Transformation Programme Director

Opportunity Alert: Transformation Programme Director at Elsevier – Shape the Future of Enterprise-Wide Change

For ambitious and strategic programme leaders, the role of Transformation Programme Director at Elsevier presents a compelling opportunity to drive significant, enterprise-wide transformation and deliver tangible, measurable impact. This position is ideal for individuals who not only excel at managing complex initiatives but are also passionate about orchestrating change that creates lasting business value.

About the Programme Delivery Office:

You'll be joining a dynamic Programme Delivery Office comprised of seasoned experts in Project Management, Change Management, Programme Management, and Digital Transformation. This team is instrumental in spearheading transformational initiatives across Elsevier's analytical and digital ecosystem. Their core mission is to enable strategic execution that yields measurable value for customers, teams, and the business, fostering innovation and efficiency through global partnerships.

The Role: A Strategic Orchestrator for Sustained Outcomes

As the Transformation Programme Director, you will be a senior leader responsible for translating strategy into sustained business outcomes. This role extends beyond traditional programme delivery. You will:

• Shape the Target Operating Model: Contribute to defining the future state of operations.
• Orchestrate Multi-faceted Change: Lead transformation across processes, data, technology, and people.
• Ensure Value Realization: Drive and report on the strategic benefits of the transformation.

Initially, you will lead the critical Polaris Programme. This multi-phase transformation is designed to harmonize and optimize Elsevier's Lead-to-Invoice processes and capabilities across all business units. You will be instrumental in managing a roadmap that integrates best-in-class sales practices, process excellence, robust data foundations, and AI/automation to build a scalable, future-ready revenue platform.

Joining during the early stages of Phase 1 (Process Harmonisation), you will focus on establishing a common blueprint, driving adoption, and harmonizing ways of working. Subsequent phases will focus on business onboarding, wider adoption, and the full realization of strategic benefits. Collaboration with senior stakeholders, project managers, and delivery teams will be key to ensuring clear governance, alignment, and the delivery of impactful outcomes.

Key Responsibilities for Driving Impact:

• Strategic Delivery: Direct programme outcomes aligned with strategic business objectives, focusing on transformation and long-term value.
• Pragmatic Governance: Establish effective governance, dependency management, and decision rights across programmes and functions.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Develop trusted relationships with senior executives to facilitate decision-making and global alignment.
• Transparent Communication: Communicate progress clearly to all levels, from executives to front-line teams, and proactively escalate risks.
• Rigorous Controls: Safeguard scope, schedule, budget, and quality through meticulous RAID management, dependency tracking, and change control.
• Team Empowerment: Support and empower project teams, holding them accountable for outcome-based milestones and redirecting non-value-adding activities.

What We're Looking For in a Candidate:

• Proven Transformation Leadership: Demonstrated experience in leading large-scale Sales / Lead-to-Invoice / Salesforce transformations within complex, global matrix organizations.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of commercial aspects, including vendor and budget management.
• Executive Influence: Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills at the executive level.
• Strategic Clarity: Ability to simplify complex challenges, bring clarity to multiple workstreams, and think strategically.
• Value-Centric Delivery: A strong track record of delivering value through OKRs, benefits realization, and adoption metrics.
• Team Motivation: Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate diverse teams, fostering engagement through a shared purpose and clear outcomes.
• Consultative Approach: Comfortable leading collaboratively across business and technology domains.
• Matrix Management Expertise: Experience matrix managing teams of varying sizes and capabilities, adapting motivational and development strategies as needed.

The Ideal Candidate Profile:

You are a confident and empathetic leader who thrives in complex environments. You have a talent for bringing structure to ambiguity, fostering alignment among diverse stakeholders, and inspiring teams to achieve transformative change. Your blend of strategic insight and execution discipline ensures that programmes deliver measurable outcomes that propel business goals forward.

Why This Opportunity is Compelling:

• Career Advancement: This role offers a significant opportunity to advance your career by leading a high-impact, strategic transformation.
• Meaningful Impact: Contribute to a global leader in information and analytics, helping to advance science and improve health outcomes for society. Your work will directly support visionary science, research, health education, and healthcare practice.
• Innovative Environment: Join a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
• Work-Life Balance & Wellbeing: Elsevier is committed to promoting a healthy work/life balance with initiatives like flexible working hours, comprehensive wellbeing support, and generous leave entitlements.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive pension plan, allowances, generous vacation, maternity/paternity/adoption and family care leave, and a personal choice budget.

This is more than just a programme management role; it's an invitation to be at the forefront of enterprise-wide change, driving significant business outcomes and contributing to a more sustainable future. If you are ready to take on a challenging and rewarding leadership position, we encourage you to explore this exciting opportunity.