Head of Strategic Programme

About Us Joining the Hakim Group means becoming part of a close-knit family of independent Optical practices across the UK and Ireland. A career where empowerment, innovation, and unwavering support create a truly fulfilling experience. A career that’s not just fulfilling but a bit like joining a secret club of the happiest eye-care professionals. We are seeking a Head of Strategic Programme to support our ambitious growth journey. About The Role We’re on the lookout for a strategic, hands-on leader to help us turn big ideas into real impact. This role is all about driving transformation across the business—bringing our long-term ambitions to life through a well-defined and energising Value Creation Plan (VCP). You’ll be the connector between strategy and execution, making sure initiatives are clear, prioritised, and delivered with purpose. If you love turning vision into action and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, this could be the perfect fit. Key Roles & Responsibilities Work closely with our Executive Leadership Team (ELT), senior leaders, and our investment partners at ICG to shape and deliver a bold VCP aligned with our 2030 Vision. Lead the charge on operational transformation—ensuring every strategic initiative is clearly scoped, prioritised, and delivered on time. Turn ideas into actionable plans by: Defining key initiatives and programme charters. Mapping out financial benefits and investment needs. Analysing data to support smart decision-making. Building clear roadmaps with milestones and financial impact timelines. Setting up KPIs and dashboards to track progress. Putting in place strong governance and risk management frameworks. Be the go-to person for senior stakeholders—keeping communication clear and everyone aligned. Support the ELT with presentations, workshops, and decision-making tools. Champion collaboration across teams and levels, always keeping commercial impact front and centre. Regularly share progress with the ELT, key leaders, and ICG. The Ideal Candidate We’re looking for someone who’s not just experienced, but also approachable, curious, and ready to roll up their sleeves. Experience : You’ve got a solid background in management consulting or transformation roles, ideally in PE-backed businesses. Experience in retail, healthcare, organisation design, and M&A roll-ups is a big plus. Familiarity with omnichannel and digital transformation is also helpful. Project Leadership : You know how to lead complex programmes and deliver results. You’re organised, focused, and great at keeping things moving. Commercial & Analytical Skills : You’re comfortable with data and love solving problems. You make decisions based on facts and always keep the bigger picture in mind. Stakeholder Influence : You’re a natural communicator who can build trust and influence senior leaders with ease. Leadership Style : You’re hands-on, pragmatic, and collaborative. You lead with humility and always aim for impact. Adaptability : You’re resilient, proactive, and thrive in environments where change is the norm. Level : This is a senior leadership role with high visibility and influence across the business. You’ll Enjoy In return for your expertise and energy, we’re offering a competitive remuneration package, alongside an attractive long-term incentive scheme that rewards your impact and contribution to our growth. This is a hybrid role , with three days a week based at our HQ in Darwen (BB3 1AE) —giving you the flexibility to balance focus time with collaboration. You’ll also enjoy a vibrant calendar of team events that celebrate our culture and bring people together. Your wellbeing is a priority, supported by our employee health plan and access to a financial flexibility fund for those moments when you need a little extra support. Plus, our rewards portal is packed with exclusive benefits and offers. Most importantly, you’ll be part of a supportive, growing team where you can thrive within our award-winning Hakim Group culture. How to Apply We look forward to receiving your application. We are working with our trusted recruitment partner, We Are Inx, who support us in managing applications for this role. By applying you agree that we may share your application details (such as your CV and contact information) with We Are Inx for recruitment purposes. They may contact you directly to discuss your application.