Director - Program Excellence

Cielo Talent; Greater London; Remote; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading talent acquisition firm is seeking a Director - Program Excellence to drive operational excellence and innovation across client programs. The ideal candidate will manage cross-functional initiatives, optimize service delivery, and enhance client satisfaction. Candidates should have 8+ years of experience in talent solutions and a strong grasp of continuous improvement methodologies. The position offers opportunities across EMEA and requires strategic thinking and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience in talent solutions or project management.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale operational initiatives.
• Strong background in continuous process improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable operating models.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data and analytics.
• Guide change management efforts for new processes and tools.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Continuous improvement methodologies

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Post-graduate degree

Tools

Recruitment technologies (ATS, CRM)

Data analytics tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Company Description

Are you ready to accelerate your career? Join Cielo as a Director - Program Excellence! A career at Cielo will give you the opportunity to work with the industry’s smartest people and to take ownership of your success!

Cielo is a brand that reflects our big idea – that talent is rising – and with it our opportunity to rise above. We create careers for ambitious people by moving beyond traditional assumptions of what it means to work in talent acquisition.

Cielo is the world's leading Talent Acquisition Partner. We deliver a better talent experience for everyone through Talent Acquisition, Search, Consulting, and Digital Accelerators™. With our fresh approach – we design and build comprehensive, proven solutions inspired by technology to find and keep the unique talent that elevates our clients above the competition.

Cielo is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or any other status protected by state or local law for an individual who falls within the jurisdiction of such law.

Position is available for hire across EMEA

Job Description

The Director - Program Excellence is a strategic leader responsible for driving operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement across client programs. This role ensures the delivery of scalable, efficient, and high-impact talent acquisition solutions by aligning people, processes, and technology. As a key member of the Cielo leadership team, the Director – Program Excellence will lead cross-functional initiatives, optimize service delivery, and champion best practices to enhance client satisfaction and business outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable operating models that support growth and operational efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across client programs, leveraging data and analytics to inform strategy and execution.
• Partner with business leaders to prioritize and execute strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Oversee capacity planning, resource allocation, and performance optimization across delivery teams.
• Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure operational excellence.
• Guide change management efforts, ensuring smooth adoption of new processes, tools, and technologies.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to internal and external stakeholders, providing insights and recommendations based on structured data analysis.
• Lead and mentor a team of operations and program managers, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and high performance.
• Act as an escalation point for operational challenges, ensuring timely resolution and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Collaborate with solution design and client services to craft and implement custom recruitment solutions.
• Promote standardization and consistency in processes, documentation, and service delivery across accounts.
• Represent the voice of operations in cross-functional leadership forums and contribute to enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Director – Program Excellence may lead a team of Managers and/or individual contributors, providing guidance, conducting performance reviews, and supporting professional growth.

Qualifications

Position Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree, required; post-graduate degree, preferred.

Experience

• 8+ years’ experience in talent solutions or project management, required.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in talent solutions, operations, or program management.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale operational initiatives and managing cross-functional teams.
• Experience with recruitment technologies (e.g., ATS, CRM) and data analytics tools.
• Strong background in continuous process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).

Exposure

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Visio).