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Change Programme Director

Knutsford, United Kingdom

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Date live: 14/10/2025

Business Area: Wholesale Shared Services

Area of Expertise: Change

Contract: Permanent

Reference Code: JR-0000074520

Barclays Change

Change leads and oversees transformational change initiatives at Barclays. Your role will involve managing projects and programs that drive strategic improvements and ensure successful implementation of change across the organization.

Job functional knowledge

  • Role holder requires 15+ years of experience in financial services, with significant exposure to regulatory change, compliance, risk management, and transformation.
  • A proven track record of leading large-scale, cross-functional change programs and deep knowledge of global financial regulations and supervisory expectations.
  • Having a deep understanding of payment systems will be a distinct advantage, including;
  • Clearing & settlement (domestic and international), ISO 20022 migrations and account-to-account innovation.
  • Deep knowledge of Payments Scheme regulatory environment (CHAPS, Fed, CHIPS, Euro1, Target2, RBI, CHATS, MEPS, SEPA).

Business expertise

  • Role holder will ensure a proactive and forward-looking approach to managing change across global jurisdictions.
  • Define and implement programme structures to ensure successful delivery of client propositions across; technology, business operations, products, services, and supporting functions.
  • Oversee the design and delivery of end-to-end change programs from initial strategy and impact analysis to implementation and post-implementation reviews.
  • Partnering with Business functions,  Legal, Compliance, Risk, Technology, and Operations to drive timely and compliant change execution.

Problem-solving

  • Role holder will have an ability to deliver within a changing landscape and show an ability to navigate complex, high impact challenges.
  • The role holder will need to proactively identify issues, assess risks, and anticipate developments to deliver sustainable enterprise wide solutions.
  • This will require influencing of MD stakeholders, with diverse interests to reach consensus across multiple Business Units.

Leadership

  • Role holder will be responsible for leading the strategic management and execution of change initiatives across the bank. Including both direct reports and a large virtual diverse team spanning multiple countries / locations.

Interpersonal skills

  • Role requires the ability to build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across all levels of the organisation. To serve as a trusted advisor to senior management on change impacts and make recommendations on the best execution approach, providing clear, concise updates to BU and COO Executive committees on a regular basis.
  • In leading the team the role holder will be able to demonstrate an ability to develop future leaders by mentoring high potential talent and building a high performing team

Purpose of the role

Responsible for broader, strategic objectives across multiple projects, with a long-term, cross-functional focus.

Accountabilities

  • Scope Management: Oversees a collection of related projects that together aim to achieve broader strategic business objectives. Their focus is on the long-term benefits and ensuring the alignment of projects with the organization’s goals.
  • Strategic Focus: Focuses on strategic, high-level outcomes. They are responsible for the overall success and continuous alignment of projects to the organization’s business strategy.
  • Time Horizon: Typically works over a longer time horizon, as programs may span months or years and involve multiple phases and projects.
  • Stakeholder Management: Manages a wide range of stakeholders across various projects, including executives, project managers, and external clients. They ensure communication and alignment across all projects within the program.
  • Risk and Issue Management: Manages risks and issues at a higher level, focusing on cross-project dependencies and potential impacts on the broader program or business strategy..
  • Resource Management: Responsible for allocating resources across multiple projects, balancing priorities, and ensuring that resources are used efficiently across the program.
  • Financial Management: Manages the overall program budget, tracking the financial health of multiple projects and ensuring that the program as a whole delivers value.
  • Metrics: Measures success based on the cumulative benefits delivered by all the projects within the program. They look at business outcomes, value creation, and alignment with strategic goals.
  • Change Management: Deals with change at a macro level, ensuring that changes across projects are managed cohesively and don’t negatively impact the overall program.

Director Expectations

  • To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
  • They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
  • Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
  • Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
  • Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
  • Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
  • Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
  • Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
  • Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
  • Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
  • Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
  • Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
  • Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
  • Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Barclays welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments (accommodations) are put in place to allow for a fair and inclusive recruitment process. For more information and how to request one, please review Adjustments to the recruitment process.

