Grace Ballance
Senior Programme Manager
Malmesbury
Summary
Strategic and results-driven Senior Programme Manager with over a decade of experience leading marketing operations and supporting creative teams to deliver high-impact, award-winning campaigns in the domestic products sector. Adept at navigating fast-paced, innovative environments, with a proven ability to quickly absorb complex concepts and translate them into actionable strategies. Trusted to lead with discretion and integrity, called upon to support underperforming teams - enhancing their ways of working, operational efficiency, and reputation within the business. Confident in driving critical decisions and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Programme Manager, Retail & Experience
Dyson
07.2021 - Current
- Led end-to-end delivery of complex marketing programmes, overseeing all phases of the project lifecycle from initiation through to execution and post-launch review
- Partnered cross-functionally with Dyson’s in-house creative agency to proactively identify and manage interdependencies, ensuring seamless integration across workstreams.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive planning frameworks for all upcoming NPD initiatives, enabling a team of four project managers to execute with clarity and precision.
- Applied deep understanding of technical specialisms across the team to ensure accurate tracking, resource alignment, and timely delivery of project milestones.
- Owned project risk management and reporting, providing clear escalation pathways and regular updates to C-suite stakeholders
- Led the successful integration of the retail team into a newly restructured business unit, embedding new ways of working to align with evolving strategic priorities and operational models. Established clear delivery frameworks, redefined team roles, and fostered cross-functional collaboration to ensure a smooth transition and sustained performance across retail initiatives.
- Defined and implemented scalable resourcing principles for a 30-person team, introducing a new briefing and resourcing tool to streamline workload management and improve efficiency
Programme Manger, Professional & PR
Dyson
12.2018 - 07.2021
- Managed the end-to-end delivery of all new product development (NPD) and marketing campaigns for Dyson’s Professional team, ensuring seamless execution into B2B sales channels across global markets. Collaborated closely with sales, commercial, and product teams to align launch plans with channel readiness and customer engagement strategies
- Led the delivery of global creative campaigns for Dyson’s PR teams, overseeing agency briefing, creative development, and execution. Provided weekly progress updates to C-suite stakeholders, ensuring visibility, alignment, and timely decision-making. Successfully onboarded and embedded new creative agencies to support evolving PR initiatives and maintain brand consistency across markets
Programme Manger, Floorcare
Dyson
06.2016 - 12.2018
- Managed the end-to-end delivery of all new product development (NPD) initiatives and marketing campaigns across Dyson’s Floorcare category, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and market timelines
- Managed a £4M programme budget, overseeing project-level spend, producing monthly forecasts, and delivering forward-looking financial insights to ensure optimal budget utilisation
- Led the launch of a new product format within the category, introducing and embedding a new way of working (WoW) to support cross-functional delivery, drive market engagement, and manage C-suite stakeholder expectations
- Line-managed a team of three project managers, providing strategic direction, coaching, and resource prioritisation to ensure consistent delivery across multiple concurrent workstreams
Category Operations Manager, Floorcare
Dyson
05.2015 - 06.2016
- Supported the successful delivery of all projects across Dyson’s Fullsize Floorcare team, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives and market readiness
- Co-developed the project management framework now adopted across Dyson’s Commercial function, driving consistency, efficiency, and scalable delivery practices
- Acted as the central liaison between project and creative teams, ensuring briefs were clearly communicated, resources secured, and creative output delivered on time, within budget, and to the high standards expected by the Commercial organisation
Data Officer
National Trust
06.2011 - 05.2015
- Led the management and integration of data feeds from external suppliers, ensuring timely delivery, accuracy, and alignment with internal data architecture and reporting needs
- Proactively identified and addressed data quality challenges across supplier datasets, working collaboratively with vendors and internal stakeholders to implement scalable, sustainable solutions that improved data reliability and usability
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
University of Leicester
Leicester 04.2001 -
Skills
Strategic goal development
Timeline
Senior Programme Manager, Retail & Experience
Dyson
07.2021 - Current
Programme Manger, Professional & PR
Dyson
12.2018 - 07.2021
Programme Manger, Floorcare
Dyson
06.2016 - 12.2018
Category Operations Manager, Floorcare
Dyson
05.2015 - 06.2016
Data Officer
National Trust
06.2011 - 05.2015
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
University of Leicester
04.2001 -