Program Manager

London Area, United Kingdom

A core pillar of the client’s technology strategy is to provide strong and scalable foundations. Leveraging cloud, they create and manage platforms servicing our internal stakeholders with a customer-first mindset. They enable and empower teams to become self-sufficient while providing guardrails to protect the organisation.

The Program Manager will be responsible for managing a group of interconnected, cross-functional projects to achieve the long-term Infrastructure Transformation goals. This is a key strategic area for the organisation and the leader for this program must be able to build on the momentum.

This role will lead the Infrastructure team through the management of their Cloud Infrastructure Initiatives Portfolio. This includes managing current initiatives as well as defining the vision for our program execution. This is a key leadership role that will work closely with Technology Directors as well as with cross-functional business partners, vendors, retail operations & technology. The ideal candidate will have a history of demonstrated results leading large, cross-functional teams to accomplish complex projects across matrixed organisations.

They must thrive in fast-paced environments, be able to manage through ambiguity and complexity, invent and simplify processes, and simultaneously support multiple projects impacting a growing global organisation. This role requires excellent communication and organizational skills and the ability to identify and eliminate bottlenecks, provide escalation management, anticipate and make tradeoffs, and balance business needs versus technical constraints. Maturity, curiosity, creative problem-solving, and team leadership are all essential to success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

Program Management:

Oversee large, complex cross-functional initiatives through the project life cycle

Work closely with initiative sponsors and stakeholders to understand the functional strategy, define scope and deliverables, and ensure funding and staffing are planned and available to meet program delivery goals

Develop business and technical project plans and ensure that all initiatives within the portfolio are executed on scope, on schedule and on budget, and within the organisation’s best practices and standards

Provide program updates and communicate effectively to the sponsors and stakeholders

Monitor and manage program Opex and Capex budgets and constraints

Serve as a trusted advisor to Cloud Infrastructure CoEs, Project Sponsors and Key Stakeholders regarding project issues, options and opportunities and product capabilities

Drive program progression through exceptional user engagement, crisp communications designed with the user in mind, tight planning and delivery, and follow-through on commitments.

Cloud Infrastructure Technology Capabilities Management/Thought Leadership:

Display a comprehensive understanding of the organisation’s overall suite of services, operating platform(s), business strategy and priorities by identifying gaps, driving change, and influencing project-related decisions to achieve project goals and delivery of desired results

Risk Management & Analysis:

Mitigate risks, resolve issues, and manage resources to successfully meet program goals and deliverables

Ensure initiatives are effectively managed by Project Leads; assist in the resolution of the critical issues that may derail a program, provide solutions

Ensure all potential risks (Data Management, Systems Risk, Web/Internet Security, etc.) are identified and all impacted stakeholders engaged

Leadership/People Management:

Coach Project Managers, Business Analysts, and project team participants to build and develop a strong cross-functional team

Set clear expectations and hold people accountable

Manage resources across projects

Manage external vendors and hold accountable

Required Skills & Experience:

10+ years of related work experience, with direct work experience across a variety of Cloud Infrastructure disciplines to support a strong foundational knowledge of technology best practices, regulatory processes

8+ years of relevant program management experience; with at least 5+ years directly managing projects/products using Agile methodologies

Experience working through various Cloud Infrastructure system architectures (preference for those with specifically AWS/Azure, Infrastructure as Code/CI/CD, Networking, operating systems) to influence solutions to solve customer problems

Experience in managing programs in highly dynamic, global organisations; with a preference for those with experience in retail or similar industry with blended and distributed workforce (i.e. mix of salary, hourly, contingent workers)

Experience with translating business activities into operational processes

Proven experience managing all aspects of the software delivery lifecycle

Demonstrated experience in creating/managing portfolios

Experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets

Demonstrated understanding of project management principles, tools and techniques including business case development, ROI analysis, planning and issues management

Takes ownership and follows through on tasks; drives decisions; results-oriented

Flexible and able to handle multiple priorities

Creative, innovative thinking, intellectual curiosity

Problem-solving and sound judgment

Strong organisational and time management skills; ability to multi-task

Strong attention to detail

Excellent verbal and written communication & presentation skills with all audiences

Strong interpersonal skills with proven leadership

Strategic thinker

Technology Evangelist

Acts with speed, simplicity and decisiveness

Must Haves:

Proven work ethic with the utmost integrity

Self-awareness, with a desire for constant self-improvement (goal-oriented)

Entrepreneurial spirit and an egoless nature

Self-motivated, passionate, empathetic, approachable

Actively live and breathe the organisation’s culture and lifestyle

Outgoing, energetic, upbeat and fun!

Strong interpersonal skills

Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities

Desire to excel and succeed

If you are interested in this role, please apply today!