Project Manager - 12 months FTC

Pets at Home; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Pets at Home is seeking a dynamic Project Manager to lead IT delivery initiatives on a 12-month FTC. Based at our Handforth, Cheshire office with hybrid working, you’ll manage projects from initiation to closure, coordinating cross-functional teams and external partners to deliver on time, within budget and to a high standard.

Key responsibilities include developing detailed project plans, handling scope, risks and dependencies, and providing regular reports to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing multiple projects of varying complexity.
• Strong skills in risk, issue, and dependency management.
• Ability to manage project budgets and commercial aspects.
• Clear and confident communication with stakeholders at all levels.
• PM qualification such as PRINCE2, APM PMQ, or AgilePM.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans with clear critical paths.
• Manage project scope, risks, issues, and dependencies.
• Lead high-performing project teams and secure necessary resources.
• Deliver regular and ad hoc project reports tailored to stakeholders.
• Ensure adherence to governance standards and change control processes.
• Collaborate with internal teams and third-party vendors to drive success.

Skills

Multi-project management

Risk management

Budget management

Stakeholder comms

PM qualifications

Job description

Project Manager – 12 months FTC

Department:Group IT Delivery
Contract Type: Full-time
Reports to:Portfolio Lead

Location: We welcome applications from those looking for hybrid working, based in our Handforth (Cheshire) Office

About the role

Are you a dynamic and results-driven Project Manager ready to lead impactful change? Join our Group IT Delivery team and take charge of delivering projects that shape the future of our business. From initiation to successful closure, you’ll lead cross-functional teams, manage stakeholders, and ensure delivery to time, cost, and quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans with clear critical paths
• Manage project scope, risks, issues, and dependencies
• Lead high-performing project teams and secure necessary resources
• Deliver regular and ad hoc project reports tailored to stakeholders
• Ensure adherence to governance standards and change control processes
• Collaborate with internal teams and third-party vendors to drive success

What you’ll bring

Essential:

• Proven experience managing multiple projects of varying complexity
• Strong skills in risk, issue, and dependency management
• Demonstrated ability to manage project budgets and commercial aspects
• Clear and confident communication with stakeholders at all levels
• Project Management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM PMQ, AgilePM)

Desirable:

• Experience in a retail or supply chain environment
• Experience working with third-party vendors and agency resources
• Membership in APM or PMI
• Agile techniques (Scrum)

Key relationships

You’ll work closely with:

• Delivery & IT Leadership Teams
• Business Analysts, Test Analysts, Architects
• Business Change and Service Transition teams
• External vendors and project partners

What we’re looking for

• A strategic thinker with strong planning and organisational skills
• A confident communicator who can influence and engage stakeholders
• A team leader who motivates and drives performance
• A flexible and forward-thinking problem solver

Additional info

This role aligns with the APM Competency Framework for “Project Manager (Intermediate)” and offers a fantastic opportunity to grow within a supportive and innovative environment.

If you’re passionate about delivering change and making a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.

We take our inspiration from pets in embracing people from all walks of life, and we value, respect and celebrate difference. We encourage our people to be their best selves so that we can create a better world for Pets, our Planet, and People. Our ambition is to reflect the diversity of the communities we operate in, and we are intentional in addressing and removing barriers to create opportunities for the exceptional talent and potential in our communities. Even if your skills and experience don’t perfectly align, if you think you can make a unique contribution through your values and behaviours, we want to hear from you!