Senior Program Director

Senior Programme Director - Core Banking Transformation

Edinburgh / London (Hybrid) | Executive Leadership Role | Competitive Day Rate + Permanent Option

Lead One of the UK's Most Ambitious Banking Transformations

We're seeking an experienced Programme Director to spearhead a large-scale Core Banking Modernisation programme for a leading retail banking organisation.

This is a unique contract-to-permanent opportunity for a senior transformation leader who thrives in complex environments and wants to leave a lasting legacy. You'll initially join on a contract basis to lead a strategic transformation programme, with a clear pathway into a permanent leadership position as the programme evolves.

Working closely with executive stakeholders, technology leadership, architecture teams and business leaders, you'll be responsible for shaping and delivering the future banking platform that will underpin the organisation's growth, innovation and customer experience for years to come.

The Role

This is a high-profile leadership position with responsibility for driving a multi-year transformation programme focused on modernising core banking capabilities, simplifying legacy platforms and enabling next‑generation digital banking services.

You will own programme strategy, delivery governance, stakeholder engagement, risk management and benefits realisation while ensuring business continuity throughout a complex transformation journey.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of a major Core Banking Modernisation programme.
• Define and execute the transformation roadmap aligned to business and technology strategy.
• Drive migration from legacy banking platforms to modern cloud-enabled architectures.
• Build strong partnerships across Technology, Operations, Product, Risk and Executive leadership.
• Establish effective programme governance, controls and reporting at Board and Executive level.
• Manage large multidisciplinary teams, third‑party vendors and systems integration partners.
• Ensure regulatory, operational resilience and risk requirements are embedded throughout delivery.
• Deliver business outcomes through simplification, automation and platform transformation.
• Create a high‑performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration and delivery excellence.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience leading large-scale Core Banking or Banking Platform transformation programmes.
• Extensive background within Retail Banking, Commercial Banking or Financial Services.
• Demonstrable success delivering complex technology transformation initiatives exceeding £50m+ budgets.
• Strong understanding of modern banking architecture, cloud technologies, APIs and platform modernisation.
• Experience operating at Executive, CIO, CTO and Board stakeholder level.
• Exceptional programme leadership, governance and commercial management capability.
• Track record of leading large teams through significant organisational and technology change.

Highly Desirable

• Core Banking migration experience.
• Banking platform replacement or modernisation programmes.
• Cloud transformation experience across large enterprise environments.
• Payments, Ledger, Deposits, Lending or Customer Platform transformation expertise.
• Knowledge of modern engineering practices, automation and AI‑enabled operating models.

Why Join?

• Opportunity to lead a genuinely business-critical banking transformation.
• Significant influence over technology and business strategy.
• Direct engagement with senior executives and key decision makers.
• Contract flexibility with long-term permanent leadership prospects.
• Hybrid working with offices in Edinburgh and London.
• High‑profile programme with substantial investment and executive sponsorship.

Ideal Background

We are particularly interested in candidates who have previously operated as:

• Transformation Director
• Core Banking Director
• Enterprise Transformation Lead
• Technology Delivery Director

within major retail banking, challenger banking or financial services organisations.

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