Programme Manager – Defence (DV cleared)

Location: Farnborough, Hybrid
Clearance: Developed Vetting (DV) – Essential
Contract Duration: 4 Months initially
Rate: Market

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Programme Manager to lead and coordinate complex, high-value Defence programmes and bids within a secure environment. You will play a key role in shaping, developing, and delivering programmes from the bid stage through to successful contract execution – ensuring that strategic objectives, customer expectations, and compliance standards are consistently met.

This role requires a confident leader with a proven track record in Defence acquisition, bid management, and programme delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end management of bids and programme delivery for major Defence clients, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, timelines, and budgets.

• Work closely with capture and bid teams to develop winning strategies, solution frameworks, and delivery models that are both technically robust and commercially competitive.

• Engage directly with MOD stakeholders, primes, and internal leadership to negotiate, influence, and assure programme delivery standards.

• Establish and maintain governance frameworks, risk management plans, and reporting structures to provide clarity and assurance to senior sponsors.

• Oversee resource planning, supplier engagement, and integrated project teams across multiple workstreams.

• Ensure Defence and security compliance, including adherence to JSP, ISO, and contractual obligations.

• Contribute to continuous improvement across the programme and bid management lifecycle, identifying opportunities to enhance delivery capability and competitiveness.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Active Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.

• Demonstrable experience managing large-scale Defence programmes or projects (MOD, Defence Primes, or Secure Government).

• Proven success in bid and capture management, particularly within classified or restricted environments.

• Strong commercial acumen and familiarity with Defence procurement frameworks.

• Exceptional stakeholder management skills – able to communicate confidently with senior officials, engineers, and commercial teams.

• Robust understanding of risk, governance, and assurance processes in secure and regulated environments.

• Experience managing multidisciplinary delivery teams across technical, operational, and commercial domains.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.

PMO / Project Support Officer – DV Cleared

📍 Location: Corsham (2-3 days onsite per week)
🔒 Security Clearance: Developed Vetting (DV) required
🕒 Duration: 6 Months

Rate = £500-£550 per day, Inside IR35.

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated and capable PMO to join the Service Support Office (SSO) within a major Defence programme. The SSO operates as a hybrid Project Management Office (PMO) that is evolving to take a more service-focused approach – supporting and monitoring in-service IT and digital projects across the Defence landscape.

This is an excellent opportunity for a professional with 3-5 years of experience in IT service management projects and exposure to large-scale Defence delivery programmes. You will play a key role in ensuring effective project governance, performance monitoring, and service delivery alignment across multiple workstreams.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Service Support Office (SSO) in maintaining governance, reporting, and assurance processes across a portfolio of IT service management and in-service support projects.

• Assist project and service managers with planning, risk management, dependencies tracking, and stakeholder reporting.

• Produce and maintain PMO documentation such as dashboards, action logs, highlight reports, and governance packs.

• Support the implementation of service management best practices and contribute to the continuous improvement of PMO and service delivery processes.

• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to ensure programme visibility, alignment, and performance tracking.

• Contribute to the development and evolution of the SSO into a more service-oriented PMO capability.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Active DV Clearance (Developed Vetting) – mandatory for this role.

• Demonstrable experience supporting or managing IT service management (ITSM) or infrastructure projects.

• Experience working on major Defence or secure government programmes.

• Strong understanding of project and programme management frameworks (e.g., PRINCE2, MSP, Agile).

• Excellent communication, organisational, and stakeholder management skills.

• Proficiency in standard PMO tools (e.g., MS Project, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint, or equivalent).

Desirable Skills

• Understanding of MOD acquisition or in-service support environments.

• Familiarity with ITIL or related service management frameworks.

• Experience working in a hybrid PMO / Service Support function.

• Ability to adapt to evolving delivery models and priorities within complex, multi-stakeholder settings.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.

Infrastructure Project Manager

Glasgow (Hybrid – 3 days a week in office)

£50k – £60k + Excellent benefits

Are you a go-getter who enjoys variety, hands-on learning, and the chance to make a real difference?

