Programme Manager

ASCO - Workforce Solutions; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ASCO is implementing a major Business Systems Transformation Programme in Aberdeen. We seek an experienced Programme Manager to establish planning, governance, financial control and reporting across multiple system deliveries.

You will work with the Programme Director and business architects to monitor progress, budgets and resources, and to build robust programme management capabilities. The role requires leading governance, RAID/change control, and benefits tracking while coordinating across

Qualifications

• Proven experience establishing and managing programme planning, governance, controls and reporting across multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills with the ability to maintain accurate information across plans, budgets, risks and resources.
• Excellent financial and numerical skills with experience monitoring budgets, forecasts and benefits.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the programme roadmap and integrated delivery schedule with milestones.
• Manage programme governance, planning and reporting for effective decision-making.
• Maintain RAID log and change control processes for risks and dependencies.
• Monitor budgets, forecasts and actual expenditure against the financial envelope.
• Prepare Steering Committee reports and Board dashboards on progress and financials.
• Support system deliveries through project plans and progress reporting.
• Coordinate resource planning and allocation across concurrent projects.
• Maintain governance documentation including RACI and lifecycle registers.
• Support business case development and benefits tracking through implementation.
• Monitor post-implementation usage and capture lessons learned for continuous improvement.

Skills

Programme planning

Governance

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Change control

Multi-project delivery

Communication

AI in planning

Education

APM PMQ / PMI PMP / PgMP / PRINCE2

PMO experience

Tools

Power BI

ERP systems

Job description

Employment Type: Permanent Location: Aberdeen

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

ASCO is 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 Manager to establish and manage the planning, governance, financial control and reporting framework across this programme. Working closely with the Programme Director and Business Architects, you will provide oversight across multiple system deliveries, ensuring progress, risks, budgets and resources are effectively monitored and controlled.

This is an important role in supporting the successful delivery of ASCO's transformation programme and building sustainable programme management capabilities within the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the programme roadmap, integrated delivery schedule and milestones, ensuring changes are reviewed and approved.
• Manage programme governance, planning and reporting, providing accurate information to support effective decision-making.
• Maintain the programme RAID log and change control process, ensuring risks, issues and dependencies are managed, escalated and changes assessed within agreed programme tolerances.
• Monitor programme budgets, forecasts and actual expenditure against the approved financial envelope, highlighting variances.
• Prepare Steering Committee reports and Board dashboards covering programme progress, milestones, financial performance, benefits and key exceptions.
• Support individual system deliveries through project plans, RAID logs and progress reporting, escalating risks to cost, schedule and scope.
• Coordinate resource planning, recruitment, onboarding and business analyst allocation across concurrent projects, working closely with the Business Architect.
• Maintain programme governance documentation, including the RACI, decision-making framework, project delivery lifecycle and contract, licence and renewal registers, liaising with Procurement as required.
• Support the development of business cases and benefits baselines, tracking and reporting benefits through implementation and post-go-live reviews.
• Monitor post-implementation system usage and usability, working with change managers to identify improvements, maintain the fast-follow backlog and capture lessons learned to support continuous improvement.

Minimum Competencies (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours)

• Proven experience establishing and managing programme planning, governance, controls and reporting across multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to maintain accurate and consistent information across programme plans, budgets, risks and resources.
• Excellent financial and numerical skills, with experience monitoring budgets, forecasts, expenditure and benefits.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear, concise reports and present information to senior stakeholders.
• Ability to identify risks, dependencies, delays and budget variances early, taking appropriate action to maintain programme control.
• Confident in applying governance and change control processes consistently, including when managing competing stakeholder priorities.
• Effective stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across different locations, business teams, contractors and suppliers.
• Proactive and detail-focused, with the ability to establish effective planning and reporting processes while supporting delivery teams.
• Open to using AI-enabled tools and automation to improve programme planning, controls and reporting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Recognised programme or project management qualification, such as APM PMQ, PMI PMP/PgMP or PRINCE2, or equivalent.
• Demonstrable experience in a PMO or programme control role within a multi-project business change or systems transformation programme.
• Proven experience managing programme RAID logs, change control and integrated plans across concurrent projects.
• Experience of programme financial management, including budget control, forecasting and reporting against approved budgets.
• Experience preparing reports for Steering Committees, Boards or senior management teams.
• Experience of resource planning across permanent employees and contract personnel.

Desirable Qualifications/Competencies

• Background in logistics or an associated sector, such as supply chain, marine, energy services or industrial services.
• Experience delivering programmes across multiple countries or legal entities.
• Understanding of the fast-paced environment of an investor-backed business.
• Knowledge of benefits management and tracking within large-scale programmes.
• Proficiency in Power BI or comparable dashboard and reporting tools.
• Familiarity with ERP or core operational platform replacement programmes.