IT Programme Director - Core Modernisation (fixed-term)

Center Parcs; New Ollerton; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Management bonus

Company car

Enhanced pension

Private medical insurance

Discounted breaks

Free leisure facilities

Restaurant/retail discount

Recognition scheme

Perks at Work

Employee assistance program

Career development

Job summary

Center Parcs in the United Kingdom seeks a Programme Director to lead the technology-driven transformation of core booking platforms, replacing the accommodation booking system and village management platforms.

You will oversee cross-functional delivery, govern programme scope, and partner with third parties to deliver guest experience improvements, commercial outcomes and operational readiness across six villages.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of the new accommodation booking and village management platform.
• Oversee the Leisure and Spa roadmap with third-party partners.
• Drive AI and automation-led enhancements across the programme.
• Set programme scope and governance to ensure timely execution.
• Build a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team and embedding delivery disciplines.

Job description

• Programme Leadership & Delivery - Lead delivery of the new accommodation booking and village management platform, oversee the Leisure and Spa roadmap with our third-party partners, drive AI and automation-led enhancements, set programme scope and governance, build a high-performing multi-disciplinary team, and embed strong delivery disciplines focused on integration, risk and timely execution.
• Commercial & Supplier Management - Working with the Procurement leadership team, drive the supplier contracting. Onboard and manage suppliers and delivery partners, ensuring accountability and value for money. Foster partnerships with vendors, ensuring commitments are met and outcomes delivered.
• Change Management & Adoption - You will lead a structured change programme to prepare central functions and village teams for new ways of working, ensure guest experience, commercial outcomes and operational impacts shape all change activity, support managers in readying their teams for new systems and processes, and drive smooth technology adoption through effective training, communication and engagement.
• Integration & Technical Delivery - You will ensure robust integration of the new booking platform with existing systems, work closely with technology teams to deliver secure, scalable and supportable solutions, and oversee testing, migration and cutover activities to minimise disruption for guests and operations.
• Team leadership & development - Responsible for managing, motivating, developing and objective setting for the directly assigned programme team, ensuring objectives are clear and measurable. Development of the Programme team members to support their development in delivering changes programmes within Center Parcs post the transformation programme.
• Proven track record in delivering large-scale, business-critical technology transformation programmes.
• Deliver complex integration solutions, ideally within hospitality or guest facing / customer environments, ensuring core platforms seamlessly connect across the wider technology ecosystem.
• Experience replacing or implementing complex booking, reservations, or transactional platforms.
• Change management and colleague adoption across large, distributed operations.
• Proven leadership experience, creating supportive, high-performing and diverse programme teams.
• Welcome to Center Parcs, the number one choice for short break holidays, employing a team of over 10,000 across Forest House and six separate villages located in the UK and Ireland.
• As the Programme Director, you will lead the technology driven transformation of our core booking platforms, overseeing the replacement of the accommodation booking system and village management platforms. This programme represents one of Center Parcs most significant digital initiatives, delivering fundamental change across commercial functions, central operations, guest experience and our villages.

What's in it for you

• Management Bonus Scheme - 28%
• Company Car
• Access to our enhanced pension plan, with 8% from you and 7% contributed by Center Parcs
• Private Medical Insurance
• Discounted Center Parcs breaks
• Free use of our leisure facilities
• 20% discount in our restaurant and retail outlets
• Colleague Recognition and Reward Scheme - offering a choice of Center Parcs and High Street vouchers
• Access to Perks at Work Portal - offering a wide range of retail and leisure discounts
• An Employee Assistance Program - providing support on financial, health and legal matters
• Excellent opportunities for career development and progression with the opportunity to gain externally recognised qualifications

Our values

Our values Each colleague at Center Parcs is involved in building better worlds for our guests, colleagues, communities and our environment. Contributing to our purpose means living out our values: We care, we're brave, we're determined and we're naturally us.