King's College London

About us:

The Deputy Transformation Programme Director plays a pivotal role within the Transformation Office Directorate, supporting the delivery of the University’s Strategy 2030 through effective leadership of complex transformation programmes. The postholder is responsible for driving high-quality programme governance, ensuring the successful planning and delivery of large-scale initiatives, and embedding sustainable change across the organisation.

Working across a diverse portfolio, the role leads multidisciplinary teams and collaborates extensively with faculties, Professional Services, and external partners to deliver measurable benefits and strategic outcomes. The postholder ensures that programmes are delivered within agreed budgets, timescales, and quality standards, while championing best practice in programme management, change delivery, and benefits realisation.

Through strong stakeholder engagement and strategic oversight, the Deputy Transformation Programme Director enables alignment across initiatives, supports organisational priorities, and contributes to the continuous development of the University’s transformation capability.

About the role:

Key responsibilities include:

•       Undertaking programme and project management, including scoping, business case development, impact assessments, planning & dependency management, controls & reporting, risk management and benefits management

•       Develop & present robust business cases and accompanying financial models; constructively critique those developed by others

•       Drive successful delivery of projects

•       Work across the portfolio to ensure activities are aligned and coordinated and deliver the expected benefits.

•       Manage programme and project resources as required; line management and mentoring of staff within the Transformation Office

•       Report to relevant governance groups on programmes and projects, including portfolio, programme and project boards, and other university committees as required

•       Build strong working relationships with a wide range of academic and professional services staff from across the university; represent the university with external stakeholders; build trusted advisor relationship with sponsors and key stakeholders

•       Participate actively in leadership team meetings and forums.

•       Lead and participate in working groups, workstreams, governance forums and other initiatives and projects according to interest, specialism and capacity

•       Support the training, mentoring, development and career progression of colleagues

•       Coordinate activities across multiple project teams, ensuring alignment with Transformation Office methodologies and standards.

•       Build influential, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, representing the programme internally and externally.

•       Line manage programme and project staff, providing coaching, mentoring and development support.

•       Contribute to broader Transformation Office initiatives and cross university strategic work

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

This is a hybrid working role where the role holder will spend 3 days of their working week on campus and 2 days working remotely.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract.

About you:

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. Education to degree standard and/or equivalent qualifications/experience
2. A recognised project/programme management or change management qualification e.g., Prince2, MSP, PROSCI
3. Significant experience of leading and managing large and complex projects and/or programmes and delivering tangible business benefits and organizational change
4. Application of evidence-based analytical, creative, and constructive thinking and strategy development skills
5. Highly effective communication skills attuned to audience requirements and delivered in different formats
6. An ability to build, sustain and develop relationships at all levels, internally and externally, using persuasion and influence to achieve agreed objectives
7. Significant experience as an effective team manager – including experience of working with a positive and inclusive management style to make decisions and inspire and motivate others to achieve results
8. Proven ability to lead, motivate and manage teams in a collaborative, matrix environment.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of process review and improvement methods e.g. Lean Six Sigma
2. Knowledge and understanding of the UK Higher Education sector
3. Experience delivering complex Transformation programmes

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further information:

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university. The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination. When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work. Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses. However, applications must reflect the applicant’s own work and experience. AI tools should not be used during interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found here.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit’ pages.