Programme Manager (PMO)

Our client, a leading organisation in the retail and technology sector, is seeking a skilled Programme Manager (PMO) for a contract role supporting a complex transformation programme. This senior position will provide programme-wide delivery leadership, integrated planning, governance and control across multiple workstreams, technology partners and business functions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a trusted deputy to the Programme Director, representing the programme in agreed leadership, governance and delivery forums.
• Own and maintain the integrated programme plan, incorporating workstream, partner, milestone, dependency, resource and business readiness activity.
• Lead cross-workstream planning sessions, ensuring plans are complete, achievable, logically sequenced and aligned to programme outcomes.
• Manage programme governance, including Steering Group calendars, agendas, executive packs, decisions, actions and follow-up.
• Maintain effective programme controls covering risks, issues, dependencies, assumptions, decisions, scope, change control and delivery assurance.
• Analyse delivery information to identify emerging risks, pressure points and impacts, driving recovery or re-planning where required.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, workstream leads, consultancies, systems integrators and technology delivery partners.
• Lead the PMO team, establishing consistent standards and continuously improving programme ways of working.

Job Requirements:

• Significant experience in senior programme management, programme delivery or IT PMO leadership within a large-scale, complex transformation.
• Proven ability to deputise for a Programme Director or equivalent senior programme leader and engage credibly with executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience managing integrated plans across multiple workstreams, organisations and delivery partners.
• Strong governance experience, including the preparation of Steering Group and executive-level reports, packs and decision papers.
• Excellent understanding of programme controls, including critical path management, milestones, risks, issues, dependencies, change control and assurance.
• Experience managing systems integrators, consultancies or third-party technology partners in an accountable and collaborative manner.
• Strong facilitation, influencing and conflict-resolution skills, with the confidence to provide constructive challenge.
• Excellent communication, organisation and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to remain calm and decisive in an ambiguous environment.

Desirable Experience:

• Knowledge of Workday, consultancy or comparable systems integrators and professional services partners.
• Experience working across global, regional and matrixed organisations.
• Understanding of both predictive and iterative delivery approaches, with the judgement to apply proportionate methods.