Programme Manager - Commerce (Contract)

VML/WPP Enterprise Solutions; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Part time

Job summary

VML/WPP Enterprise Solutions in London is seeking a Programme Manager to lead complex, budgeted programmes from initiation through delivery. You will work with the Account Director to drive productivity and realise business benefits.

You will manage multiple teams, assess risks, and deliver reports to stakeholders. The role requires strong agile experience, vendor management, and a track record in ecommerce migrations.

Qualifications

• Experience managing multiple teams across different workstreams (min 20 people).
• Strong understanding of the software development lifecycle & release management.
• Proven track record delivering ecommerce migration/re-platform projects.
• Excellent negotiation skills and ability to handle sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.
• Experience managing people and budgets, including programme budgeting.
• Experience overseeing 3rd parties in a programme environment.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in an Agile environment.
• Proven ability to move organisations from Waterfall to Agile delivery.
• Strong time management & organisational skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Commercial awareness and contract negotiation experience beneficial.
• Software Application Development project management experience (min 6 years).
• Proficiency with MS Office – Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication.
• BA/BS in relevant field is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for all delivery across the programme.
• Analyse, evaluate, and mitigate programme risks; produce management reports.
• Maintain standards of satisfaction, quality, and performance.
• Define and implement governance at programme start and lifecycle.
• Create and implement ways of working at programme start and maintain them.
• Track dependencies and build programme-level plans.
• Keep workstreams updated on progress and changes.
• Provide guidance to project managers within and outside the account.
• Maintain a resource plan and track end dates with functional leads.
• Manage resource requests and fulfilment internally or externally.
• Develop strong relationships with team members and client stakeholders.
• Align with client vision and plan programme to achieve it.
• Oversee programme-level governance with the client.
• Manage third party vendors on behalf of the client.

Skills

Team management

SDLC & release management

Agile (Scrum/Kanban)

Negotiation skills

Budget management

Third-party management

Agile adoption (Waterfall to Agile)

Time management

Communication & relationship mgmt

Project management in software dev

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

English proficiency

Bachelor's degree background

Education

BA/BS degree in information management, marketing, communications, business or related

Tools

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Job description

WPP Enterprise Solutions designs, builds, and operates the growth systems that competitive businesses rely on. In a world where Al is reshaping how companies drive growth, we lead clients in business transformation and marketing modernization, connecting strategy directly to execution. Our 12,000 experts in engineering and platforms, commerce, consulting, content transformation, CRM, and CX work within a unified global operating unit across 40+ markets. WPP Enterprise Solutions works alongside best-in-class partners including Adobe, AWS, Braze, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shopify, as well as innovators in AI, to deliver growth solutions tailored to the needs of our clients’ businesses. VML, part of WPP, supports WPP Enterprise Solutions by helping brands activate transformation through creativity and experience.

Programme Manager with extensive experience including experience managing small programmes of work needed to join our team

This is a London based Contract role

The opportunity:

You lead teams to deliver high quality, complex project(s) on budget and within a specified timeframe to achieve the potential benefits defined in the business case. You work closely with the Account Director to achieve productivity goals and contribute to the organisation’s overall success.

What you’ll be doing:

• Accountable for all delivery across the programme
• Analyse, evaluate, and overcome programme risks, and produce accurate programme reports for management and stakeholders
• Maintain organisational standards of satisfaction, quality, and performance, including the creation and implementation of ways of working at the start of a programme
• Create and implement effective ways of working at the start of the programme and ensure these are adhered to throughout the project lifecycle
• Track and manage dependencies between projects and workstreams, creating programme level plans to ensure these are addressed
• Ensure programme goals are reached by keeping the workstreams updated on progress and any changes that need to be made.
• Provide support and guidance to project managers within your account and line management for several project managers outside of your account.
• Maintain a resource plan showing resource commitment across the projects and keep track of potential end dates in association with functional lead personnel
• Track resource requests and manage fulfilment of these requests internally or externally as appropriate
• Develop strong relationships with WTC team members and client stakeholders at all levels
• Work with the client to understand their vision and plan the programme of work to successfully achieve that vision to the greatest effect
• Define and implement programme level governance in conjunction with the client
• Manage third party vendors on behalf of the client

What we want from you:

• Experience in managing multiple teams across different workstreams. As a minimum, if in a team management role, this should be at least 20 people
• A good understanding of the software development lifecycle & release management
• Proven track record in the successful delivery of a ecommerce migration/Re-platform
• Excellent negotiation skills & an ability to handle sensitive issues with tact & diplomacy
• Experience of managing people and financial budgets (including programme budgeting, monitoring financials etc.) ideally in an eCommerce environment
• Experience of overseeing 3rd parties
• Minimum of three years’ experience working in an Agile environment
• Proven track record of working with organisations moving from Waterfall to Agile delivery approaches
• Working knowledge of Agile frameworks, Scrum and Kanban
• Effective leadership skills with experience of managing other project managers.
• Strong time management & organisational skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills
• Good commercial knowledge, experience of contract negotiations would be advantageous.
• Software Application Development related Project management experience (min 6 years) .
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Packages, especially MS Excel and MS PowerPoint
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Minimum BA/BS degree with a major in information management, marketing, communications, business or other closely-related areas is an advantage

What we can offer you:

Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world, we’ll also prioritise your career development and help you grow your skills. We’ll empower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are.

Our culture thrives on our core values, designed for impact-driven individuals: Heart, Brains and Courage.

We lead withHeart, fostering empathy and trust where genuine connections and human-centric work flourish.
We empower yourBrainsfor innovation, valuing relentless curiosity and collaborative intelligence to solve complex challenges.
And we championCourage, inspiring you to speak up, embrace experimentation, and advocate for bold solutions that push our thinking to be better than yesterday.

AT VML Enterprise Solutions

Our Enterprise Solutions division houses strategic consultants, creative and technical architects and skilled developers and operators that together help some of the world’s leading organisations to deliver outstanding digital experiences across all major routes to market worldwide: marketplaces, online retailers, D2C, B2B and social platforms. With over 4,200 experts in 55 operational centres across 34 countries, our capabilities span the entire buying journey from customer acquisition, through engagement, to conversion and loyalty, driving multi-channel growth for world-leading brands.

We work with some of the most exciting brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, EY, Bosch, Unilever, Ford, DFS, Mercedes-Benz, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Shell and Tiffany & Co. We’ve built over 500 platforms for brands and retailers and generate in excess of $29bn annually for our clients and work with over 50 strategic partners including Adobe, SAP, Salesforce, HCL, Shopify, Sitecore, BigCommerce, commerce tools and Acquia. Our reputation is based on our people, and we believe we have some of the best in the business.

As our business grows internationally, we’re looking for new people to join us on our journey to inspire and take a key role in shaping some of the best commerce solutions, services, and websites in the world. Working as a team, no problem is insurmountable; we share in our client’s successes and believe that anyone can show creative bravery no matter what their role is in the team.

#LI-EMEA

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence and world-class partnerships – all united by our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com .

WPP (VML/WPP Enterprise Solutions) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.