Packaging and Virtual Desktop Migration Project Manager

GCS; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS is seeking a Project Manager to lead the packaging and Virtual Desktop Migration initiatives in the Preston/Manchester area on an initial 12-month inside IR35 contract with hybrid work.

You will own project plans, milestones, RAID logs and governance reporting, orchestrate testing, packaging, deployment waves and operational transition activities, and build strong relationships with business stakeholders, technical teams and third-party suppliers to deliver on time and to required quality.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering IT infrastructure, application migration, or End User Computing projects.
• Strong project planning, governance, and RAID management experience.
• Excellent stakeholder and supplier management skills.
• Experience coordinating testing, deployment, and operational transition activities.
• Knowledge of project delivery methodologies such as PRINCE2, Agile, or Waterfall.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of application packaging and virtual desktop migration projects.
• Manage project plans, milestones, dependencies, RAID logs, and governance reporting.
• Coordinate packaging, testing, deployment, migration waves, and operational transition activities.
• Build strong relationships with business stakeholders, technical teams, and third-party suppliers.
• Manage project risks, issues, and dependencies, ensuring timely resolution and escalation where required.
• Ensure delivery meets agreed quality standards, governance requirements, and business expectations.
• Produce regular status reports and present progress to senior stakeholders and project boards.
• Support business readiness and ensure a smooth transition into operational support.

Skills

Project planning

Stakeholder management

Governance

RAID management

Vendor management

Delivery methodologies

Tools

Azure Virtual Desktop

MSIX / App Attach

Job description

Project Manager - Application Packaging & Virtual Desktop Migration

Initial 12 month contract role - Inside ir35

Hybrid in the Preston/Manchester Area

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of application packaging and virtual desktop migration projects.
• Manage project plans, milestones, dependencies, RAID logs, and governance reporting.
• Coordinate packaging, testing, deployment, migration waves, and operational transition activities.
• Build strong relationships with business stakeholders, technical teams, and third-party suppliers.
• Manage project risks, issues, and dependencies, ensuring timely resolution and escalation where required.
• Ensure delivery meets agreed quality standards, governance requirements, and business expectations.
• Produce regular status reports and present progress to senior stakeholders and project boards.
• Support business readiness and ensure a smooth transition into operational support.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience delivering IT infrastructure, application migration, or End User Computing projects.
• Strong project planning, governance, and RAID management experience.
• Excellent stakeholder and supplier management skills.
• Experience coordinating testing, deployment, and operational transition activities.
• Knowledge of project delivery methodologies such as PRINCE2, Agile, or Waterfall.

Desirable Experience

• Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
• Application Packaging (MSIX, App Attach).
• Microsoft Endpoint and Modern Workplace technologies.
• ITIL or Service Management environments.

This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in delivering a business-critical transformation programme, working across technology and business teams to ensure successful migration and adoption of modern workplace solutions.