We’re a global, vital and highly respected financial organisation with an inspiring Purpose. Operating in 39 countries and employing around 100,000 people across the world, we help communities, individuals and businesses thrive. And we’ve created financial solutions and technology that the world now takes for granted. A career with us can offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience, and the chance to learn from some of the best minds in technology and finance.

To find out more about Barclays' strategy please click here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and opposed to discrimination on any grounds. It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Barclays is required by law to confirm that you have the Legal Right to Work in any role that you apply for. If you currently hold a work visa sponsored by Barclays, or you would require sponsorship from Barclays, you must declare this as part of your application. Sponsored visas are role and entity specific and any changes must be reviewed. It is important that you ensure you are working on the correct visa at all times. Failure to accurately disclose your visa status or Legal Right to Work may result in your application or any employment offer being withdrawn at any time.

This is Barclays Manchester

Barclays Knutsford is a world-class campus in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, and at the centre of our global operations. The place where it all happens. The place where we deliver the technology, security and customer care that our personal and corporate banking customers rely on 24/7/365.

Our redeveloped campus offers state-of-the art, collaborative workspaces set within 64 acres of lush gardens and surrounded by wildlife.

To ensure our campus is accessible to everyone, we offer a shuttle bus from the local bus, tram, and train stations on weekdays.

There are endless opportunities to socialise, pursue personal interests, visit the onsite gym, or join one of our many clubs and groups.

We run amazing experiences, from firework displays to gigs, diverse celebrations and art & crafts sessions. There’s something for you.

This is Barclays Manchester

Barclays Knutsford is a world-class campus in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, and at the centre of our global operations. The place where it all happens. The place where we deliver the technology, security and customer care that our personal and corporate banking customers rely on 24/7/365.

A workplace like no other

Our redeveloped campus offers state-of-the art, collaborative workspaces set within 64 acres of lush gardens and surrounded by wildlife.

Your commute

To ensure our campus is accessible to everyone, we offer a shuttle bus from the local bus, tram, and train stations on weekdays.

Much more than work

There are endless opportunities to socialise, pursue personal interests, visit the onsite gym, or join one of our many clubs and groups.

Immersive events

We run amazing experiences, from firework displays to gigs, diverse celebrations and art & crafts sessions. There’s something for you.

Multicultural ERGs at Barclays

Be you. Be valued. Belong.

We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings, believing our differences make us stronger and drive success.

You can learn more about our commitment to our colleague on our Inclusion and Opportunities page.

Learn more

Application Process

Your application

We’ll ask for information about you, your CV and cover letter.

1

Your assessment

Covering your behaviours and ability at work.

2

Your interview

Exploring your past experiences and skills.

3

Next step

We’ll request additional information so that you can complete our screening process

4
Barclays

Working flexibly

We’re committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture and environment for you to work in. This environment recognises and supports your personal needs, alongside the professional needs of our business. If you'd like to explore flexible working arrangements, please discuss this with the hiring manager. Your request will be reviewed in-line with the requirements of the role/business needs of the team.

Hybrid working

We have a structured approach to hybrid working, where colleagues work at an onsite location on fixed, ‘anchor’, days, as set by the business area. Please discuss the working pattern requirements for the role you are applying for with the hiring manager. Please note that working arrangements may be subject to change on reasonable notice to ensure we meet the needs of our business.

Barclays is built on an international scale.

Our geographic reach, our wide variety of functions, businesses, roles and locations reflect the rich diversity of our worldwide customer base. All of which means we offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience.
And the chance to learn from a globally diverse mix of colleagues, including some of the very best minds in banking, finance, technology and business. Throughout, we’ll encourage you to embrace mobility, exploring every part of our operations as you build your career.

Find more information

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Multicultural ERGs at Barclays

Be you. Be valued. Belong.

We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings, believing our differences make us stronger and drive success.

You can learn more about our commitment to our colleague on our Inclusion and Opportunities page.

Learn more