Associate Director - Strategic Programme Management

CBRE UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

CBRE UK Consulting seeks an Associate Director to lead strategic transformation programmes for real assets. You will steer cross-functional teams, shape programme strategy and ensure delivery of high‑impact initiatives for clients in real estate and infrastructure.

You will own budgets, milestones and benefits tracking, manage risks, mentor junior consultants and collaborate with CBRE specialists to deliver integrated solutions in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience in consulting or programme management.
• Experience delivering large and complex transformation programmes for global organisations.
• Extensive experience managing end-to-end Real Estate transformation lifecycles.
• Proven ability to lead consulting teams and engage with senior clients.
• Qualifications/accreditations in programme/project management preferred (e.g. MSP, Lean Six Sigma, PMP, PRINCE2).
• Proficiency with PM tools (MS Project, Visio, Office).
• Experience applying AI/GenAI solutions to solve business challenges is valued.

Responsibilities

• Scope and design priority programmes aligned with objectives, leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact initiatives.
• Own the commercial performance of assigned engagements, including budgets, forecasts, resource plans and fee/margin targets.
• Lead and/or oversee programme delivery, manage risks, actions, issues & decisions, and progress reporting.

Skills

Programme leadership

Strategic planning

Client engagement

Leadership

PM tools

Education

PM qualifications preferred

Tools

MS Project

Visio

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the Role

The CBRE UK Consulting team brings market-leading expertise to help clients navigate complexities to develop successful business strategies, make informed decisions, implement robust programmes and utilise the best technologies to unlock value and achieve sustainability from their real assets across real estate and infrastructure. Our clients are Investors, Developers, Occupiers, Operators and Public Bodies across all sectors. We work across the full lifecycle, from strategic inception to implementation, operation and exit.

Client service excellence lies at the heart of everything we do. We have a distinct, inclusive and entrepreneurial culture, whereby each individual is encouraged and supported to achieve their full potential, working together respectfully and collaboratively as a cohesive team. Everyone in the team, from junior to senior levels, brings something distinct to our group and our clients, and everyone has a voice in how we shape and grow our business and work together.

Strategic Programme Management (SPM) is a key competency area within Strategic Transformation. It turns strategy into reality by helping clients to structure, plan and implement complex business programmes and companywide transformation programmes, whilst tracking benefits to deliver intended outcomes. SPM works collaboratively alongside clients, often as part of an integrated team. These clients span a diverse range of sectors, including technology, financial services, food & beverage, energy, transport, etc. Services include defining programme strategies and designing programme outcomes through to end-to-end strategic programme delivery. Alongside this, SPM also provides best practice process optimisation and governance services helping clients drive efficiencies and effectiveness in their RE structures.

With strong growth in demand for our SPM services, Strategic Programme Management is looking to expand our SPM team at Associate Director level. Real estate sector experience is preferred, and enquiries from candidates with relevant experience in other sectors and contexts is of interest. This pivotal role involves leading strategic initiatives, driving operational excellence, and delivering high-impact programs across various business functions.

