Data Strategy Programme Manager

Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions. 

Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions.

Through telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Programme Manager to lead the Asset Management strategic Data Transformation Programme. This role will be pivotal in driving the delivery of a multi-year change initiative focused on enhancing data capabilities including  governance, data product management and technology tooling across the organisation.

The Programme Manager will be responsible for the delivery of the entire programme plan, ensuring dependencies are interlocked and all stakeholders are effectively managed. It will be critical to the success of the programme to deliver outcomes and benefits, managing expectations and stakeholders in that context.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in managing complex, cross-functional programmes, particularly those involving data strategy, governance, and technology transformation. They will be adept at engaging senior stakeholders, navigating organisational change, and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of the Data Strategy Transformation Programme, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Ensure that the programme delivers outcomes and benefits throughout the duration of the programme.
• Develop and maintain programme plans, roadmaps, and governance structures.
• Lead the definition of the business case, programme objectives, scope, agreed set of expected benefits and outcomes with KPIs.
• In conjunction with the Programme Sponsor(s), communicate the outcomes/benefits of the programme across the organisation to garner support and buy-in.
• Engage and influence senior stakeholders across Investments, Operations, Technology, and Risk functions.
• Oversee workstreams covering data governance, architecture, quality, and operating model changes.
• Secure resources to deliver the programme, providing strong leadership across multiple teams, business functions and SMEs, providing input that takes in to account the different levels of influence and interests of each stakeholder and motivating stakeholders to deliver the programme.

• Foster strong working relationships across the delivery teams and business stakeholders to ensure shared understanding of priorities and outcomes
• Manage programme risks, issues and dependencies, adhering to governance standards including project change standards and guidelines
• Ensure effective communication and change management across impacted teams.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure successful delivery of programme outcomes.
• Provide regular reporting and craft executive level presentations and insights to executive sponsors, steering committees and stakeholder groups.
• Manage delivery in line with the approved spend  through understanding the drivers of project costs and variance and taking actions to control costs or raise change control where appropriate. 
• Evaluate delivery options and the team’s performance, providing feedback where necessary and adjusting approach and plans at regular intervals against the scope, schedule, budget, risks, outcomes and benefits.

Required Experience & Skills

• Proven experience as a Programme Manager in Asset Management or Financial Services.
• Strong background in data-related change programmes, including data governance, data quality, and data architecture.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex transformation initiatives with multiple stakeholders and workstreams.
• Exceptional organisational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple resources, priorities and deliverables to tight deadlines.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with strong presentation skills and experience engaging at C-suite level with the ability to influence senior stakeholders without direct authority.
• Confident in facilitating complex and large scale workshops with senior stakeholders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with industry standards related to data specifically the DCAM model linked to the EDM Council.
• Experience with different delivery methodologies (e.g. Agile & Waterfall).

Recruiter: Sarah Hawkins

Job Level: Manager or Expert

Contract: Fixed Term contract - ending 31st December 2027

What we offer:

At M&G, we’re committed to helping you thrive and supporting your wellbeing, both at work and beyond. Our benefits are designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, while planning confidently for your future. Our UK benefits include:

• As a savings and Investments firm we are proud to offer a valuable pension scheme of 18%, with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions. We also offer Share Save and our Share Incentive Plan, together with access to financial wellbeing and support services - to help give you real confidence to put your money to work.

• Enjoy 38 days annual leave including bank holidays, with the opportunity to purchase up to 5 extra days and additional flexibility through our Time Off When You Need It policy – to balance your work and personal commitments.  

• Our market leading Inspiring Families policy includes comprehensive support and paid parental leave covering maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and paternity leave - as supporting families is a core aspect of our inclusive culture.

• Health & Protection cover including Private Healthcare, Critical Illness cover and Life Assurance for you, with family options - for peace of mind.

To explore more about life at M&G and our full benefits offering, visit Life at M&G

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.

M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro-divergent conditions. 

If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us at: [email protected]