Strategic Engineering Alignment Lead

Northern; Leeds; On-site; GBP 82,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free travel

Pension scheme

Cycle to work

Discounts

Training and career development

Job summary

Northern is seeking a Head of Strategy and Alignment- Engineering in the UK. The role leads the development of an engineering strategy and governance to align engineering activity with business priorities, turning complex information into actionable plans.

You will influence senior stakeholders and shape how engineering operates across the organisation. You will partner with the Engineering Director and senior leaders, ensuring governance, reporting, and decision‑making frameworks deliver clear

Qualifications

• Significant experience operating in a senior strategic, programme, business planning or governance role within a complex organisation.
• Proven ability to develop and translate strategy into practical, deliverable plans.
• Experience leading governance processes and navigating formal decision‑making frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and embed a long-term engineering strategy aligned with Northern's priorities.
• Translate complex information into clear, practical plans and priorities.
• Lead Engineering's contributions to business planning, ensuring milestones are tracked and reported.
• Establish governance frameworks to support effective decision‑making across Engineering.
• Act as gatekeeper for proposals progressing through governance forums with robust business cases.
• Define and maintain standards, frameworks and controls for consistency and compliance.
• Create reporting mechanisms and data structures for actionable insight.
• Build trusted relationships with Directors and senior stakeholders for evidence‑based challenge.
• Monitor progress against objectives and address emerging risks and opportunities.
• Promote a unified approach across Engineering to align teams and disciplines.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance experience

Stakeholder influence

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Job description

Northern is seeking a Head of Strategy and Alignment- Engineering in the UK. The role leads the development of an engineering strategy and governance to align engineering activity with business priorities, turning complex information into actionable plans.

You will influence senior stakeholders and shape how engineering operates across the organisation. You will partner with the Engineering Director and senior leaders, ensuring governance, reporting, and decision‑making frameworks deliver clear