PMO, programme delivery or organisational maturity assessments
• Strong knowledge of project controls, including programme planning, scheduling, cost management, risk management, change control, reporting and performance measurement
• Experience advising clients on business change management, organisational improvement or operating model transformation
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary consulting teams in complex and rapidly changing environments
• Experience providing strategic advice relating to programme transformation, project delivery improvement and organisational design
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder management capabilities, including experience engaging with senior executives and programme leadership teams
• Excellent workshop facilitation, presentation and written communication skills
• Ability to tailor complex technical and strategic information for different audiences
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to gather, interpret and communicate complex programme information accurately
• A proactive, adaptable and delivery-focused approach to consulting assignments
• A track record of achieving positive and measurable outcomes through programme or organisational change
• Recognised expertise in the successful operation or transformation of PMOs within complex infrastructure programmes
• Ability to manage several assignments, priorities and stakeholder relationships concurrently

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• A degree or equivalent qualification in project management, programme management, engineering, construction, business management or another relevant discipline is strongly preferred
• Chartered status or an advanced professional project or programme management qualification would be advantageous
• Relevant professional certifications may include APM Project Management Qualification, APM Project Professional Qualification or Chartered Project Professional
• Qualifications in Managing Successful Programmes, Management of Portfolios, PRINCE2 or Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices would be beneficial
• A recognised business change management qualification, such as PROSCI, would be advantageous
• Lean Six Sigma or another process improvement qualification would also be beneficial

Employing Company Overview and Profile

Maxim Recruitment is working with a leading multidisciplinary consultancy seeking an experienced Associate Director – Programme Advisory for its London team.

The organisation provides programme management, PMO, project controls and strategic advisory services to clients responsible for complex infrastructure and capital investment programmes. Its consultants work collaboratively with engineering, project management, commercial and technical specialists to address challenging programme delivery issues.

The successful candidate will have access to experienced multidisciplinary teams and the opportunity to work across several infrastructure sectors while developing their programme advisory career. The employer offers a supportive environment for experienced consultants who want to lead teams, influence clients and deliver meaningful improvements.

A full client overview will be given to shortlisted candidates.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Salary of £77,000 to £95,000 per annum, depending on experience and professional qualifications