Our client is growing fast, and needs someone who can keep up with the momentum and drive results from day one.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading infrastructure projects from start to finish, working with colleagues and clients to deliver great results.
• Bringing your experience and ideas to a role that values fresh thinking
• Managing project budgets and helping define technical requirements for network and server environments.
• Collaborating with teams across the globe, building strong relationships along the way.
• Navigating the technical landscape (data centres, networks, hardware) with confidence, and always ready to learn more.
• Using MS Project and Waterfall methodologies to keep things on track, but also adapting when plans need to change.
• Communicating clearly and keeping everyone aligned, even when challenges arise.
• Growing your skills and career, with plenty of support for self-driven learning.

What matters most:

While technical skills and experience are important, the most critical factor for success in this role is person fit. We’re looking for someone who:

• Approaches challenges with a positive, can-do attitude.
• Is willing to go above and beyond to help the team and deliver for clients.
• Proactively seeks out information, asks questions, and is always eager to learn.
• Brings energy, curiosity, and a collaborative spirit to every project.

What you’ll need:

• Basic technical know-how in networking, switching, hardware refresh, and deployment.
• Experience managing infrastructure projects, especially data centre and network hardware.
• The ability to multi-task, problem-solve, and stay calm under pressure.
• Flexibility to adapt as priorities shift
• An open, pragmatic mindset and ready to work with people from all backgrounds.

Why consider this role?

• Supportive leadership and mentoring
• A focus on personal growth and development, show how you’re learning and applying new skills.
• The chance to make a real impact and be valued for your contributions.

If you’re looking for a new challenge and want to join a team where your attitude and approach matter just as much as your experience, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and show how you’ll help shape the future!

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.

ERP Programme Manager – ERP Upgrade

Our prestigious Cheltenham based client have an urgent requirement for an interim Programme Manager with a track record of delivering complex ERP transformations. Our client are at the start of an exciting ERP transformation journey and is seeking a dynamic programme manager to drive and deliver an ERP upgrade / implementation programme.

This programme manager will join the business at the programme mobilisation phase, and will be responsible for shaping the programme implementation plan, before moving into the full end to end delivery. This programme manager will work closely with and manage the 3rd party ERP partner, to ensure they deliver an ERP solution that is fit for purpose and will fully meet the business needs today and in the future.

£600 to £700 per day – OUTSIDE IR35

3 month initial contract (with scope for long term extensions – the programme should run for 18 months+)

Hybrid working – Circa 2 days a week onsite in the client’s office in Cheltenham

Experience needed:

• Strong and specialist core programme management and programme delivery skills
• Proven experience delivering large-scale ERP programmes
• Expertise in managing £multi-million programme budgets
• A wealth of experience of working with and managing 3rd party ERP implementation partners
• Excellent programme planning, prioritisation, and resource management skills
• Gravitas and credibility to engage and influence senior stakeholders up to Exec level
• Strong understanding of IT architecture and knowledge of ERP integration with other systems
• Strong experience of change management, comms and readiness as part of IT system implementations
• Personable, engaging, and able to bridge the gap between IT and business

Any candidates who are not able to clearly demonstrate all of the required experience above within their CV, will not be considered for this role.

To apply for this role, please send a copy of your CV in the first instance. Suitable candidates will be contacted in due course. If you have not heard back within 7 days following CV submission, your application in this instance will have been unsuccessful.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.

Senior Project Manager

Stirling, Scotland – Permanent/Full-Time – Hybrid 2/3 Day – Up to £70,000 + Benefits

The Opportunity:

We have an opportunity for a Senior Project Manager to join a growing team for a leading Wealth & Financial Service provider based in the Stirlingshire area.

This role involves managing and delivering one or more work streams to help achieve business goals.
As a Senior Project Manager you’ll be working on a range of projects and across teams including business, operational, financial and IT changes.

