Senior Global Skills Excellence Program Manager (contract) at Microsoft, Reading, £215 per day

Please note that this is a contract role providing services to Microsoft through external staffing partners of Allegis Global Solutions (AGS). If you are selected for this role, you will be employed by AGS and will not be an employee of Microsoft.

Role Overview

This role is a senior programme management position focused on leading and scaling Microsoft’s “Skill the Nation” initiative in the UK. It involves shaping the overall strategy, building a 12-month execution plan, and driving delivery through strong coordination across internal teams, partners, and government stakeholders. The role requires translating strategy into a practical go-to-market approach while ensuring clear governance, tracking, and measurable outcomes. You will act as the central point of alignment, driving stakeholder collaboration and ensuring programme success. Ultimately, the role is about delivering large-scale skilling impact and building sustained engagement across the UK ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Define and document the end-to-end strategy (“Strategy on a Page”) including objectives, audiences, and success metrics
• Build and maintain a 12-month programme roadmap with clear milestones, dependencies, and risks (RAID log)
• Create executive-ready artefacts such as progress reports, roadmaps, and stakeholder updates
  
  

Programme Governance & Delivery

• Establish governance frameworks including planning cadence, tracking, decision logs, and reporting
• Drive alignment across multiple stakeholders and ensure smooth programme execution
• Identify risks, gaps, and dependencies, and lead mitigation planning
  
  

Go-to-Market Execution

• Translate strategy into a clear GTM plan including communications, activation, and engagement journeys
• Develop execution tools such as playbooks, workback plans, and readiness checkpoints
• Coordinate across teams to ensure successful programme launch and sustained momentum
  
  

Stakeholder & Partnership Management

• Act as the central coordination point across internal teams, leadership, partners, and government bodies
• Build and manage a stakeholder engagement plan and partnership pipeline
• Support collaboration with external agencies to scale programme impact
  
  

Measurement & Reporting

• Define KPIs, success metrics, and reporting frameworks
• Deliver regular leadership updates with insights, risks, and recommendations
• Drive continuous improvement using performance data and feedback
  
  

Employee Engagement & Communications

• Develop and execute internal communications for UK employees
• Create reusable communication assets (messaging, FAQs, leader briefs)
• Run feedback loops and incorporate insights into programme improvements
  
  

Must-Have Skills

• Strong programme management experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience building strategy and executing large-scale programmes end-to-end
• Proven ability to develop and execute Go-to-Market (GTM) plans
• Excellent stakeholder management, including senior leadership engagement
• Experience creating programme governance structures, roadmaps, and KPI tracking
• Strong communication skills with ability to create executive-level presentations
  
  

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Experience in skilling, learning, or education programmes
• Exposure to AI, digital transformation, or technology initiatives
• Experience working with public sector or government stakeholders
• Background in consulting, strategy, or transformation roles
  
  

Additional Details

• Location: Paddington, London (Hybrid)
• Duration: Until 30th June 2027
• Shift Timings: Monday to Friday (business hours)
• Pay Range: £215/day to £242/day (PAYE)
• Weekly Schedule: 40 hours
  
  

As a workplace, Allegis Global Solutions focuses on relationships – with each other, our clients and our candidates. In fact, serving others is one of our core values. We support open communication and recognize that giving constructive criticism can be even harder than receiving it. We appreciate the fearless and the passionate, who force us to be better. Everything we do sits on a pillar of diversity, equity and inclusion - diverse perspectives, backgrounds and ideas achieve innovation and make us successful.

Please note that we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position. These tools may analyze application materials and assist our team in identifying candidates whose qualifications best match the requirements of the role. If you have questions about our use of AI in the hiring process, or would like more information, please contact us.

Pay Rate Range

215 - 242 EUR daily