Head of Programme / Project Director

ScottishPower; Blantyre; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy provider is seeking a Head of Programmes / Project Director in Blantyre, Scotland. This role involves responsibility for strategic transmission investment programmes and managing a large team. The ideal candidate will have extensive project management experience in a capital-intensive environment. The position offers a competitive salary starting from £80,000, with a comprehensive benefits package including a 30% bonus, private healthcare, and more.

Benefits

30% annual bonus

Private healthcare (family)

£450 p/m car allowance

36 days annual leave

Holiday purchase

Pension scheme with double match

Electric vehicle schemes

Cycle to work scheme

Healthcare benefit options

Life assurance (4x salary)

Qualifications

• Extensive project management experience (5 years minimum) in capital-intensive environment.
• Experience in managing large teams and complex projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills to interface with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of large-scale strategic onshore transmission projects.
• Ensure efficient implementation of capital investments.
• Manage interfaces with external stakeholders during construction phases.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Strategic planning

Commercial awareness

Education

Master's Degree in Engineering or similar discipline

Job description

Head of Programmes / Project Director - 3 positions available

Aspect House, Blantyre

Salary from £80,000 per year, with a strong benefits package including an annual 30% bonus, Private Healthcare (Family) and a £450 p/m car allowance.

Full-Time / Permanent

Closing Date: 24/08/2025

Help us create a better future, quicker

At Scottish Power we know that our people are our strongest asset, so we're always looking for individuals whose energy, intelligence and passion can help us reach our goals.

At the heart of all business visions and activities are the people whose individual efforts and performance make it happen. We encourage our people to be proud of where they work, to share their ideas and to own their careers. We promote a safe working environment and push people to shape and progress their careers so that we grow our talent within the company.

Role

The Head of Programmes / Project Director will be a member of the SP Transmission senior management team and will be responsible for the delivery of strategic transmission investment programmes, focused on accelerating delivery while maintaining industry leading standards.

The job holder will be responsible for all aspects of the project portfolio and will manage Project Units and project support staff to deliver the investment programme.

In addition to the specific responsibilities associated with the role set out below, the job holder will also have responsibilities as a member of the SPT management team. They will participate in the overall leadership of the SPT Licence Business, including development of business performance targets and plans to deliver on these; ensuring effective team working and information sharing across all of the SPT functions and associated teams in other Directorates; development of the staff culture within SPT to meet current and future needs; strategic planning and input to price control business plans.

Integral part of the senior management team with the combined responsibility to deliver SPT's capital investment programme, in excess of £10 Billion over the T3 period. With responsibility of a project portfolio of £150 to £600m and a yearly CAPEX of ~£100m

As Head of Programmes, you have oversight of a team of 40 FTE plus approximately 15 agency staff.

What you will be doing

Responsible for leadership of all project management (and other) resources that could grow up to 40 FTE permanent staff and up to 15 FTE agency staff necessary to deliver SPT's relevant projects, capital investment programme of approximately £100m per year. This includes leading the delivery of large-scale strategic onshore transmission projects with significant stakeholder interest.

Ensure that SPEN's capital investments in relevant projects are implemented efficiently and effectively, consistent with the Business Plan and delivered according to specifications, policies, budgets and timetables, achieving the highest levels of health, safety, quality and environmental performance.

Ensure that excellent customer service is delivered to all SPT customers/stakeholders associated with relevant programme investments, working as required with NESO and the NP&R commercial team.

Maximise the use of Strategic Agreement Frameworks and procurement strategies to ensure we select the most effective delivery model for the programme or project. This strategic teams focus will be on the Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) delivery models making use of early contractor involvement, design engineering expertise and execution through procurement and construction phases. Ensure collaborative behaviours are embedded across the programmes and projects along with joint approaches to project controls and governance.

Lead, on behalf of the Business, interactions with key suppliers and contractors in the relevant projects supply chain to ensure that best use is made of the resources employed. Apply commercial expertise across relevant contract models to drive value and resolve disputes efficiently, minimising impact on programme outcomes.

Manage interfaces with external stakeholders including Customers, Landowners, Developers, Local Authorities, etc during the construction phase and key internal functions including Technical Services Operational Planning, Procurement, Estates, Land & Planning, Legal and Operations to facilitate the efficient implementation of projects and programmes.

Collaborate across all levels of the organisation to ensure engineering design support is aligned with strategic delivery needs.

Contribute to investment planning by estimating costs, timescales, and risks for the strategic portfolio. Ensure readiness for delivery of complex, high-profile infrastructure aligned with national energy goals.

Provide strong commercial leadership to assigned project unit teams to maximise the value attainable to the Business through the implementation of the investment programme.

