IT Programme Director – Core Modernisation (fixed-term)

Center Parcs UK & Ireland; Newark on Trent; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28% Bonus Scheme

Company Car

Private Medical Insurance

Enhanced Pension Plan

Discounted Center Parcs breaks

Free leisure facilities access

Restaurant & retail discounts

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Center Parcs UK & Ireland is seeking an IT Programme Director for Core Modernisation on a two-year fixed-term contract. You will lead a technology-driven transformation across booking and village management platforms, guiding delivery with partners and internal teams.

You will shape governance, drive AI and automation-led enhancements, and ensure smooth adoption across central operations and guest experiences. A career-defining leadership role with impactful outcomes awaits.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering large-scale technology transformation programmes.
• Experience delivering complex integration solutions in hospitality or guest-facing environments.
• Proven leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary programme teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the new accommodation booking and village management platform.
• Oversee supplier management and governance with third-party partners.
• Drive change management and adoption for new systems across central functions and villages.
• Ensure robust integration of new platforms with existing systems and oversee testing, migration and cutover activities.
• Develop and motivate the programme team to deliver changes post-transformation.

Skills

Programme Leadership

Technology Transformation

Stakeholder Management

Integration & Technical Delivery

Team Leadership

Job description

IT Programme Director - Core Modernisation (fixed-term)

28% bonus scheme | Company Car | PMI

Please note this is a two-year fixed-term contract

At Center Parcs, our people are our greatest asset and we're looking for an exceptional leader to guide one of our iconic UK holiday villages. This is a rare and career-defining opportunity to oversee the operations of a vibrant, multifaceted village that welcomes thousands of guests each week and employs up to 2,000 talented colleagues.

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 You'll Be Doing

• 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.

About You

• 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.

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

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.

Sound like your kind of job?

Please note this vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.

At Center Parcs, everyone's welcome.

We recognise that we're all at our best when we're being ourselves. We are committed to building a culture that champions diversity, equity and inclusion, where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want them to feel valued for their individuality, thrive in our business and share a sense of belonging. We place a lot of value on recruiting based on behaviours rather than prioritising qualifications or experience.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, please let us know if you require any support or reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process.