Programme Lead – Strategic Infrastructure Delivery
International Engineering & Construction | Ukraine and UK based | Executive Leadership | Full Portfolio Control | 6 month fixed term contract with future prospect for permanent position
The Opportunity
We're seeking an exceptional Programme Lead to take strategic ownership of major construction and infrastructure delivery programmes operating across challenging, international environments. This is a position for someone with the experience, confidence, and commercial acumen to step into a leadership role that combines hands-on programme management with strategic portfolio oversight.
The Scale: Large-scale infrastructure programmes, full lifecycle delivery from concept through handover, multi-disciplinary teams, complex stakeholder landscapes, and ambitious growth.
The Geography: 70% time in Ukraine, 30% UK-based. This is genuine international project delivery in a demanding but secure operational environment.
The Role: You'll own delivery of all programme objectives, drive governance and risk management, lead stakeholder engagement at executive level, manage commercial strategy and change control, and – critically - identify and pursue opportunities to expand the portfolio beyond current clients.
The Reality: You'll manage programmes worth tens of millions, negotiate with clients and suppliers, make commercial decisions, develop cost strategies, chair governance forums, and build the team around you. You're accountable for success - financial, technical, and strategic.
What Success Looks Like
Strategic Leadership You'll maintain the integrated master programme and drive delivery against milestones and budgets. You'll chair quarterly governance reviews, lead design coordination, and escalate strategic risks to senior leadership. Your master schedules, risk registers, and governance dashboards will be the foundation of how these programmes operate.
Commercial & Contractual Excellence You'll manage emergent works processes, develop quotations, enforce change control, and navigate complex contractual frameworks (NEC, JCT, DEFCON). You'll oversee procurement strategy, manage subcontractor networks, and make the commercial calls that protect margin and delivery. You're comfortable negotiating with clients and suppliers at senior level.
Stakeholder & Executive Engagement You'll be the primary point of contact for client delivery discussions. You'll manage relationships with government stakeholders, chair programme reviews, support commercial negotiations, and represent the programme at senior level. You'll communicate progress, risks, and strategy clearly and confidently to executives and clients alike.
Technical & Quality Assurance You understand building codes, compliance standards, and construction methodology. You'll drive design assurance at key stages, embed lessons learned, oversee quality processes, and ensure international standards compliance across all delivery phases.
Risk Management & Safety You'll maintain the programme risk register, monitor mitigation strategies, oversee site safety compliance, and investigate incidents. You lead by example on safety and drive a culture of compliance and continuous improvement.
Growth & Business Development As directed, you'll support business development activities - responding to tenders, developing schedules, building cost estimates, and contributing to technical responses. You'll identify and propose expansion opportunities to grow the portfolio beyond current scope.
Team Leadership & Development You'll manage a team directly, ensure succession planning, identify skills gaps, develop talent, and maintain an inclusive, safe working environment. You're responsible for your team's performance and professional growth.
Who This Is For
Essential Experience
- 10+ years managing large-scale construction programmes through full lifecycle: concept, design, procurement, construction, handover
- Proven track record in complex, regulated, or defence-adjacent environments
- Strong commercial background with NEC, JCT, or government contract frameworks
- Multi-disciplinary team leadership across engineering, construction, and supplier networks
- Programme-level risk management and governance
- Senior stakeholder engagement experience
Essential Qualifications
- Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or equivalent professional experience
- Recognised Project/Programme qualification: APM PMQ, PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMP, or MSP
- CSCS card or equivalent site safety certification
Technical & Soft Skills
- Deep understanding of construction methods, building codes, and compliance
- Proficiency in scheduling tools
- Strong grasp of health & safety legislation and quality assurance
- Strategic thinking paired with tactical execution
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills
- Ability to work in challenging, austere, or international environments
What Sets You Apart (Desirable)
- Chartered status (ICE, CIOB, RICS)
- Postgraduate qualification (MBA, Programme Management, Construction Law)
- Experience delivering in international or expeditionary environments
- Familiarity with MOD standards or security-cleared infrastructure projects
- Sustainability frameworks and digital construction tools (BIM)
- Language capability for international work
The Challenge & Opportunity
This is not routine programme management. You'll be building portfolio resilience, identifying growth opportunities, managing ambitious timelines, navigating complex stakeholder landscapes, and making commercial decisions that impact substantial budgets.
The programme is growing. The role includes responsibility for identifying and pursuing expansion opportunities - moving beyond the current scope and client base into new markets and projects. You'll shape how this portfolio evolves.
You'll work in a genuinely international environment - Ukraine is operationally secure but strategically important. You'll need to be adaptable, resilient, and comfortable with some ambiguity. But the infrastructure you're building matters. The programmes you manage deliver real impact.
Why This Role
Scale & Impact: You'll deliver tens of millions in infrastructure delivery. Your decisions influence outcomes, timelines, and financial performance.
Portfolio Growth: The portfolio is intended to expand imminently. You're not inheriting a static remit - you're building something that grows.
Genuine Leadership: You own delivery. You're not managing tasks; you're managing programmes, decisions, and strategy.
International Opportunity: Ukraine-based delivery with UK support is becoming increasingly attractive to senior professionals seeking genuine international experience.
Executive Exposure: You'll engage regularly with senior stakeholders, clients, and leadership. You're building executive presence and influence.
What We're Offering
- FTC: 6 month fixed term contract with potential option for further extension or permanent position
- Strategic role: Full portfolio accountability and growth opportunity
- International platform: 30/70 UK/Ukraine split, genuine international project experience
- Autonomy: You own delivery. You make the commercial calls.
- Team to build: Direct reports and the opportunity to shape capability
- Growth trajectory: Portfolio expansion creates clear path to increased scope and responsibility
Next Steps
If you recognise yourself in this brief - if you've delivered large-scale infrastructure programmes, managed complex stakeholders, made commercial decisions on major projects, and you're looking for genuine strategic leadership opportunity in an international context - we'd like to talk.
Send a brief message outlining your programme delivery background, the scale of programmes you've managed, and why this role appeals to you. We're moving quickly on this, and we're looking for someone ready to step in and own delivery.
Applications to: shereesew@scantec.co.uk
All enquiries handled in strictest confidence.
