Workday Programme Director (Client-Side Transformation Lead) | London hybrid | Immediate start

Location: London (City) hybrid, 2-3 days per week on site Start: September 2026 (subject to onboarding and client approval) We are supporting a leading global insurance organisation undergoing a major enterprise HR transformation and are seeking an experienced Workday Programme Director to provide client-side leadership of a complex global Workday implementation. This is not a Workday configuration, product ownership or HR systems management role. We are looking for a senior programme leader who can take ownership of a live transformation programme, manage system integrators and delivery partners, establish programme cadence, own governance, and drive delivery momentum across multiple workstreams. You will operate as the senior client-side authority for programme delivery, ensuring the programme remains on track, risks are proactively managed, decisions are made at pace, and delivery partners are held accountable. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating independently, challenging assumptions, proposing solutions, and influencing senior stakeholders without requiring detailed direction. What Success Looks Like Within the first few weeks, you will be expected to: • Establish clear delivery priorities and programme cadence. • Assess current delivery risks and dependencies. • Challenge and validate delivery plans. • Drive accountability across Deloitte and other programme partners. • Lead governance forums and executive reporting. • Provide recommendations rather than simply status updates. • Anticipate issues before they become risks. • Create clarity, structure and momentum across a fast-moving programme. Key Responsibilities Programme Leadership • Take overall client-side accountability for successful programme delivery. • Drive all aspects of programme execution from mobilisation through deployment and stabilisation. • Establish and maintain realistic delivery plans, milestones and dependencies. • Ensure workstreams remain aligned to programme objectives. System Integrator & Vendor Management • Act as the primary client-side counterpart to Deloitte and other delivery partners. • Hold vendors and system integrators accountable for delivery commitments. • Challenge scope, timelines, assumptions and resource plans where required. • Escalate and resolve delivery issues quickly and effectively. Governance & Executive Engagement • Establish and lead Steering Committees, Programme Boards and governance forums. • Drive risk, issue, decision and dependency management. • Provide concise executive reporting focused on key decisions and delivery outcomes. • Engage effectively with C-suite stakeholders across HR, Technology and Operations. Delivery Management • Own programme RAID logs, governance frameworks and reporting mechanisms. • Maintain focus on critical-path activities and immediate delivery priorities. • Ensure programme readiness across design, build, testing, deployment and transition. • Drive corrective action when delivery milestones are at risk. Financial & Commercial Management • Oversee programme budgets, forecasts and resource plans. • Track benefits realisation and programme value. • Manage commercial discussions with delivery partners where required. Essential Experience We are specifically looking for individuals who have: • Extensive experience leading large-scale Workday programmes as the accountable Programme Director or Client-Side Programme Lead. • Proven track record delivering complex global HR transformation programmes involving multiple workstreams, geographies and stakeholders. • Strong understanding of Workday HCM and broader HR transformation journeys. • Extensive experience managing large system integrators, consulting partners and third-party delivery organisations. • Demonstrable experience establishing and running programme governance at Executive Committee, Steering Committee or Board level. • Strong programme management capability, including ownership of plans, milestones, dependencies, RAID management and executive reporting. • Experience managing programme budgets, forecasts, resource plans and financial controls. • Proven ability to hold suppliers, workstream leads and delivery teams accountable for outcomes. • Demonstrable experience rescuing, stabilising or re-planning programmes that are at risk. • Ability to operate independently with minimal direction in complex environments. • Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Comfortable operating at Executive Committee and C-suite level. Desirable Experience • Experience delivering Workday programmes within the insurance sector. • Experience within financial services, banking, asset management or other highly regulated industries. • Experience leading programmes impacting 10,000+ employees across multiple countries. • Experience managing enterprise-scale transformation programmes involving organisational change, operating model redesign and HR technology implementation. We're looking for someone who • Brings gravitas and credibility when working with senior executives. • Leads through action rather than facilitation. • Takes ownership and drives activity without waiting for instruction. • Creates structure, pace and accountability in complex programmes. • Can challenge delivery partners and senior stakeholders constructively. • Thinks several steps ahead and anticipates issues before they materialise. • Produces recommendations and solutions, not simply updates and observations. • Can rapidly determine priorities in ambiguous programme environments. • Is comfortable making informed decisions and course corrections before issues become critical. • Has a reputation for creating momentum, accountability and delivery focus across complex transformation programmes. • Thrives in high-profile, high-visibility delivery environments. About Vantage Point Vantage Point Global is a fully committed inclusive employer. We are passionate about attracting diverse talent, and welcome applications regardless of ethnicity, culture, age, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.