Transformation Project Manager

Job Description

Purpose of Role

The Transformation Project Manager is responsible for leading the successful delivery of ISP's outsourcing programme and the creation of a multi-site global shared service centre operation with the main hub located in India. Reporting to Group Head of Transformation, Change and Onboarding the role will oversee the end-to-end transition of services from existing operating models to our selected outsourcing partner, ensuring delivery is achieved on time, within budget, and with minimal disruption to business operations.

The Project Manager will coordinate multiple workstreams across HR, Finance, Technology, Procurement, and Operations, driving transition execution, stakeholder engagement, governance, risk management, change management, and operational readiness. The role will act as the central point of accountability for programme delivery and benefits realisation throughout transition and stabilisation.

The successful candidate will bring significant experience leading large-scale outsourcing transitions, with particular expertise in HR and Finance service migrations to India and other spoke locations and managing complex organisational change within multinational businesses.

Transformation Programme Manager Key Responsibilities

Programme Delivery and Transition Management

• Lead the delivery of the HR and Finance outsourcing transition programme.

• Manage programme plans, milestones, interdependencies, risks, issues, and budgets.

• Drive delivery across all transition workstreams to ensure successful migration of services to India and other spoke locations.

• Coordinate activities between ISP teams and the outsourcing partner and hold both stakeholder parties to account for delivery timelines and go-live readiness.

• Track programme progress and provide regular reporting to the Head of Transformation and Steering Committee.

• Ensure key transition deliverables are completed in line with agreed timelines and quality standards.

Transition Execution & Service Migration

• Lead transition planning and execution across HR and Finance processes.

• Oversee knowledge transfer activities between retained teams and outsourced service teams.

• Ensure process documentation, controls, and operating procedures are effectively transitioned.

• Manage cutover planning, business readiness, and go-live activities.

• Drive issue resolution during migration and stabilisation phases.

• Ensure effective handover into business-as-usual operations.

Stakeholder Management & Change Leadership

• Develop and execute stakeholder engagement and change management plans in collaboration with internal and outsourcing change management teams.

• Build strong relationships with senior business leaders and functional teams.

• Support leaders through organisational change and operating model transformation.

• Liaise with communications team to ensure consistency and alignment in messaging.

• Identify and mitigate organisational resistance and transition risks.

• Drive adoption of new ways of working across HR and Finance functions.

Vendor & Governance Management

• Act as the primary programme interface with the outsourced service provider.

• Meet regularly with the outsourced service provider programme director.

• Ensure delivery against agreed transition milestones and service commitments.

• Manage programme governance forums.

• Actively manage and escalate programme risks, issues, and dependencies.

• Support service readiness reviews and operational acceptance processes.

• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, security, and control requirements.

Operational Readiness & Stabilisation

• Monitor service performance during stabilisation.

• Support implementation of appropriate KPIs, SLAs, and operational controls.

• Drive continuous improvement opportunities throughout transition and early operations.

Key Skills

• Large-scale programme management

• HR outsourcing transitions

• Finance outsourcing transitions

• Hub and spoke offshoring and shared services

• Transformation delivery

• Change management

• Stakeholder management

• Vendor governance

• Service transition management

• Risk and issue management

• Commercial acumen

• Executive communication

• Business process improvement

• Cross-functional leadership

• Benefits realisation

• Operational readiness

• Continuous improvement

Candidate Requirements

Essential Experience

• Proven experience delivering large-scale first-generation outsourcing programmes.

• Direct experience transitioning HR and Finance services to India.

• Experience managing third-party outsourcing partners through transition and stabilisation phases.

• Strong programme and project management background in complex multinational organisations.

• Experience leading organisational change and operating model transformation.

• Experience managing executive stakeholders and steering committees.

• Demonstrated success delivering complex business outsourcing projects/ programmes on time and within budget.

Highly Desirable

• Experience with Workday and Oracle NetSuite

• Experience working across multiple geographies and cultures.

• Prior consulting or transformation office experience.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding

and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.