You’ll be:

• Leading projects or parts of larger programs, ensuring they stay on track and on budget.
• Use project management tools to plan, monitor progress, and handle risks.
• Break down complex issues to find root causes or understand the bigger picture.
• Build and manage a strong project team.
• Oversee budgets, forecasts, and spending.
• Plan resources and prepare backup plans.
• Work closely with stakeholders to make sure their needs are met.

You should apply if you:

• Strong experience working within Financial Services
• Preferable understanding of Pensions operations and how they work internally.
• Track record of delivering large projects and programmes.
• Strong at leading and motivating teams with a mix of skills and backgrounds.
• Confident managing mid-to-large or high-risk projects, especially in outsourcing or financial services.
• Able to manage multiple stakeholders across different teams and organisations.
• Adaptable, quick to learn, and able to work well with experts from different areas.

Benefits:

• 33 days off a year (inc. Bank Holidays)
• Annual discretionary bonus eligibility
• Career development and growth opportunities
• Discounts through Perks at Work
• Cycle to Work scheme and interest-free season ticket loans
• Well-being support, including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Supportive leave policies, including Carer’s, Foster, and Retirement Leave
• Company pension with up to 6% matching, plus Life Assurance and Income Protection
• Apply to learn more about our full range of benefits

If you’re interested in the above and would like to learn more, reach out to [email protected]

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.

Currently entering a period of growth and business change, this leading employer is looking to add to its team with the appointment of a Project Manager. This organisation has recently been given sign off on a number of projects within the national security sector to bring the government’s IT systems in line with its exacting standards as well as drive forward to market leading standards. This role is critical in that success.

This role will oversee a project portfolio consisting of; Agile Software, Intelligence, Cyber Security, Data and Machine Learning.

The role will also be responsible for Project start-up and initiation; project and/or stage planning; project delivery and governance; effective financial and stakeholder management; management of risks and issues, clearly communicating any issues that significantly impact the projects; progress monitoring and managing transition into service.

The successful candidate will have knowledge and experience in some of the following:

• Formal training in project methodology (Prince2, APMP etc.)
• Experience of working in an Agile environment
• First class stakeholder management and influencing skills. Including managing internal virtual teams, external suppliers, and relationships with senior management
• A detailed understanding of the full project life cycle, including requirements analysis and business case approval to implementation, Quality review and acceptance
• Demonstrable experience of using advanced planning techniques including; plan design, dependency identification, estimation and scheduling
• Current DV clearance is required to start

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.

Senior Project Manager – Regulatory Reporting & Credit Analytics

Hybrid role, few times a month in the office

Open to candidates across the UK

6 Months Initial

Up to £650 (via Umbrella)

We’re working with a leading financial institution on a high-impact regulatory programme and are looking for a Senior Project Manager with deep subject matter expertise in Treasury, Regulatory Reporting, and Credit Analytics.

This is a hands-on delivery role, ideal for someone who can confidently navigate the complexities of Basel 3.1, SDDT, and ALMIS, while engaging cross-functionally with teams across Treasury, Risk, Distribution, and Operations.

Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Leading delivery across regulatory reporting and treasury workstreams
• Overseeing Basel 3.1 / SDDT Standardised RWA calculations and reporting
• Managing ALMIS-related activities and system enhancements
• Driving credit analytics across Mortgages, Business Lending, and Unsecured products
• Supporting collateral valuation processes (indexing, AVMs, physical inspections)
• Collaborating with branch/distribution teams to improve data quality
• Updating operational procedures and documentation for front-line teams

What You’ll Need to Bring:

This role requires specific experience – please only reach out if you have demonstrable exposure to the following:

• Sound Project Management experience within Financial Services
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, especially Basel 3.1, SDDT

• Standardised RWA calculations
• Experience of ALMIS reporting system
• Credit analytics across multiple lending products
• Collateral valuation methods and data remediation practices
• Experience engaging with branch/distribution teams and updating procedural documentation
• A proactive, pragmatic mindset – someone who brings pace, order, and positivity to complex programmes

If your background aligns and you’re ready to hit the ground running, click the link to apply now!

