Head of IT Programme Delivery

Company Description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,500 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Head of IT Programme Delivery to lead the successful execution of our enterprise IT change portfolio. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring complex programmes are delivered predictably, transparently and with measurable business outcomes.

As Head of IT Programme Delivery, you will lead a team of Programme Managers, Project Managers and PMO professionals, providing the governance, discipline and leadership needed to deliver major technology and business transformation initiatives across the organisation.

Working closely with business leaders, IT stakeholders and external partners, you will drive delivery excellence, strengthen programme controls and ensure technology investments translate into tangible value for the business.

• Lead and develop a high-performing programme delivery function with clear accountability for outcomes.
• Define and evolve a consistent programme delivery framework across strategic initiatives.
• Establish best practices across planning, governance, risk management, reporting and service transition.
• Build delivery capability across programme management, project management and PMO teams.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex delivery challenges, risks and cross-functional dependencies.

• Own end-to-end programme delivery, ensuring plans, milestones, resources and funding assumptions are realistic and achievable.
• Drive successful delivery across waterfall, agile and hybrid methodologies.
• Ensure initiatives remain aligned to scope, budgets, business cases and expected benefits.
• Lead governance forums and provide clear reporting on progress, risks, financial performance and business readiness.
• Manage dependencies across technology, business and third-party delivery teams.

• Partner with senior business and IT leaders to shape priorities and manage delivery expectations.
• Translate strategic business objectives into executable programmes and measurable outcomes.
• Maintain strong stakeholder confidence through transparent communication and proactive risk management.
• Ensure effective change management, communication and adoption activities are embedded throughout programme delivery.

• Drive programme assurance, lessons learned and continuous improvement across the delivery portfolio.
• Identify and resolve systemic delivery challenges to improve predictability and efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with Architecture, Cyber Security, Data, Infrastructure and Operations teams to ensure solutions are scalable, supportable and sustainable.
• Oversee delivery partner performance and supplier relationships to maximise value and delivery quality.

You are a proven technology delivery leader with experience overseeing large-scale programmes within complex enterprise environments. You combine strategic thinking with operational excellence and have a strong track record of delivering business-critical transformation initiatives.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping and delivering our technology and business transformation agenda. You will have a direct impact on…