Purpose of the role
WSD has stood up a Project Management Office to bring structure and pace to the change agenda across the firm. This role takes it on from there: owning the delivery framework, the governance rhythm and the reporting standard that turn a large book of change into predictable delivery, and personally leading the delivery of the firm's most important programmes. It is a hands-on role for someone who can both design how good delivery looks and run it, across programmes spanning technology, data, operations and corporate initiatives.
Key responsibilities
- Own the book of work. Keep a single, prioritised view of every non-BAU initiative across the firm, with objectives, milestones, deadlines, accountable owners and RAG status, so leadership always has one current and trusted view of what is moving and what is stuck.
- Lead the priority programmes. Take programme lead on selected flagship programmes, such as the technology re-fit, data strategy and org design, owning the plan, the delivery and the outcome end to end, and holding the workstreams and owners beneath to account.
- Run the governance rhythm. Own the programme packs and Programme Delivery Steering Group materials that feed the Operating Committee, run the forum, and see decisions and actions through to closure against the agreed delivery tolerances.
- Drive delivery through the working groups. Keep the programme working groups, plans, dependencies and RAID logs moving, and be the person who clears or escalates blockers and changes so delivery keeps pace across the portfolio.
- Set the delivery standard. Define what good programme and project delivery looks like across the firm, including the templates, stage gates and reporting, and get it adopted and applied consistently.
- Report with clarity. Give senior leadership concise, exception-based reporting on progress, risk, dependencies and interdependencies, so decisions rest on a true picture rather than a status read-out.
- Mature the office. Take the PMO from its current footing into a fully embedded function, prioritising early wins and building the cadence, tooling and disciplines that keep it sustainable.
Skills and experience
- Substantial experience leading complex programmes end to end as well as running a PMO, comfortable both owning delivery of a flagship programme and orchestrating a portfolio of others.
- Strong command of programme governance, planning, RAID, dependency and change control, and exception-based reporting to executive audiences.
- A recognised project or programme qualification, such as PRINCE2, MSP, APM PMQ or PMP, backed by a real delivery track record.
- Excellent stakeholder management, able to hold senior owners to account on milestones and tolerances while keeping their confidence.
- Highly organised and genuinely hands-on, moving between designing the framework and running the detail, and prioritising across a large and competing book of work.
- Financial services, fintech or regulated software experience an advantage, as is exposure to AI-enabled delivery and to structured products or capital markets.
If you are a seasoned professional ready to take on a challenging role in a dynamic environment, we encourage you to apply today!
WSD is an employer that values diversity. We highly encourage applications from appropriately qualified and eligible candidates irrespective of age, race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.