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.

Programme & Portfolio Lead – Portfolio Review & Target Operating Model Design

• Public Sector / Government body
• 6-month initial contract (scope for 8-9 months of work)
• £550-£650 per day (Outside IR35)
• Hybrid working – Circa 1 2 days per week in either York or Edinburgh. Potential for adhoc travel to other UK sites as needed
• Start – ASAP (can wait up to 4 weeks for the right candidate)

Sanderson are delighted to be partnering exclusively with one of the UK’s leading research and innovation organisations who are seeking a Programme & Portfolio Lead to drive two strategic initiatives that will shape the future of its operations and delivery capability.

The organisation is funded primarily by a major UK government innovation body and operates at the intersection of science, technology, and innovation. With a portfolio of 60-125 active research projects at any given time, they are now looking to strengthen their internal delivery frameworks and future-proof their operating model.

Initiative 1 – Portfolio & Programme Governance Review

This initiative focuses on reviewing how projects are currently run, governed, and reported. These projects are delivered by a diverse mix of professionals including scientists, researchers, innovators/ inventors.

Key objectives:

• Improve governance and delivery structures
• Enhance benefit tracking and realisation
• Review and optimise project methodologies
• Strengthen reporting to external funders
• Assess and implement improved tooling and systems

This is a Portfolio optimisation and assurance role rather than hands-on delivery. The aim is to build a more robust framework for managing and reporting on research projects.

Initiative 2 – Target Operating Model & Organisational Design

This strategic piece of work will define how the organisation delivers programmes and projects in the future.

Key objectives:

• Design a future-state operating model
• Review and align organisational structure
• Build delivery capability and readiness for scale
• Support strategic planning and transformation

This is a Senior PM / Programme Lead type role requiring experience in delivering organisational design and transformation.

Key Experience Required:

• Strong background in portfolio / PMO management, programme assurance, and project delivery
• Proven experience in organisational design and target operating model development
• Exposure to both public sector and private sector environments
• Comfortable working in small, evolving organisations with limited internal delivery capability
• Able to work independently and shape direction with minimal oversight
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills – managing diverse internal and external stakeholders with varying priorities
• Personable, credible, and able to bridge the gap between strategy, governance and delivery

Any candidates who are not able to clearly demonstrate all of the required experience above within their CV, will not be considered for this role.

To apply for this role, please send a copy of your CV in the first instance. Suitable candidates will be contacted in due course. If you have not heard back within 7 days following CV submission, your application in this instance will have been unsuccessful.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.

Loyalty Programme, Project Delivery Manager – 6-Month Fixed Term

Salary: £75,000-£80,000 + Benefits

Location: Hybrid (1 day per week on-site)

A fantastic opportunity has opened for an experienced Programme Delivery Manager to join a leading Europe wide organisation on a 6-month fixed-term contract. You’ll play a pivotal role in the roll out of a new loyalty programme-working across technology and business teams to ensure flawless execution in a fast-paced, high-impact environment.

The Role:

As the Programme / Project Delivery Manager, you will:

• Act as a conduit between technical and business teams to drive the successful delivery of multiple work streams, ensuring time-lines are met and risks/dependencies are managed proactively.
• Take ownership of key areas such as creative concepting, commercial funding model, go-to-market planning, customer migration, proposition refinement, and measurement/reporting.
• Support the Programme/Project Delivery Lead in maintaining programme governance, providing regular updates on progress, identifying risks, and flagging key decisions to ensure ongoing visibility and momentum.

What We’re Looking For:

• Programme/Project Delivery Expertise: Demonstrated success delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives-preferably within retail, loyalty, CRM, marketing, or ecommerce.
• Strong Facilitation & Communication Skills: You’re adept at driving alignment across diverse teams and navigating change in multi-functional organisations.
• Tech & Business Fluency: Proven experience working closely with technical teams and translating business needs into actionable technical requirements.
• Stakeholder Management: Skilled at engaging and influencing senior stakeholders to support programme goals and delivery.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.