Programme Director - Harrogate

Programme Director Jobs

Some companies have an ongoing policy of continuous business change and/or transformation. Others assemble teams solely to put one C&T project into action. In both cases, however, the task is better served by the installation of a director overseeing and influencing the whole programme. The programme director either assembles a team of managers or takes over an existing team, and is the eyes, ears and voice in the board on all matters related to the change and transformation taking place.

The programme director’s overarching responsibility is to ensure the C&T programme is designed, implemented, monitored and followed up carefully and methodically, with as little as possible left to chance, to maintain the support of the board and the shareholders. Whereas business change generally faces little opposition from within, transformation can seem to represent a higher risk, even when the sums all add up. The programme director may in some cases therefore be required to inform and reassure such parties of the benefits of the new direction.

The skills required

Rock solid board-level experience seeing a business change or transformation programme from idea to final report is an absolute must for the majority of companies looking for a programme director. Some, however, will consider managing a complex, high value programme under the direction of a board as enough of a qualification to make the step up. It all depends on the size of the business and the nature of the programme being dealt with.

Because of the unknown factors in any change and transformation programme, it is important that research is fully carried out ahead of the programme starting and that the information gained is understood and communicated well. Having a board and the shareholders on your side makes business change and transformation all the smoother, so you need to recognize great communication, whether you are personally delivering it or whether you hire an internal communications manager.

Programme Director Jobs in Harrogate

The North Yorkshire town of Harrogate came to national prominence in the 17th century as a spa town, and over the following centuries visitors would go to the place to take the waters, which they thought had healing properties. Of course, the common people would not have had the wherewithal or the ability to get to the town, especially since they would have been sick, so Harrogate became a resort for the wealthy. Hotels sprung up and the town took on a genteel atmosphere which, some would say, survives to this day. The streets of the town centre are lined with restaurants and cafes, and several large parks give the town a green feel.

Harrogate is 13 miles (21 km) north of Leeds and 18 miles (30 km) west of York. Although the Yorkshire Dales are just to the west and the North York Moors to the north east, the town is not in a national park. It is, however, separated from any major settlement by at least 10 miles of countryside in any direction. The A1(M) passes reasonably close by over to the west; Leeds and York are connected a via rail route that stops at the town.

Despite its largely affluent populace, the town does have some industry, and boasts the Harrogate International Centre, the UK’s third-largest conference and exhibition centre. Thanks to Bucks Fizz’s 1981 triumph, the Centre hosted the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by the German singer Nicole, with her song A Little Peace, something non-Eurovision fans have wished for ever since.

With an economically active populace of about 70,000 and a constant stream of professional visitors and day-trippers, Harrogate has a healthy need for logistics and supply chain professionals, meaning that Programme Director positions here and in the region are not uncommon.

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Find Programme Director Jobs with Cast UK

Cast UK is focused on several areas of business, including change and transformation, for managers and directors only. The advantage of this specialist approach over general recruitment agencies is clear to see, and is why companies and top candidates come to Cast UK first when they seeking to fill these roles.

Although we’re headquartered in Manchester with offices in London and Birmingham, we recruit for companies all over the UK. Our recruitment consultants are fully trained and often come from the line of work in which they are recruiting, so we know the needs and desires of candidates and employers alike. Call Cast UK today on 0333 121 3345 so you can become our latest success story.

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