Strategic Programme Manager, Commercial Client Group

About Us The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide. At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Here, you’re given the chance to reach millions, create work that matters and deliver impartial journalism in a polarised world. In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing. Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you. With no fixed path, you’ll discover new skills and forge a career that can take you anywhere. Build a newsworthy career at the FT. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups. Overview of the Commercial Client Group The Commercial Client Group (CCG) brings together FT Live (events), Advertising, FT Longitude (thought leadership), FT Leaders Academy and print circulation teams to deliver market-leading commercial solutions for the Financial Times’ global client base. The group, led by the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), focuses on bringing value, driving revenue growth, deepening client engagement, and building integrated commercial propositions across the FT portfolio. The Strategy function supports the development and execution of the FT group and division’s strategy. It provides strategic clarity, analytical rigour and programme leadership to drive transformation and accelerate growth. The Strategic Programme Manager is a key member of this function, responsible for translating strategic priorities into structured delivery across business lines and ensuring the execution of high-impact programmes that enable the Commercial Client Group to achieve its goals. Role Purpose The Strategic Programme Manager will lead the execution of business-critical programmes aligned to the Commercial Client Group’s strategy. While the Head of Strategy is responsible for defining strategic direction, the Strategic Programme Manager ensures that programmes are properly scoped, resourced, sequenced and delivered. The role focuses on programmes delivered within the division’s lines of business, working closely with senior stakeholders across each business to ensure momentum, alignment, and measurable impact. This role is both analytical and operational. It requires structured problem-solving, strong programme discipline, and excellent communication. It is well suited to someone with consulting, programme management, or strategy delivery experience who is motivated by turning strategic intent into results. The role works alongside the Head of Strategy, who leads cross-divisional strategy and long-range planning, while the Strategic Programme Manager focuses on delivering programmes within the business lines. Key Responsibilities 1. Programme Leadership and Delivery Lead the planning, structuring, and execution of strategic programmes across FT Live, Longitude, advertising, education, and print ensuring alignment with CCG priorities and strategic direction set by the CCO, Head of Strategy and SLT. Work with leaders to ensure programmes have appropriate resourcing, sequencing and support across teams. Maintain full oversight of programme outcomes, timelines, scope and risks, ensuring high-quality delivery and clear accountability. Translate strategic objectives into operational plans, delivery achievements, and measurable success criteria. Monitor and evaluate programme impact, ensuring benefits are tracked and realised. 2. Cross-Functional Coordination and Stakeholder Management Build strong working relationships with divisional leaders and cross-functional teams including Product & Technology, Editorial, Marketing, Commercial Operations and Finance. Act as a central coordination point for updates and programme governance, ensuring collaborators have clear visibility of progress, blockers and resource needs. Support cross-departmental engagement by gathering business requirements and ensuring programme needs are represented in division-level planning cycles. Manage relationships with third-party suppliers and technology partners where relevant. 3. Analytical Problem-Solving and Business Insight Apply organized, analytical thinking to clarify problems, refine programme scopes, identify decision points and inform prioritisation. Lead analytical workstreams to support programme decisions, including market analysis, financial modelling, case development and performance reviews. Support the Head of Strategy in bringing together insights from different business lines to guide divisional long-term planning. 4. Programme Governance and Operational Effectiveness Establish and run programme governance cycles, including steering groups, working groups and reporting cadences. Ensure governance processes drive timely decisions, resolve blockers, and maintain clear ownership across workstreams. Identify risks and issues early, propose solutions, and advance appropriately with clear options and implications. Promote standard process in programme management, championing operational excellence, repeatable processes, and continuous improvement. 5. Driving Alignment and Change Across Business Lines Ensure each business unit’s delivery plans are consistent with divisional priorities and contribute to reducing duplication and increasing clarity of focus. Support the adoption of new processes, systems and ways of working to ensure programmes embed effectively within each business line. Foster collaboration, clarity and accountability across programme teams. Skills and Experience Required Essential Experience in programme or project management, transformation delivery, internal consulting, or strategy execution in a complex, matrixed organisation. Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to structure ambiguous challenges, integrate analysis into decisions, and drive insight-led recommendations. Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and maintain momentum across multiple teams. Robust communication and storytelling capabilities, able to craft clear narratives and briefing materials for senior audiences. Demonstrable experience managing cross-functional workstreams to successful delivery, ideally including technology-enabled programmes and process change initiatives. Strong planning and organisational skills, able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Familiarity with case development, commercial analysis or P&L understanding. Comfort operating with a high degree of autonomy and taking ownership for outcomes. Desirable Experience in media, information, events or professional services. Experience working closely with Product & Technology teams or managing technology-driven programmes. Management consulting experience or internal strategy experience. What Success Looks Like Strategic programmes across FT Live, Longitude, Ads, Education and Print Circulation progress smoothly, deliver measurable impact and remain aligned with divisional goals. Senior partners feel well supported, informed and confident in the delivery process. The Head of Strategy has clear visibility of programme health and can focus on cross-divisional and long-range strategic work. The Strategy function gains a reputation for rigour, clarity and execution excellence. The division experiences improved alignment, reduced duplication and stronger delivery discipline across major initiatives, contributing to clearer priorities and improved execution velocity. The CCG improves its commercial performance (revenue and profit). What’s in it for You?Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here. We’ve embraced a 50% hybrid working model (averaging two to three days onsite) that fosters trust and remote adaptability while encouraging in-person camaraderie and peer learning. Additionally, we are open to accommodating specific flexible working pattern requests for all roles where feasible. AccessibilityWe are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments/personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help. Further InformationAt the FT, we embrace innovation and the use of technology and appreciate that individuals may leverage AI tools as part of their job application process. Whilst we are happy for you to use AI to assist with your application, it is essential that all information provided is authentic and accurately represents your skills, experience, and qualifications.Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process may be monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all.Please beware of fraudulent job postings and offers claiming to be from the Financial Times. All legitimate opportunities will direct you to apply through the official Financial Times careers site, and the FT will never ask for financial information, payments, or referrals to third parties during the hiring process. If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a job posting or suspect any scam activity, please contact talent@ft.com. #LI-KF1