Planning Manager

A leading pan-European financial services group is seeking a European Planning Manager to join its evolving Technology function. The organisation spans several major European markets with a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and strategic transformation across its business and IT landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment and rollout of the Change Delivery Framework for both Waterfall and Agile practices, ensuring strong governance and measurable quality standards.
• Define, standardise, and continuously enhance project delivery processes, including the creation of RACIs, capability models, and integration of emerging best practices.
• Act as European Product Owner for Clarity (Portfolio and Projects System of Record), managing backlog prioritisation and coordinating with global stakeholders.
• Drive the adoption of Strategic Portfolio Management tooling, ensuring business readiness and end-user support through training and change management.
• Champion PMO standardisation by building repositories, templates, and best-practice libraries for consistent and high-quality delivery across regions.
• Collaborate closely with Finance and Architecture Governance teams to embed robust Demand Planning processes across the enterprise.
• Evaluate and enhance governance models, enabling greater visibility into change initiatives and facilitating rapid decision-making at senior levels.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Knowledge & Experience

• Proven experience leading large-scale IT and Business Change initiatives.
• Strong working knowledge of Agile and Waterfall methodologies and their respective governance frameworks.
• Track record of driving adoption of project/portfolio management tools (e.g., Clarity, Planview).
• Expertise in programme governance, demand planning, and PMO leadership.

Interpersonal & Leadership Skills

• Excellent communicator and influencer with strong stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Confident in challenging the status quo to improve outcomes and drive value.
• Ability to mobilise and motivate cross-regional PMO communities.
• Adept at securing resources and aligning diverse stakeholders to common standards.

Core Competencies

• Innovative Thinker: Encourages experimentation and process improvement.
• Technically Strong: Deep understanding of the full delivery lifecycle and related tools.
• Collaborative Leader: Builds bridges across functions and fosters partnerships.
• Resilient & Driven: Stays focused under pressure and leads by example.