Strategic VA Programme Lead – AI & Transformation

Aviva plc; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Aviva plc in Norwich seeks an experienced Strategic Virtual Assistant (VA) Programme Manager to lead end-to-end transformation across multiple workstreams. You will oversee strategy, design, delivery and governance, coordinating with senior stakeholders across Aviva, BCG, and Group CIO teams to ensure alignment and timely milestones.

This leadership role requires strong programme management, structured planning and stakeholder engagement, with a solid understanding of Aviva's Change Delivery

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading complex digital or AI transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of Aviva's Change Delivery Framework and governance.
• Understanding of architecture, applications, infrastructure, security and data integration.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills with milestone management.
• Strong financial management including budgeting and benefits tracking.
• Excellent stakeholder management and senior-leader communication.
• Experience managing risks, issues and dependencies with escalation.
• Experience with Agile delivery and cross-organisation collaboration.
• Collaborative, outcome-focused mindset and adaptability under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Virtual Assistant programme across all workstreams, including Orchestration, Build & Launch, and Technology & Data Foundations.
• Drive programme governance and reporting, preparing and leading steering committees and governance forums, tracking decisions, actions, risks and accountabilities.
• Work closely with executive sponsors, Aviva and BCG programme leadership, and senior stakeholders to maintain strategic alignment and delivery momentum.
• Develop and maintain the programme roadmap, scope, design principles, business case and value framework.
• Coordinate delivery across business, digital, technology, data and operations teams, ensuring effective management of milestones, dependencies and critical paths.
• Oversee build, testing and launch readiness, coordinating activities towards key programme milestones.
• Manage programme financials, including budgets, forecasts, expenditure, variances and benefits tracking.
• Identify, assess and mitigate programme risks and issues, ensuring alignment with Aviva’s risk, control and governance requirements.
• Support the integration of Risk, Compliance and Data Governance requirements to enable the safe delivery of Generative AI and Virtual Assistant capabilities.
• Lead stakeholder communications, providing clear and tailored progress updates to sponsors, steering committees, product owners and delivery teams.
• Drive organisational readiness, including capability development, change adoption and process readiness.
• Coordinate third-party suppliers and delivery partners, ensuring clear responsibilities, aligned priorities and effective management of contractual commitments.
• Facilitate constructive challenge and timely decision-making to resolve blockers and maintain programme progress.

Skills

Programme leadership

Stakeholder management

Agile delivery

Risk & governance

Financial management

Communications

Ambiguity management

Third-party management

Change delivery framework

Job description

Aviva plc in Norwich seeks an experienced Strategic Virtual Assistant (VA) Programme Manager to lead end-to-end transformation across multiple workstreams. You will oversee strategy, design, delivery and governance, coordinating with senior stakeholders across Aviva, BCG, and Group CIO teams to ensure alignment and timely milestones.

This leadership role requires strong programme management, structured planning and stakeholder engagement, with a solid understanding of Aviva's Change Delivery