Programme Director - Foundations

Description

Heathrow delivers one of the largest capital investment portfolios in the UK, with forecast investment of between £1.3bn and £2bn per annum over the next five years. This role sits within the Development function, which holds accountability for delivering all non‑technology, digital, and data programmes, and requires strong leadership to navigate the scale and complexity of Heathrow’s capital programme portfolio. 

This individual will lead and inspire a large, multidisciplinary team to deliver solutions that support safe and secure operations, maintain passenger experience standards, and minimise asset risk within a highly complex and sensitive operational environment. The Programme Director ensures integration and alignment across internal and external functions, securing buy‑in to proposed solutions while maintaining accountability for delivering intended benefits and shaping strategic business cases for the Operations function.

Success in this role depends on effective leadership across a diverse network of programme supplier partners and close collaboration with senior stakeholders, including the Heathrow Executive team, Engineering Director, Operations teams, and the Infrastructure Delivery Director. Operating within a highly regulated environment, the role ensures all programme solutions demonstrate value for money, meet compliance requirements, and reflect robust stakeholder engagement. Reporting to the Major Programme Director, the role holds accountability for several significant projects totalling multi-billion pounds, including the Asset Management and Compliance Programme, Terminal 4 Front Door, and the overarching programme management of the Terminal 2 Baggage programme, which is currently in delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple Heathrow capital programmes, ensuring delivery aligns with approved business cases while mitigating asset risk and maintaining safe, effective operational performance.
• Define and shape programme solutions to meet business needs, ensuring assets are operable, maintainable, and deliver value across the full lifecycle from initial delivery through to long‑term operation.
• Embed and promote safety in design and delivery, fostering a strong safety culture that supports safe construction, operational readiness, and ongoing performance.
• Provide clear strategic direction and governance across programme planning, resource management, quality assurance, change control, risk management, communications, and budget oversight to enable timely, effective decision‑making.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing programme team, managing direct reports and complex, diverse supply chains while driving delivery in a highly scrutinised environment.
• Manage significant capital budgets (multi-billion pounds) both directly and through influencing wider construction spend, driving value through strong supplier partnerships, robust risk management, continuous improvement, and proactive response to market, regulatory, and operational factors.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading complex, engineering‑led infrastructure programmes valued over £100m, with strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, aviation operations, and procurement strategies.
• Chartered Engineer (or equivalent professional accreditation) with a solid grounding in engineering principles and delivery excellence.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability, with a track record of developing innovative, practical solutions to complex challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop large, multidisciplinary teams, including effective procurement, supplier management, and commercial negotiation in complex delivery environments.
• Broad experience in programme and project management methodologies and tools, with the ability to adapt approaches to optimise delivery and value.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships and operate effectively at senior levels across airlines, customers, government, and regulatory bodies, alongside a commitment to continuous improvement and digital innovation.