Programme Director

ASCO Group; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

ASCO Group is seeking an experienced Programme Director to lead a major Business Systems Transformation across global operations. You will drive new systems delivery, improve financial and operational processes, and ensure benefits are realised.

Collaboration with IT and Steering Committee is essential to build a high-performing delivery team. The role requires extensive leadership, strong governance, and the ability to manage multi-country programmes with multi-million budgets and AI-enabled

Qualifications

• Extensive programme leadership experience across enterprise-scale transformations.
• Strong commercial, financial and governance skills with delivery of objectives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication at board and exec levels.
• Translate complex technical info into clear business decisions.
• Proven leadership to build and mentor cross-functional delivery teams.
• Judgement and decision-making with risk, scope and priority control.
• Adaptable with understanding of emerging technologies and AI opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of ASCO's multi-year Business Systems Transformation Programme with roadmap, milestones, budget and benefits.
• Develop and maintain the programme roadmap, governance, and steering committee approvals.
• Oversee budget, forecasting, resource planning, risk management and delivery performance.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team of ASCO employees, contractors and consultants.
• Oversee data governance, cross-system dependencies and alignment with data model.
• Manage performance of delivery teams, contractors and vendors; address issues promptly.
• Ensure priorities align with the board-approved roadmap and strategic aims.
• Oversee regulatory and compliance deadlines with ownership and delivery.
• Ensure clear product ownership and sign-off for each system and requirements.
• Monitor progress and benefits against investment model; report to Steering Committee.
• Lead programme communications and business change across ASCO locations; explore AI value.
• Present progress and key decisions to Steering Committee; escalate as needed.

Skills

Programme leadership

Budget management

Governance

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

Education

APM PMQ / PMI PMP / PgMP / PRINCE2

Job description

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Aberdeen Closing Date: 23 November 2026

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday - Hybrid working to be agreed

ASCO are embarking on a significant, multi-year Business Systems Transformation Programme, representing a major investment in modernising the systems and processes that support our global operations.

We are seeking an experienced Programme Director to lead this strategic programme, overseeing the delivery of new business systems, driving improvements in operational and financial processes, and ensuring the successful delivery of the programme's objectives.

Working closely with the Group IT and Business Systems Director and the Steering Committee, you will provide strong leadership, build and develop a high-performing delivery team and ensure the programme delivers lasting benefits to the business, supporting ASCO's future growth and development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of ASCO's multi-year Business Systems Transformation Programme, ensuring the agreed roadmap, milestones, budget and business benefits are achieved.
• Develop and maintain the programme roadmap, delivery schedule and governance framework, securing Steering Committee approval and managing changes to agreed plans.
• Take overall responsibility for programme budget, forecasting, resource planning, risk management, change control and delivery performance.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of ASCO employees, contractors and consultants, ensuring clear accountability and effective collaboration.
• Oversee cross-system dependencies, data management and governance, ensuring alignment with the agreed group data model.
• Manage the performance of delivery teams, contractors, consultants and vendors, addressing issues and underperformance promptly.
• Ensure programme priorities remain aligned with the Board-approved roadmap and wider business strategy, managing competing requirements and maintaining control of programme scope.
• Oversee relevant regulatory and compliance deadlines, ensuring appropriate ownership and delivery.
• Ensure clear product ownership for each system and effective requirements management and sign-off processes.
• Monitor progress and benefits realisation against the agreed investment model, providing regular reports to the Steering Committee and responding to independent assurance reviews.
• Lead programme communications and business change across ASCO's locations, identifying opportunities for early value through AI initiatives.
• Present programme progress and key decisions to the Steering Committee, escalating matters requiring Board attention.

Minimum Competencies (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours)

• Extensive programme leadership experience, with the ability to manage complex, enterprise-scale business systems transformation and implementation programmes.
• Strong commercial, financial and governance skills, with a proven ability to deliver against agreed budgets, timescales and business objectives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the credibility to engage and influence at Board, executive and operational levels.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear business decisions and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to build, motivate, mentor and develop high-performing, cross- functional teams.
• Strong judgement and decision-making skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively, manage competing priorities and maintain control of programme scope.
• Evidence-based and proactive approach to delivery, with a strong focus on accountability, risk management and benefits realisation.
• Adaptable and commercially aware, with an understanding of emerging technologies and the potential for AI to deliver business improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Recognised programme or project management qualification, such as APM PMQ, PMI PMP/PgMP or PRINCE2, or equivalent.
• At least 10 years' experience leading complex, enterprise-scale business systems implementations.
• Proven track record of delivering enterprise software programmes from inception to completion, using both Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Experience delivering programmes across multiple countries and legal entities.
• Direct accountability for managing multi-million-pound programme budgets.
• Demonstrable experience building and leading high-performing, cross-functional delivery teams.
• Significant experience managing stakeholders at Board, executive and investor level.

Desirable Qualifications/Competencies

• Knowledge of data migration, data management and data governance within large-scale transformation programmes.
• Background in logistics or an associated sector, such as supply chain, marine, energy services or industrial services.
• Track record of delivering AI-enabled business improvements as part of wider transformation programmes.
• Understanding of integration or API-led platform delivery.
• Previous involvement in a fast-growing, investor-backed business.
• Capability to establish a Programme Management Office (PMO) or programme management function from the ground up.
• Knowledge of multi-jurisdictional data residency requirements and GDPR.
• APM Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) qualification.