Define the appropriate allocation for the management of individual projects / programmes through consideration of level of investment, resource utilisation, geographical location & environment, complexity and risk.

Coordinate all programme delivery activities and risks by owning all aspects of programme delivery and creating an environment of accountability for performance and results.

Communicate effectively, providing regular and ad-hoc reports as required and foster open communication across teams.

Ensure all key pre and post contract decisions taken are supported by sufficient reasoning, due diligence and investigation.

Take responsibility for a capital budget of approximately £100M per annum. For individual projects / programmes, manage activities within authorised funding and allowances.

Ensure all projects are closed out effectively and that there is a seamless transfer of each project, including all relevant documentation, to Operations.

Lead a large team of professional staff, maximising the value of the efforts made by staff under his/her control.

Lead compliance with all regulatory reporting, submissions and interfaces for own area of responsibility - this includes leading the preparation of funding request to Ofgem, reporting to DESNZ/NESO/Ofgem.

Contribute to and ensure compliance with all management systems required for the professional and efficient delivery of the investment programme, including externally accredited systems for Health and Safety, Environmental and Quality management.

Contribute to the achievement of out-performance in SPT's price control settlements, identifying, promoting and implementing innovation, business efficiencies and value engineering across the relevant projects' investment programme.

What you will bring

Degree qualified in Engineering or a related discipline, preferably with a supplementary project management qualification.

Solid grasp of EPC delivery models with ability to manage complex interfaces across contractors and stakeholders. Proven success in building collaborative partnerships with Contractors/Clients that drive shared ownership and programme success.

As a leader of a range of high complexity projects, the job holder should have a solid understanding of the technical aspects of electricity transmission or significant experience in projects and programmes of a similar scale.

Accomplished project manager, with a track record of involvement in successful large scale, complex investment programmes and a comprehensive knowledge of programme and project management processes.

Experience in portfolio-level governance, ensuring alignment between project delivery and national strategic priorities (e.g. Net Zero targets, Clean Power 2030).

Extensive commercial knowledge relating to engineering construction in the UK.

Ability to identify and navigate policy, regulatory, and commercial complexities, providing strategic insight that shapes programme direction and investment decisions.

Strong interpersonal skills given requirement to interface with many of SPT's most influential customers and stakeholders.

Capable of making sound decisions when faced with multiple competing priorities.

Strong planning and reporting skills.

Highly developed knowledge of health, safety and environmental legislation, particularly relating to engineering construction activities (including the Construction, Design and Management Regulations) and associated management system standards.

Good knowledge and experience of formal planning and consenting processes for major infrastructure developments.

Minimum Requirements

• Master's Degree qualified in an Engineering or similar discipline

• Extensive project management experience (5 years minimum) within a complex capital-intensive environment (CAPEX of +£20m per year)

• Line management experience

• Highly developed commercial awareness

• Highly developed planning and organisational capabilities

• Excellent numeracy and literacy skills

• Excellent people management skills and experienced in leading a large professional workforce & proven success in building collaborative partnership

• Excellent interpersonal / presentational skills

What's in it for you

As well as a competitive salary which is reviewed annually, you can also enjoy a number of other benefits. With our pension scheme, we'll double match your contribution up to a company contribution of 10%.

At ScottishPower, we believe it's the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family's wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action - our benefits are designed to help you do just that - so that you have everything you need to take care of your world - today and tomorrow.

That's why our benefits include:

• 36 days annual leave

• Holiday Purchase - perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave

• Share Schemes

• Payroll Giving and Charity Matched Funding

• Technology Vouchers - save more and spread the cost of your technology purchases

• Electric Vehicle Schemes - to help you transition to green/clean driving

• Cycle to Work scheme and Public Transport Season Ticket Loans

• Healthcare benefit options including: Dental Insurance, Private Medical Insurance, Health Cash Plan and annual Health Assessments

• Life Assurance (4x salary)

• Access to Savesmart financial wellbeing support

• Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more

Why SP Energy Networks

SP Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world's largest integrated utility companies and a world leader in wind energy. We keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses through Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales and in the North West of England. We operate over 4000km of cables and lines that make-up the transmission network - connecting infrastructure like wind farms into the electricity system. It's a role that puts us right at the heart of Scotland's ambition to be Net Zero by 2044. And we're taking it very seriously.

We're investing £5.5 billion into our transmission network, directly supporting the rapid growth needed in renewable energy. With diverse opportunities across our businesses and a commitment to invest in our own internal talent, ScottishPower can offer people real career opportunities that meet personal and professional goals, in a global organisation.

Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large-scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you'll fit right in.

We are committed to providing reasonable support or adjustments in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long term conditions, mental health conditions, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support. If you need support, please reach out to careers scottishpower.com .