Programme Delivery Director

Aker Systems was founded in 2017 by a team of experienced technology professionals who recognised an opportunity to provide highly secure enterprise data platforms to large organisations.  We build and operate ground-breaking, ultra-secure, high performance, cloud-based data infrastructure for the enterprise. Our proprietary technology solutions drive performance and reduce costs while helping our clients to improve the management and sharing of data across their organisations.

In 2024, Aker Systems won the Breakthrough Culture Awards highlighting growth companies putting culture first. In 2020 Aker Systems was recognised as a ‘One to Watch’ on the Sunday Times Tech Track.  The Company was also recognised at the Thames Valley Tech Awards 2020; winning the Thames Valley Tech Company of the year, the Emerging Tech Company and High Growth Tech Business categories.  We encourage people of all different backgrounds and identities to apply.  We are committed to maintaining an inclusive, and supportive place for you to do your very best work.

The Director, Programme Delivery is a leadership role with responsibility for directing, planning, and executing complex portfolios or programmes to meet strategic business goals on time and within budget.  They bridge the gap between high-level organisational strategy and the practical day-to-day delivery managed by project teams.   The ideal candidate will have several years of experience managing large, complex cloud projects with deep expertise in project management. They will be responsible for the management of one or several high-profile projects and will work very closely with key business stakeholders, project managers, delivery managers and the Aker team throughout the life of each project.  They will work as trusted customer advisor, bringing together the right combination of expertise and thought leadership to shape solutions and to solve our customers’ most critical business needs.

A UK Government Security Check (SC) clearance is required for this role.  If you don’t hold SC clearance, we will support you to apply assuming you have lived and worked in the UK for a minimum of 5 years.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Align programme delivery with the organization's long-term mission and strategic goals
• Provide leadership to assigned customer/accounts to ensure successful delivery of projects by prepare, plan and review projects in detail to ensure they are delivered on time, to scope and on budget
• Provide guidance to customers on implementation strategies and maintain a collaborative working relationship with customers
• Provide solutions to complex business problems where the analysis of situations requires an in- depth knowledge of organisational objectives
• Support Delivery Leads with the management of project team members
• Advise Solution Architects on design decisions
• Make decisions on approaches and define objectives for critical assignments
• Report on project status to all relevant stakeholders in a timely manner
• Collaborate with the Sales team to spot opportunities on customer accounts, prepare proposals, present solutions, develop statements of work and support any other sales activities

• Manage teams of managers and architects within project verticals including performance management, mentoring, engagement and team building

• Provide constructive and real-time feedback through goal setting, regular 1:1s, personal development conversations and annual appraisals
• Encourage team camaraderie and collaboration. Resolve any conflicts within the team promptly and effectively thus ensuring a positive and productive working environment
• Successfully onboard and train new hires, complete probation milestones and processes, create robust inductions and provide career development support and guidance

Essential Experience and Competencies

• Minimum 10 years’ experience delivering large-scale, complex projects and programmes at a management level and above required
• Project management experience with at least two full life cycles of AWS/Azure implementation required
• Previous experience leading large teams including management of people managers and extremely senior level subject matter experts
• Thorough understanding of project life cycle management and proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget
• Strong commercial ownership, including experience with vendor management, RFPs, and defining pricing/billing structures
• Proven ability to provide innovative solutions to complex customer issues
• Proven ability to build, manage and motivate teams in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
• Proven ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment
• Proven experience in working in complex environments including resource management and contract management skills
• Working knowledge of contractual obligations and associated constraints

Aker Systems Attributes

At Aker we work as a team; we are collaborative, hardworking, open, and delivery obsessed. There is no blame culture here: try things, and take responsibility for the outcomes. You are always part of the wider Aker. We help our colleagues and take pride in successfully achieving difficult tasks. We run towards problems and help to solve them. Communicate always, do so accurately and in a timely fashion.

In return, we offer a competitive salary, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, company paid medical insurance and life assurance, pension scheme, annual training allowance, wellbeing allowance, virtual GP, Employee Assistance plan and more.

Equal Opportunities

Aker Systems fosters a diverse environment that encourages openness in its communications and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, veteran status or other personal characteristics. We embrace differences of opinion and diversity because they help challenge us and find new groundbreaking technical solutions.