Head of Programmes Jobs
When a company is embarking on a major business change or transformation programme, the most important thing is to make sure the right team is in place to ensure everything is planned and managed properly. The head of programmes may lead a small team, an entire business or something in between, depending on the size and structure of the company and the programmes being implemented.
The head of programmes are usually quite specialized, dealing with an area with which they have wide experience and expertise, although in novel industries where such specialized talent is thin on the ground, heads of programmes are often sourced by their understanding of change and transformation and what the best means are of delivering them. The head of programmes is sometimes an executive level role with a seat on the board, but it can also be a senior management role without directorial powers and responsibilities.
The skills required
By their very nature, change and transformation professionals are often at the cutting edge of the technological and methodological advances in their fields, so companies can find it difficult to find heads of programmes who are experienced in exactly their field. This provides great opportunities for candidates who have a proven record of leading successful programmes in similar circumstances to show companies what they are capable of.
It is worth noting that some companies require specific qualifications in their heads of programmes that are dependent upon the sector in which they operate. However, there’s no standard skill set for this role – it’s usually a case of being fully briefed by the company and then analyzing the company in minute detail to find out how the proposed change or transformation programme can be implemented. This is a role that is won at the interview stage as you convince the company that you have the talent and drive to see their project through.
Head of Programmes Jobs in Carlisle
Carlisle is the north-easternmost city in England, its outskirts lying just 4 miles (6 km) from the Scottish border. It’s roughly equal to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in terms of latitude, although it is much smaller, having a population of only 100,000. The city is served by the M6 which passes along its east side as it makes its way from Preston and Birmingham in the south, and changes into the A74(M) as it goes north towards Glasgow. The road east is the A59 which heads to Newcastle, and westwards, the A595 reaches the coastal towns of Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness. Carlisle is also on the main railway line from Manchester to Glasgow and Edinbugh. It is also the end point of the Settle to Carlisle railway line, which is considered one of the most scenic rail journeys in the UK.
The city can trace its roots back at least to Roman times, where, it is thought, it would have been a settlement connected with Hadrian’s Wall; the Wall would have sliced modern-day Carlisle in two. It must have been considered a strategic hotspot as it continued to be settled after the Romans, and a castle was built there in medieval times, as was the town’s cathedral. The city changed hands many times over the following centuries, most notably in 1745 when it was briefly held by Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Carlisle did play its part in the Industrial Revolution, but its relative isolation meant it was never one of the major players. It did grow a thriving railway engineering industry, however, and textiles were quite an important employer. Carr’s of Carlisle was founded around this time, and it would later become United Biscuits. Metal Box had a factory in the city, and it lives on under the Crown Holdings umbrella. There is still plenty of diversity in Carlisle’s industrial base, and as it’s so well connected it will always be a good place to look for Head of Programmes jobs. The logistics industry would be quite different today without one of its Carlisle’s successful companies, Eddie Stobart, which was founded in the 1950s.
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Find Head of Programmes Jobs with Cast UK
For managerial and director-level jobs in change and transformation programmes, look no further than Cast UK. We have offices in the UK’s three main business hubs – London, Manchester and Birmingham – and a list of clients from John o'Groats to Land’s End, looking for expertise in their programmes.
If you have the experience and a thirst to tackle a brand new challenge delivering programmes to completion in a job where your skills are truly valued, call Cast UK today on 0333 121 3345 so we can put you in touch with some of the best in the business.
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