Senior IT Program Planner

Position: Senior IT Program Planner Industry: Technology Consultation & Managed Services Location: Hybrid - Portsmouth Join a leader in digital transformations, playing a critical role in large-scale IT transformation initiatives, focusing on the planning, coordination and management of complex projects aimed at fundamentally changing the organization's IT landscape. Strategic Planning & Alignment: Lead the development of detailed plans for Customer IT transformation initiative, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives. Work closely with senior leadership to define transformation goals, timelines, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Translate high-level transformation strategies into actionable project plans and roadmaps. Programme & Project Planning and Coordination: Ownership and updating of the detailed overall Transformation plans including key milestone management across the workstreams. Oversee the detailed planning and coordination of multiple projects within the Customer IT transformation programme, ensuring they align with overall transformation goals. Collaborate with project managers and teams to ensure seamless execution and integration of transformation activities across the organization. Change Management: Develop and implement planning change management strategies to ensure smooth adoption of new technologies and processes across the organization. Engage with stakeholders at all levels to communicate changes, address concerns, and build support for transformation initiatives. Risk & Issue Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with IT transformation projects, focusing on minimizing potential negative impacts on the business. Develop and maintain a risk register, ensuring that risks are regularly reviewed and updated. Escalate significant risks and issues to senior management as needed, providing recommendations for resolution. Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Serve as the primary point of contact for senior internal stakeholders regarding the status and progress of IT transformation initiatives. On behalf of the Programme lead, prepare comprehensive plan status reports, presentations, and updates to the executive team and other key stakeholders. Facilitate workshops, meetings, and discussions to ensure stakeholder alignment and address any challenges or concerns. Resource Management: Work with resource managers to allocate the necessary personnel, technology, and financial resources to support IT transformation projects. Monitor resource utilization and adjust allocations as needed to ensure the effective delivery of transformation initiatives. Provide guidance and support to project teams to ensure they have the resources needed to succeed. Performance Monitoring & Reporting: Establish and monitor KPIs and performance metrics to track the progress and success of Customer IT transformation initiatives. Conduct regular reviews of transformation projects to ensure they are on track and aligned with strategic objectives. Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement best practices and lessons learned from previous IT transformation projects to improve future initiatives. Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the Customer IT transformation team, encouraging innovation and the adoption of new approaches. Qualifications: 7 years of experience in IT project management, programme management, or a related field, with at least 3 years focused on IT transformation or large-scale IT change initiatives. Proven track record of successfully leading complex IT transformation projects in large organizations. Relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL, or similar) are highly desirable. Skills: Deep understanding of IT transformation, including cloud migration, digital transformation, and legacy system modernization. Proficiency in project and programme management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Portfolio Management tools). Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience presenting to executive leadership. Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously and under tight deadlines. Competencies: Strategic thinking with the ability to translate business objectives into actionable plans. Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to influence and motivate cross-functional teams. Working Conditions: May require occasional travel to different office locations or project sites. Flexibility in working hours may be necessary to meet the demands of global or multi-time zone projects.