Head of Technical Program Management - Store Payment & Infrastructure

Marks and Spencer; City Of London; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in the UK is seeking a Head of Technical Programme Management to lead transformative technology programs that enhance the in-store checkout and payment experience. The role requires extensive experience in delivering complex initiatives and fostering cross-organizational collaboration. Key responsibilities include planning and delivering large-scale initiatives, creating strategic roadmaps, and driving data-driven decisions. The company offers a comprehensive benefits package and values diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace.

Benefits

20% colleague discount

Competitive holiday entitlement

Discretionary bonus schemes

Defined Contribution Pension Scheme

Tailored induction and training programs

Access to wellbeing support

Charity volunteer day

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in program management.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Plan, own and deliver complex initiatives.
• Create roadmaps in alignment with strategic goals.
• Drive data-driven decisions through metrics.

Skills

Extensive experience delivering large-scale initiatives

Excellent interpersonal skills

Technical leadership across domains

Understanding of Agile/Scaled Agile practices

Leadership and coaching skills

Job description

Summary

As Head of Technical Programme Management for Store Payment & Infrastructure, you will lead the delivery of technology programmes that transform the in‑store checkout and payment experience across M&S. You will own the roadmaps for Assisted Checkouts, Self Checkouts, and In Store Payment teams, driving improvements in UI, reducing shrink, and modernising both software and hardware while embedding standard process, security, and delivery cadences. Working closely with the Retail Implementation Team, you will lead programmes for hardware upgrades and obsolescence management, ensuring our store infrastructure remains modern, secure, and fit for the future. You will also orchestrate a transition programme to centralise ownership of critical technology, enabling consistency, scalability, and resilience across the estate.

All the details

What's in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that - playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We're an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing outstanding quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special

• After completing your probationary period, you'll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third‑party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
• A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
• Industry‑leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
• Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
• A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.

What you'll do

The Head of Technical Program Management is the glue of engineering, product and business strategies - owning Programmes of work of significant visibility and complexity with broad cross‑organisational and/or deep architectural impact.

More specifically, the Head of Technical Program role is the embodiment of "own it, and get it done" with key responsibilities as follows:

• Plan, own and deliver highly complex and multi‑disciplinary initiatives, collaborating with senior leaders to align strategic goals and drive a customer first mind‑set in Technology.
• Creates roadmaps and objectives and key results alongside the Head of Product & Head of Engineering to ensure alignment to strategic ambitions for M&S including the Technology Strategy.
• Facilitate continuous refinement and prioritisation of initiatives working alongside Product, Engineering and Business leaders.
• Drive data driven decisions through metrics and regular reporting to provide visibility creating a culture of transparency.
• Develop trusted relationships with partners across business areas using deep and relevant technology experience to simplify sophisticated technology issues.

Who you are

• Extensive experience delivering large‑scale initiatives across multiple product functions and domains.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, proactive can do demeanour and ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical individuals including director level.
• Track record of providing Technical leadership across domains, product groups and Program management during all phases of software development from ideation to realising value, demonstrating critical thinking and thought leadership.
• Strong solid understanding/experience of Agile/Scaled Agile practices including Scrum, Kanban and DevOps.
• Highly diligent professional with excellent leadership and coaching skills in lean agile practices.

Everyone's welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We're redefining, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We're redefining how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.

We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process