Programme Manager – Permanent

Overview

As a Programme Manager, you lead multi‑team delivery of complex projects within budget and schedule, guided by a client-focused governance approach. You collaborate with the Account Director to meet productivity goals and contribute to overall success. You’ll manage risks, define ways of working, and ensure dependencies are tracked across workstreams. You build strong client and team relationships and govern third‑party vendors to realize the programme vision. This role sits within WPP Enterprise Solutions, a growth and transformation engine for top brands.

Pay / Benefits

• discretionary bonus
• training opportunities
• competitive pension
• medical insurance
• life assurance
• discounts with retailers

Responsibilities

• Own delivery across the programme and ensure alignment with business goals
• Identify and mitigate programme risks and produce reports for stakeholders
• Define and implement governance and ways of working at programme start
• Create and maintain programme level plans and track interdependencies
• Monitor progress across workstreams and adapt plans as needed
• Provide coaching and line management support to project managers
• Maintain resource plans and track dates with functional leads
• Manage internal and external resource requests and fulfilment
• Develop client relationships and understand their vision to drive the programme
• Manage third-party vendors on behalf of the client

Key requirements

• Experience managing multiple teams across different workstreams (≥20 people in team management role)
• Strong understanding of SDLC and release management
• Proven delivery of ecommerce migration/re-platform
• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills
• Experience with multi‑vendor delivery and overseeing third parties
• Budget management experience (programme budgeting and financial monitoring)
• Experience in agile environments and transitioning from Waterfall to Agile
• Knowledge of Scrum and Kanban frameworks
• Leadership experience in managing other project managers
• Strong communication and relationship management skills
• Proficient in MS Excel and MS PowerPoint
• English language excellence
• Bachelor/BA in a relevant field is advantageous

• Stakeholder management
• Negotiation and diplomacy
• Relationship building
• Software development lifecycle knowledge
• Release management
• Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)

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