Director of Technical Programme Management

Zilch
Zilch, United Kingdom
HybridCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Aimed at senior technical leaders who can shape cross-functional execution and team culture.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a history of leading cross-functional technical programs and shaping team culture
    — “This role combines three things: strategic execution, organisation building and cultural leadership.”
  • Individuals who have translated ambiguous strategic priorities into successful delivery across teams
    — “A track record of turning ambiguous strategic priorities into successful delivery across multiple teams.”
  • Candidates with a strong interest in applying AI to improve organizational efficiency
    — “Curiosity about AI. A strong interest in applying AI and automation to how modern technology organisations operate.”

Things to consider

  • The role requires in-office presence three days a week despite hybrid flexibility
    — “Hybrid working: office-based Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; remote working Tuesday and Friday”
  • Candidates must have prior experience in regulated environments, especially fintech or payments
    — “Experience in fintech, payments or another regulated environment would be a strong advantage”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in aligning cross-functional teams around shared outcomes
    — “Build strong cross-functional partnerships. Align Product, Engineering, around shared outcomes”
  • Showcase ability to create clarity from ambiguous technical challenges
    — “Create clarity from ambiguity. Bring structure to problems where the solution, technical approach or route to delivery isn't yet obvious.”
  • Emphasize leadership in building and developing high-performing teams
    — “Build and develop a high-performing TPM team”
  • Demonstrate a data-driven approach to organizational and delivery performance
    — “Data-driven thinking. A data-driven approach to understanding and improving delivery and organisational performance.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • led complex cross-functional programmes
  • built and developed a high-performing TPM team
Typical background
significant experience leading technical programmesability to influence senior business and technology leaders

Skills & requirements

Required

Technical Programme ManagementCross-functional LeadershipStrategic Execution

Preferred

Fintech ExperienceHigh-growth Technology Environment

Stack & domain

Technical Programme ManagementStrategic ExecutionOrganization BuildingCultural LeadershipLeadershipCommunicationDecision MakingTeam BuildingFintechTechnology

About the role

Original posting from Zilch via Ashby

Who we are:

We're one of Europe's fastest-growing fintech companies – on a mission to create the world's most empowering way to pay.

We launched the product in 2020 and achieved double unicorn status, valued at $2 billion, and since then have taken on more than 6 million customers.

Our mission is to become the best way to pay for anything, anywhere and say goodbye to credit costs for everyone. This is huge. Want to join us?

About the role.

We're looking for a Director of Technical Programme Management to help Zilch deliver its most important technology priorities, and to build and lead our TPM capability.

This role combines three things: strategic execution, organisation building and cultural leadership. You'll lead our most complex cross-functional programmes, working with Engineering, Product and Architecture leaders to turn ambitious, often ambiguous priorities into real outcomes. You'll also build and develop a high-performing TPM team, and shape a culture that attracts, grows and keeps exceptional talent.

This isn't a traditional PMO role. Project plans, governance, Jira hygiene and status reporting are tools, not the goal. What we care about is alignment, clear decisions, strong execution and, ultimately, business outcomes.

Day to day responsibilities.

Lead our most critical programmes

  • Strategy and execution end to end. Lead Zilch's most complex, business-critical technical programmes across multiple teams, systems and functions.
  • Turn priorities into a plan. Translate company and technology priorities into clear outcomes, roadmaps, milestones, dependencies and measures of success.
  • Create clarity from ambiguity. Bring structure to problems where the solution, technical approach or route to delivery isn't yet obvious.
  • Drive clarity on priorities and trade-offs. Give leaders and teams a reliable view of what will land, when, what is at risk, and what decisions/trade-offs are required and what they need to resolve competing demands and make decisive choices.

Shape how we work

  • Champion ownership and pace. Build a high-trust culture where teams move quickly, own their outcomes and stay focused as priorities and constraints change.
  • Empower teams to decide. Set clear ownership and accountability while preserving autonomy. Push decisions to the lowest sensible level, and escalate quickly when alignment or intervention is needed.
  • Instil a bias for action. Lead by example in making reversible decisions quickly, learning fast and adapting as you go.
  • Build strong cross-functional partnerships. Align Product, Engineering, around shared outcomes, always optimising for Zilch rather than any single function.

What we’re looking for...

You'll bring significant experience leading complex technical programmes and TPM teams in a high-growth technology environment, alongside:

  • Senior influence. The ability to influence senior business and technology leaders from a position of trust and deep understanding.
  • Strategy into execution. A track record of turning ambiguous strategic priorities into successful delivery across multiple teams.
  • Technical credibility. Strong technical fluency and the credibility to engage as a peer with senior engineers and architects.
  • Sound judgement. Good instincts in difficult situations, and the ability to facilitate tough trade-offs to a clear decision.
  • Team leadership. A track record of building, managing and developing high-performing teams.
  • Clear communication. Excellent written and verbal communication, including at executive level.
  • Data-driven thinking. A data-driven approach to understanding and improving delivery and organisational performance.
  • Comfort with change. You're energised by speed, ambiguity and change, and you make good calls with imperfect information.
  • Curiosity about AI. A strong interest in applying AI and automation to how modern technology organisations operate.

Benefits.

Compensation & Savings:

  • Pension scheme.
  • Death in Service scheme.
  • Income Protection.
  • Permanent employees enjoy access to our Share Options Scheme.
  • 5% back on in-app purchases.
  • £200 for WFH Setup.

Health & Wellbeing:

  • Private Medical Insurance including;
  • GP consultations (video, telephone or face-to-face).
  • Prescribed medication.
  • In-patient, day-patient and out-patient care.
  • Mental health support.
  • Optical, dental & audiological cover.
  • Physiotherapy.
  • Advanced cancer cover.
  • Menopause support.
  • Employee Assistance Programme including:
  • Unlimited mental health sessions.
  • 24/7 remote GP & physiotherapy.
  • 24/7 helpline for emotional & practical support.
  • Savings & discounts on everyday shopping.
  • 1:1 personalised well-being consultations.
  • Gym membership discounts.

Family Friendly Policies:

  • Enhanced maternity pay.
  • Enhanced paternity pay.
  • Enhanced adoption pay.
  • Enhanced shared parental leave.

Learning & Development:

  • Professional Qualifications.
  • Professional Memberships.
  • Learning Suite for e-courses.
  • Internal Training Programmes.
  • FCA & Regulatory training.

Workplace Perks:

  • Hybrid working: office-based Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; remote working Tuesday and Friday
  • Casual dress code.
  • Workplace socials.
  • Healthy snacks.

Source: Zilch careers (Ashby)

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