Associate Director - Programme Management

Mace Group; Leeds; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Mace Group in the United Kingdom is seeking a senior Programme Manager to oversee delivery plans for education sector programmes. You will shape strategy, lead large, diverse teams and manage senior stakeholders to ensure value, governance and on-time delivery across capital projects.

This role offers hybrid working, a strong focus on sustainability, and close collaboration with clients and local authorities to deliver landmarks for learning while maintaining commercial discipline and regulatory

Qualifications

• Membership of professional bodies (RICS, CIOB, APM or ICE) or equivalent.
• Extensive delivery-phase experience in education sector projects.
• Strong leadership of large, diverse teams and stakeholder management.
• Knowledge of carbon and sustainability considerations shaping projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction to deliver programmes aligned with client objectives and service excellence.
• Uphold fiscal accountability, ethical practice and regulatory compliance.
• Manage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders to drive performance, innovation and people excellence.
• Direct and deliver sub-programmes aligned to strategic objectives, ensuring effective implementation of delivery frameworks across people, processes, systems and technology.
• Drive performance improvement against bid baselines through optimisation, monitoring and robust risk management.
• Maintain strong client relationships, ensuring service excellence, governance, compliance and commercial viability.
• Managing inclusive, high-performing teams to deliver programme outcomes, innovation, sustainability and business objectives.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Programme management

Education sector experience

Sustainability knowledge

Education

RICS/CIOB/APM/ICE membership

Job description

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey. The project: Mace has a significant track record in the education sector, working with schools, colleges, local authorities, and central government to deliver ‘landmarks for learning’ nationally with a strength of vision and concept that are sustainable, inherently flexible and able to change to meet future needs. Mace’s is the leading consultant for the department for education (DfE) and is delivering projects across all their principal capital programmes, including the schools re-building programme (SRP), free schools, special educational needs and further education (colleges).

Required to oversee the development of delivery plans, contributing to strategy implementation, building and managing key stakeholder relationships and influencing the management of resources. Drives the achievement of company objectives in accordance with stakeholder requirements, in compliance with regulatory frameworks, ensuring effective commercial business practices and tangible operational productivity and improvements.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Providing strategic direction to deliver programmes aligned with client objectives and service excellence.
• Upholding integrity through fiscal accountability, ethical practice and regulatory compliance.
• Managing, developing and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to drive performance, innovation and people excellence.
• Directing and delivering sub-programmes aligned to strategic objectives, ensuring effective implementation of delivery frameworks across people, processes, systems and technology.
• Driving performance improvement against bid baselines through optimisation, monitoring and robust risk management.
• Maintaining strong client relationships, ensuring service excellence, governance, compliance and commercial viability.
• Managing inclusive, high-performing teams to deliver programme outcomes, innovation, sustainability and business objectives.

You’ll need to have:

• Membership of RICS, CIOB, APM, ICE or equivalent demonstrable professional or personal development.
• Extensive experience in the successful delivery phase of projects and programmes in the education sector.
• Deep property or infrastructure project management expertise.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Leadership and management experience of large, diverse teams.
• Experience of managing relationships with key senior stakeholders.
• Knowledge of how carbon and sustainability considerations will shape the outlook of the projects you are working on.

Our values

• Safety first - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.
• Client focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.
• Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.
• Create opportunity - For our people to excel: Wechampion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable with-in the role.

#LI-OnsiteJob SummaryJob number: 46821Date posted : 2026-08-11Profession: Project & Programme ManagementEmployment type: Full-time