Programme Director National Timing Centre (NTC)

National Physical Laboratory; Teddington; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading governmental organization in Teddington seeks a Programme Director to shape and lead a significant national initiative. This strategic leadership role requires proven experience in delivering complex programmes, strong stakeholder management, and resilience in high-pressure environments. You will oversee multiple projects, manage substantial budgets, and ensure alignment with government priorities. Exceptional negotiation and financial acumen are essential for this pivotal position that plays a critical role in national security and resilience.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering large-scale, complex major programmes.
• Exceptional leadership and resilience in high-pressure environments.
• Deep understanding of programme management methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Ensure programme delivers intended benefits on time and within budget.
• Lead and coordinate multiple interdependent projects.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Financial Acumen

Project Management

Resilience under pressure

Negotiation skills

Job description

Overview

Available as a permanent position or a fixed-term secondment.

Senior leadership role – SCS1 / SCS2‑equivalent.

This newly created senior leadership position will be responsible for driving the successful delivery of a Major Government Programme (NTC) that forms part of the UK’s most significant national projects. As Programme Director, you will be supporting the delivery of the government’s PNT programme, helping to address strategic risks to the UK. Accordingly, this role carries high visibility, substantial responsibility and direct accountability to senior government stakeholders.

This role will be pivotal in shaping and leading a newly formed Programme, setting its vision, structure and long‑term direction. It will galvanise internal and external teams, mobilising expertise and resources around a critical mission to deliver one of the UK’s most significant national programmes.

This world‑first programme is unprecedented in scale and complexity – nothing like this has been delivered before. It is essential to protecting critical interests and strengthening the UK’s digital infrastructure.

Key responsibilities:

To ensure the programme delivers its intended benefits, on time, within budget, and to the agreed quality standards, while managing risks, dependencies, and stakeholder expectations at the highest level.

• Strategic Leadership – Set the programme vision, objectives, and delivery strategy in alignment with government priorities and programme goals.
• Delivery Oversight – Lead and coordinate multiple interdependent projects, ensuring integration and coherence across workstreams.
• Accountable for strategic procurement and commercial supplier management applying strong financial and commercial acumen to manage substantial budgets and complex contracts in technically demanding environments.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Build and maintain strong relationships with Ministers, senior officials, delivery partners, and external stakeholders.
• Governance & Assurance – Establish robust governance structures, reporting mechanisms, and assurance processes in line with GMPP and Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) standards.
• Risk & Issue Management – Identify, assess, and mitigate strategic risks, escalating where necessary to the SRO or programme board.
• Resource & Budget Management – Oversee programme budgets, secure funding, and ensure optimal use of resources, including supplier and contract management.
• Benefits Realisation – Ensure that the programme delivers measurable outcomes and benefits, tracking progress against agreed KPIs.
• Capability Building – Lead, inspire, and develop a high‑performing programme team, fostering a culture of delivery excellence.

About You

• Proven track record of delivering large‑scale, complex major programmes at pace across both public and private sectors.
• Complex Capital Programme Delivery through the end‑to‑end project lifecycle; from strategy, through initiation to delivery, coupled with knowledge of enterprise Programme Management Office (PMO).
• Leading the design and optimisation of programme operating models.
• Exceptional leadership and resilience, able to inspire confidence and maintain focus under pressure, whilst navigating ambiguity.
• Strategic thinker with strong influencing and negotiation skills at senior government and stakeholder levels.
• Deep understanding of programme management methodologies (e.g., MSP, PRINCE2) and government assurance processes, with the ability to apply them in novel, high‑stakes contexts.
• Accountable for strategic procurement and supplier management, driving commercial excellence and upholding organisational integrity and reputation.
• Financial and commercial acumen, with experience managing substantial budgets and contracts in technically demanding settings.
• Ability to operate effectively in politically sensitive environments, balancing competing priorities and maintaining alignment with national objectives.
• Adept at working at the intersection of leading‑edge science and engineering, translating technical complexity into actionable delivery plans.
• Commitment to national security and resilience, recognising the critical role this programme plays in the government’s PNT programme, contributing directly to the mitigation of nationally significant risks identified on the UK’s National Risk Register.

Key Leadership Qualities:

• High degree of personal resilience, tenacity and focus on outcomes. Able to navigate often complex and demanding regulatory, commercial and political landscapes, all the time maintaining a dynamism with a focus on achieving measurable and impactful results which deliver excellent customer value.
• A leader who can inspire others, sharpen focus, enable delivery, reinforce standards, and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Skilled in navigating scrutiny and challenge from senior stakeholders; whilst preserving effective relationships and professional standing.

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance. To work in this role, you will need to have Developed Vetting (DV) clearance with no restrictions, or you must have the ability to obtain DV clearance (with no restrictions).