Head of Programmes

Arrive
United Kingdom
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Best suited to seasoned programme leaders with a background in smart transport or enterprise software, working in a global, collaborative environment.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 7-10+ years of experience managing large-scale transport or enterprise software projects
    — “7-10+ years of experience leading complex, large-scale projects and programs within smart transport, ticketing systems, industrial tech, or enterprise software integration.”
  • Leaders who can align project delivery with business growth strategies and cross-border collaboration
    — “Collaborate closely with the Business Unit VP and GM to align the project delivery roadmap with broader business unit growth objectives.”

Things to consider

  • The role entails significant financial responsibility and requires strong contract negotiation skills
    — “Maintain overall financial oversight and P&L responsibility for all business unit projects, safeguarding overall profitability, budget compliance, and commercial health.”
  • Candidates must be prepared to handle high-stakes, executive-sponsored strategic projects
    — “Lead critical, executive-sponsored strategic projects and transformational programs across the Transport Business Unit to drive operational capability and business growth.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in creating standardized project delivery frameworks and KPIs
    — “Build, coach, and scale a Project Centre of Excellence, defining standardized delivery methodologies, governance frameworks, and key performance indicators (KPIs).”
  • Emphasize your ability to lead high-performing teams with clear career development paths
    — “Lead, mentor, and empower a high-performing team of Project Managers and Program Managers, building clear career paths, performance assessment frameworks, and active problem-solving skills.”
  • Demonstrate a track record of driving customer-first outcomes across complex project lifecycles
    — “Drive a customer-first culture across the project lifecycle, raising the bar on delivery speed, quality, and operational execution to consistently exceed client expectations.”
  • Showcase your experience in cross-border collaboration and harmonizing global workflows
    — “Partner with international counterparts (including the French business unit) to harmonize workflows, align delivery standards, and share best practices across borders.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

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

What success looks like

  • build, coach, and scale a Project Centre of Excellence
  • drive a customer-first culture
Typical background
7-10+ years of experience leading complex, large-scale projects and programs

Skills & requirements

Required

Project ManagementAgile MethodologiesCustomer-centric DeliveryP&L Management

Preferred

Cross-border CollaborationInternational Transport Business Entities

Stack & domain

Project And Programme ManagementAgile Delivery CultureCustomer-centric DeliveryProject Delivery RoadmapBusiness Unit Growth ObjectivesExecutive-sponsored Strategic ProjectsTransformational ProgramsOperational CapabilityBusiness GrowthProject Centre Of ExcellenceStandardized Delivery MethodologiesGovernance FrameworksKpisCustomer-first CultureDelivery SpeedQualityOperational ExecutionClient ExpectationsP&L ResponsibilityProject MarginsOutstanding ValueProactive Risk-management FrameworksMitigation StrategiesProject BottlenecksCross-border CollaborationInternational Transport Business EntitiesProcess HarmonizationSynergy LeverageComplex Operational ChallengesLead, Inspire, And ElevateBuild, Coach, And ScaleMentor And EmpowerFoster High Team EngagementOwnership And AccountabilityMaintain Overall Financial OversightSupport Project TeamsProtect Project MarginsDeliver Outstanding ValueEstablish Proactive, Transparent Risk-management FrameworksResolve Project BottlenecksPartner With International CounterpartsSponsor And Direct Special Cross-organizational InitiativesHarmonize WorkflowsAlign Delivery StandardsShare Best PracticesSolve Complex Operational ChallengesSmart TransportTicketing SystemsIndustrial TechEnterprise Software IntegrationUrban MobilityLivable Cities

About the role

Original posting from Arrive via Ashby

We’ve signed up to an ambitious journey. Join us!

As Arrive, we guide customers and communities towards brighter futures and more livable cities, it isn’t a challenge just anyone could take on. Luckily, we have something to help us make it happen. Our people and our values. We Arrive Curious, Focused and Together. Just as our entire brand is inspired by the North Star, the shining light leading travelers to their destinations since time began, our values guide us. They help us be at our best. For our customers. For the cities and communities we serve. For ourselves. As a global team, we are transforming urban mobility. Let’s grow better, together.

The Role

As Head of Programmes, you will lead, inspire, and elevate our project and programme management team to execute first-class delivery across the portfolio. You will establish a Centre of Excellence within the Transport Business Unit, embedding an agile, customer-centric delivery culture that consistently exceeds client expectations. You will report to the VP Global Project Delivery,

How to Make an Impact

Strategic Leadership & Delivery Excellence

  • Build, coach, and scale a Project Centre of Excellence, defining standardized delivery methodologies, governance frameworks, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Drive a customer-first culture across the project lifecycle, raising the bar on delivery speed, quality, and operational execution to consistently exceed client expectations.
  • Collaborate closely with the Business Unit VP and GM to align the project delivery roadmap with broader business unit growth objectives.
  • Lead critical, executive-sponsored strategic projects and transformational programs across the Transport Business Unit to drive operational capability and business growth.

Team Coaching & People Leadership

  • Lead, mentor, and empower a high-performing team of Project Managers and Program Managers, building clear career paths, performance assessment frameworks, and active problem-solving skills.
  • Foster high team engagement, ownership, and accountability from initial bid support through to final client delivery and handover.

P&L Management & Commercial Accountability

  • Maintain overall financial oversight and P&L responsibility for all business unit projects, safeguarding overall profitability, budget compliance, and commercial health.
  • Support project teams during client negotiations, contract reviews, and scope changes to protect project margins while delivering outstanding value.

Governance, Risk & Crisis Management

  • Establish proactive, transparent risk-management frameworks and mitigation strategies to identify and resolve project bottlenecks early.
  • Act as the senior point of escalation for complex project risks, key stakeholder alignments, and critical crisis resolution.

Cross-Border Collaboration

  • Partner with international counterparts (including the French business unit) to harmonize workflows, align delivery standards, and share best practices across borders.
  • Sponsor and direct special cross-organizational initiatives across international transport business entities to harmonize processes, leverage synergies, and solve complex operational challenges.

Your Background

  • Track Record: 7-10+ years of experience leading complex, large-scale projects and programs within smart transport, ticketing systems, industrial tech, or enterprise software integration.
  • Leadership Experience: Proven track record of managing, growing, and inspiring teams of project and program managers.
  • Strategic Project Leadership: Demonstrated success in initiating, leading, and executing high-visibility strategic and special projects across a broader business organization beyond standard project delivery portfolios.
  • Commercial Savvy: Strong commercial and financial acumen with direct project P&L responsibility, contract negotiation experience, and robust risk management capability.
  • Customer-Centric Mindset: Deep commitment to customer success and satisfaction, combining strategic vision with pragmatic execution.

ABOUT ARRIVE

Arrive, including brands like EasyPark, Flowbird, RingGo, ParkMobile and Parkopedia, is a leading global mobility platform. Present in over 90 countries and 20,000 cities, the company helps people and decision-makers make smarter decisions about urban mobility and ease the experience of travel worldwide. Arrive delivers a unique combination of the core ingredients to make cities more livable: from smart payments and optimized car parks to data-driven traffic reduction and support for reinvestment in public transport and green space. It’s about more than function, it’s about saving time and simplifying the experience of travel for everyone. Travel is more than a journey, it’s how you Arrive.

Source: Arrive careers (Ashby)

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