What You'll Do

Senior Programme Leadership and Delivery

• Scope and design priority programmes aligned with organisational objectives, leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact initiatives that drive commercial and operational excellence
• Lead client engagements and prepare deliverables on time and to a high quality, as well as lead on discrete pieces of work within projects/workstreams
• Own the commercial performance of assigned engagements, including budgets, forecasts, resource plans, and fee and margin targets
• Engage with clients to understand their strategic objectives, priorities, opportunities and constraints
• Lead the development of Programme Strategy & Planning on engagements, designing the outcomes and planning progressive delivery
  • Use quantitative and qualitative methods to assess client situations and devise recommended programme strategies and structures through which to implement client initiatives successfully
  • Based on these programme strategies and structures, help to develop clear, robust, integrated programme plans including interdependencies and milestones tracking
• Lead and/or oversee the Programme delivery
  • Lead successful delivery of programmes to achieve key milestones and desired outcomes through effective engagement and coordination of multi-disciplinary workstreams
  • Manage a programme team through delegation and leadership
  • Track and manage risks, actions, issues & decisions, devising mitigation plans and raising escalations as appropriate
  • Provide regular, consistent and accurate progress reporting to key stakeholders
  • Map and track programme benefits
  • Run steering committees and executive forums, presenting progress, risks and decisions to senior client stakeholders
  • Manage change control and client expectations, and elevate commercial or delivery issues early
  • Close programmes with benefits reviews and lessons learned, and share them across the SPM team
  • When required, set up a Programme Management Office (PMO), maintaining robust programme management, methodologies, governance frameworks and reporting standards
• Lead and/or oversee the optimisation of Corporate Real Estate processes and the development of bespoke Governance & Controls solutions for clients
  • Recommend and outline new processes for current and upcoming transformation through a robust discover and design stage and help integrate enabling technologies to drive clarity and efficiency
  • Operationalise and champion the adoption of a newly defined or improved business process and governance operating models through innovative solutions, such as AI/GenAI, to enhance programme delivery and problem-solving capabilities
  • Pilot new digital and AI/GenAI tools on live engagements, and share what works across the SPM team

Business Development

• Work with the SPM mid-management team to develop and deliver a business development strategy
• Conduct thorough market research to identify new business opportunities, emerging trends, and potential clients within target industries
• Develop and nurture strong, long-term relationships with prospective and existing clients, acting as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact
• Understand client challenges and strategic objectives to proactively identify how our consulting and program management services can add value
• Lead proposals and pitches, and development of market-facing material (e.g., thought leadership)
• Collaborate with the leadership team to ensure proposed solutions are feasible, effectively priced, appropriately resourced and align with client needs
• Work with specialists across CBRE to help achieve best in class integrated solutions
• Manage a personal pipeline of opportunities and forecast win probability and revenue for the SPM leadership team
• Scope, estimate and negotiate fee proposals and statements of work
• Contribute to the SPM service offering by developing reusable methodologies, templates and toolkits
• Represent SPM at client events, industry forums and conferences
• Support internal CBRE reporting and operational processes

People Management

• Lead, mentor, and coach a team of consultants and senior consultants, fostering a culture of high performance, continuous learning, and professional growth
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance reviews, and provide constructive feedback to team members, identifying strengths and areas for development
• Identify training needs and facilitate development opportunities for team members to enhance their skills and career progression
• Foster a positive and collaborative work environment, promoting open communication and teamwork
• Allocate people and workloads across engagements, balancing utilisation with development needs
• Contribute to recruitment, onboarding and succession planning for the SPM team
• Model CBRE's RISE values and Standards of Business Conduct, and champion inclusion and wellbeing within the team

What You'll Need

• 7+ years of relevant experience in consulting or programme management. Experience in the Real Estate industry, major management consultancy or other relevant business environments
• Experience delivering large and complex transformation programmes for global corporate organisations
• Extensive experience managing end-to-end Real Estate transformation programme lifecycles, from planning, execution to closeout
• Proven ability to lead consulting teams and engage diverse stakeholders across matrixed organisations
• Experience in managing and engaging with senior clients and internal stakeholders
• Recognised qualifications/accreditations in programme/project management preferred (Managing Successful Programmes, Lean Six Sigma, Agile, PMP, PRINCE2)
• Proficiency with project management tools and techniques, including MS Project, Visio, and Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with applying consulting tools and AI/GenAI solutions to solve complex business challenges is highly valued
• Exceptional leadership, communication (verbal and written), and interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities
• Ability to work under pressure, handle multiple tasks, and motivate others

Why CBRE

When you join CBRE, you become part of the global leader in commercial real estate services and investment that helps businesses and people thrive. We are dynamic problem solvers and forward-thinking professionals who create significant impact. Our collaborative culture is built on our shared values - respect, integrity, service and excellence - and we value the diverse perspectives, backgrounds and skillsets of our people. At CBRE, you have the opportunity to chart your own course and realize your potential. We welcome all applicants.

Applicant AI Use Disclosure

We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make hiring decisions, and we ask that candidates disclose any use of AI in the application and interview process.