Leo Recruitment Limited
Head of Programme
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Head of Programme – Full-time, Permanent Location: Poole, Dorset (hybrid working) Salary: Up to £80,000 per annum DOE + Benefits
The Opportunity:
Some programme leadership roles are mostly about maintaining the status quo. This isn’t one of them.
This is a chance to lead the Programme Delivery function in a well-established software company whose platforms power essential services used by millions of people across the UK every single day.
You’ll take on a capable team, strong existing customer relationships, and a genuinely varied portfolio of programmes. Some are in good shape. Others need fresh eyes, honest conversations, and a steady hand to cut through the complexity.
If you enjoy untangling tricky situations, building trust with people, developing your team, and actually making things happen, this could be a really rewarding role.
It’s not about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about asking the right questions, understanding the bigger picture, and helping everyone deliver their best work.
Why This Role Stands Out:
- Salary up to £80,000 per annum (may be slightly negotiable depending on experience)
- Annual salary reviews with regular market benchmarking
- Hybrid working – 1-2 days per week remote from home
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Pension scheme with employer contribution and matched enhancements
- Health Cash Plan including 24/7 GP access, dental and optical cover
- Death in Service cover (4x salary)
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Paid volunteering days
- Discretionary bonus
- Modern office environment and collaborative culture
- Team events, knowledge sharing and continuous learning opportunities
- High levels of autonomy, trust and ownership
- Structured training and development opportunities to help you grow
- The opportunity to influence technical strategy within a growing technology business
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What the Head of Programme Will Do:
As Head of Programme Delivery, you’ll lead a team of Project Managers while acting as the bridge between customers, delivery teams, Product, Engineering, and senior leadership.
You’ll balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery, making sure programmes stay on track while keeping people aligned and motivated.
- Lead, mentor and develop the programme delivery team
- Oversee multiple complex programmes and integration projects
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with customers
- Work closely with Product, Engineering, Sales and Commercial teams to align priorities and manage expectations
- Spot risks early, challenge constructively, and clear obstacles
- Improve ways of working without adding unnecessary process or bureaucracy
- Provide clear, honest reporting and communication at all levels
What You’ll Bring:
We’re looking for an experienced Head of Programme, Senior Programme Manager or Delivery Leader who combines solid delivery expertise with strong judgement and emotional intelligence.
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You’ll most likely have:
- Experience leading programme or project teams in a software, technology or complex delivery environment
- A proven track record delivering complex programmes with multiple stakeholders
- Confidence communicating with customers, senior leaders and technical teams
- The ability to handle ambiguity, shifting priorities and competing demands
- Good commercial awareness and an understanding of how to balance customer needs with business realities
- A collaborative, pragmatic leadership style focused on trust, accountability and developing people
- Enough technical curiosity to understand systems, integrations and dependencies
Why You Should Apply:
This role won’t suit everyone. If you thrive in very structured environments where everything is predictable, it probably isn’t the right fit.
But if you enjoy bringing clarity to complexity, building strong relationships, having honest conversations, and seeing programmes through to successful outcomes, you’ll find real purpose here.
You’ll have genuine influence and the chance to make a visible impact alongside people who genuinely care about what they do.
If this sounds interesting, apply now or get in touch with me, Michelle at Leo Recruitment, for a confidential conversation. You don’t need a perfect CV - we’d rather just have a chat.
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