Programme Manager Recruitment Guide
We’ll help you find the Programme Manager to deliver your organisation’s change and transformation initiatives.
Accelerated recruitment process tailored to your programme’s requirements
Trusted expertise built over 20 years in senior hiring
Proven track record in placing transformative programme leaders
This programme manager guide will help you understand what great looks like — and how to attract the right talent to deliver your most critical programmes.
Welcome to the Programme Manager Hiring Guide!
Think of this as your go-to resource for understanding what makes a great programme manager and how to secure the right one for your organisation. Whether you’re delivering complex transformation or strategic change, this guide will help you navigate the hiring process with confidence.
With over 20 years’ experience recruiting senior change professionals, Practicus specialises in connecting organisations with programme managers who deliver real impact. The insights shared here are drawn from our extensive work in this space — we hope you find them both practical and inspiring.
Programme managers are senior leaders responsible for overseeing a group of related projects that together drive strategic change or transformation. Unlike project managers, who focus on individual project delivery, programme managers ensure that all projects within a programme are aligned with broader business goals, remain coordinated and deliver value at scale.
A programme manager typically:
While both roles are essential to delivering change, they operate at different levels:
In essence, programme managers:
Programme managers play a pivotal role in translating strategy into real, measurable change. By overseeing multiple interrelated projects, they ensure that resources are aligned, risks are managed and business objectives are met across the programme lifecycle.
A great programme manager helps your organisation:
Their value lies not just in execution but in making sure the right things are being executed – and that they contribute meaningfully to your organisation’s growth, efficiency or resilience.
One of the largest universities in the UK, needed urgent help delivering a stalled data strategy and warehouse project.
Practicus stepped in, quickly sourcing a programme manager with deep data and sector experience. Within weeks, they were in post — unblocking delays, aligning stakeholders, and driving delivery across multiple linked projects.
The result? Momentum restored, measurable progress, and a data programme back on track to support the university’s wider transformation goals.
Looking for a programme manager who can deliver results like these?
Talk to a recruitment specialist now
| Job title | Programme Manager |
|---|---|
|
Purpose of the Role |
To lead and coordinate multiple projects that support a larger strategic objective. The programme manager ensures these projects are aligned, resourced, and delivering measurable business outcomes. |
|
Reports to |
Director of Transformation, Head of Change, or Programme Sponsor |
|
Location |
UK-wide / Remote / Hybrid working options available |
|
Employment Type
|
Permanent, Interim or Contract roles depending on the organisation’s needs |
|
Typical Salary (UK) |
£60,000–£120,000+ (permanent) or £500–£1,200 per day (interim/contract) * |
|
Industries Hiring |
Public Sector, Healthcare, Financial Services, Technology, Higher Education, Utilities |
|
Key Responsibilities |
Aligning projects with strategic goals, managing risks and dependencies, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring benefits realisation across the programme. |
A Programme Manager is responsible for leading a group of related projects that together deliver a strategic business objective. Unlike a project manager who focuses on a single initiative, the programme manager oversees the coordination, alignment and successful delivery of multiple workstreams, ensuring they contribute collectively to broader organisational goals.
Acting as the bridge between strategy and execution, the programme manager works closely with senior stakeholders, project teams and third parties to manage dependencies, mitigate risks, track benefits and ensure governance across the programme lifecycle.
(*See more on salary further down.)
MSP (Managing Successful Programmes), Prince2, Agile, SAFe
Jira, Trello, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet
Change frameworks: Prosci, Kotter, ADKAR
Ask about how they’ve handled conflicting project priorities
Look for behavioural examples around influencing at C-level
Explore their approach to benefits realisation and stakeholder buy-in
Get references that validate delivery, not just relationships
Talk to a Practicus specialist today and we’ll build your shortlist.
Healthcare: NHS transformation, digital records, patient flow
Finance: Regulatory change, platform modernisation
Public Sector: Procurement, service redesign, policy delivery
Technology: Cloud migration, data strategy, ERP deployments
Permanent: For embedded leadership across years of delivery
Interim: Results-focused, often parachuted in during crisis or high change
Contract: Tactical support, ideal for programme phases
| Level | Permanent Salary Range | Day Rate |
|---|---|---|
|
Mid-Level |
£60,000 – £80,000 |
£500 – £700 |
|
Senior |
£80,000 – £120,000+ |
£700 – £1,000+ |
|
Public Sector (NHS) |
Band 8c–9 / £75K–£95K |
£500 – £800 |
Permanent Salary (£60,000–£120,000+):
Practicus internal market intelligence
Hays Salary Guide (2024–2025): Lists Programme Manager salaries typically ranging from £70,000 to £110,000 depending on location, sector, and seniority.
Michael Page Salary Benchmarking: Suggests salaries from £60,000 at mid-level up to £120,000+ for strategic or sector-specific roles (e.g. financial services, tech).
Glassdoor & Reed Data: Aggregated salary data shows a national average around £80,000–£90,000, with variation by region and complexity of the programme.
Interim/Contract Day Rate (£600–£1,000+/day):
Practicus internal market intelligence
Robert Walters and Eton Bridge Partners day rate insights: Benchmark interim programme manager rates between £600–£1,000+, with niche or urgent placements going higher.
IR35-inside roles: Often command slightly lower net rates, but outside-IR35 or specialist roles (e.g. data-heavy, regulatory programmes) push to £1,200/day or more.
Sector and size of organisation
Programme complexity and visibility
Contract duration and IR35 status (for interim)
Location and hybrid/remote flexibility
Scarcity of niche skills (e.g. data, regulatory)
Confusing project and programme management
Underestimating the importance of stakeholder influence
Prioritising pace over strategic alignment
Not defining outcomes clearly at the outset
20+ years of change & transformation recruitment expertise
Access to a ready network of proven programme leaders
Fast, consultative shortlisting — permanent or interim
Pre-vetted talent with sector, cultural and strategic fit
Thousands of pre-qualified programme managers
Sector specialists who understand your challenges
Transparent, people-first recruitment process
Trusted by public and private sector clients for over two decades
“Practicus found us a brilliant programme lead in record time — they just got what we needed.”
– Transformation Director, Healthcare Provider
“They understood our sector, didn’t waste time, and delivered exactly what they promised.”
– Head of Change, Financial Services Firm
Let’s help you find the right person to lead your change and transformation agenda. Get in touch today and start building your shortlist.
Director
Sam heads up our recruitment teams across Interim Management, Executive Search and Permanent Hires.
See our candidate section with links to our current programme manager roles:
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