Programme Manager

At Close Brothers we look to recruit individuals from all different backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don't tick every box. We celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity and are open to discuss flexible work options to help you balance your work and home life. Vacancies are available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis because we know the best person for the job isn't always available full-time. Our aim is to facilitate requests wherever possible and managers will consider requests on an individual basis. Join the Close Brothers Technology Team where we are seeking an exceptional Programme Manager to lead the delivery of complex, high-impact technology change initiatives. This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives on driving value through delivery, shaping culture, and building high-performing teams in a fast-paced, regulated environment. RESPONSIBILITIES End-to-End Programme Leadership:

• Define, plan, and deliver large-scale application centric programmes from initiation through to business adoption, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to scope.
Stakeholder & Third Party Management:
• C-Suite Leadership: Engage and manage senior stakeholders through the change lifecycle
• Build and manage strong relationships with third-party vendors, ensuring alignment and delivery at all levels.
• Engage, challenge, and influence senior stakeholders, including executive sponsors, to maintain focus on value and outcomes.
• Establish and maintain effective governance to keep delivery on track and aligned to business priorities.
Technical Delivery Expertise:
• Deep understanding of the SDLC; able to optimise software engineering delivery, identify dependencies between technical stories, and manage handoffs between analysts and developers.
• Experience with both Agile and Waterfall, with a strong focus on Agile delivery. You know how to drive value, foster the right culture, and spot subtle delivery risks before they escalate.
• Ability to visualise microservices solutions, anticipate integration challenges, and ask the tough questions to ensure robust design.
• Knowledge of cloud hosting and containerisation, with a focus on maximising value from modern infrastructure.
Scope & Prioritisation:
• Expert in scope management, able to define hard and soft boundaries, and implement effective prioritisation frameworks and transition strategies.
Team Leadership:
• Build, coach, and inspire high-performing teams. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability
• Ensure that all Governance and Compliance requirements are adhered to and all reporting and reviewing activities required by the Regulatory Bodies are carried out to the standards required
  
  Proven experience delivering complex core system programmes in financial services.
• Mastery of project management lifecycles, with the ability to tailor delivery styles to the needs of each project.
• Strong technical acumen across SDLC, microservices, cloud/containerisation, and integration patterns.
• Deep practical knowledge of Agile delivery, with the ability to drive value and foster the right culture-not just follow the ceremonies.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and communication skills, with experience engaging at all levels up to executive.
• Demonstrated ability to manage third-party relationships and deliver through others.
• Instinctive anticipation of delivery, third party, commercial and cutover risks, and the ability to shape pragmatic migrations to keep the business safe
IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU HAVE:
• Active experience leading a number of significant business and/or technical programme deliveries in financial services or other similar regulated environment.
• Experience of both traditional and agile methods
  
  At Close Brothers we support employees to balance their work life priorities and in this role you will be able to enjoy a mixture of hybrid working.
Close Brothers is a leading UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit taking and securities trading. We employ approximately 3,000 people, principally in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Close Brothers Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250. To find out more about Close Brothers, please visit our careers page: To find out more about life at Close Brothers: To find out more about our benefits: To find out more about our commitment to creating an inclusive environment: #LI-TM1 #LI-HYBRID The Company Close Brothers is a UK specialist banking group providing lending and deposit taking. We employ approximately 3,000 people, principally in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Close Brothers Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Our specialist lending and deposit solutions include:
• Commercial: Offers specialist and predominantly secured lending principally to the SME market.
• Retail : Provides intermediated finance through motor dealers, motor finance brokers and insurance brokers, and savings products for individuals and corporates.
• Property: Offers residential development finance to established UK property developers, funding for commercial properties, and bridging and refurbishment loans.
At Close Brothers, we are here to help people and businesses thrive over the long term. Through our deep sector knowledge and expertise, focus on delivering excellent and specialist service, and strength of established relationships, we support our customers through the cycle. Our values of deep expertise, consistent service and long-term relationships embody our distinctive culture and customer-centric approach. We also recognise our responsibility to help address the social, economic and environmental challenges facing our businesses, employees and customers, now and into the future.

Private medical Discounted health checks Stakeholder pension contribution Cycle to work scheme Gym discounts Purchase additional holiday