Technical Programme Manager -- Store Hardware, Infrastructure, Vendor Management

Tesco Technology; Welwyn Garden City; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus scheme up to 20%

Holiday starting at 25 days

Private medical insurance

Job summary

A leading retail technology firm is looking for a Technical Programme Manager to oversee large-scale technology and infrastructure programmes. The role involves managing complex projects, enhancing operational efficiency through AI and data, and fostering relationships with stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of experience in delivering programmes, strong technical knowledge, and the ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders. The position offers attractive benefits including a bonus scheme and private medical insurance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience leading multiple large-scale technology programmes.
• Strong technical knowledge of infrastructure, deployment architectures, and software development.
• Experience applying data, automation, or AI to improve delivery efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a portfolio of complex technology programmes aligned to business outcomes.
• Initiate and shape programmes with ambiguous scope.
• Manage dependencies across teams using AI-enabled tools.

Skills

Programme management

Technical knowledge of infrastructure

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision-making

Job description

Store Hardware, Infrastructure, Vendor Management & AI‑Enabled Delivery

The Technical Programme Manager is accountable for delivering a portfolio of complex, large‑scale store hardware and infrastructure programmes that underpin critical Tesco business priorities. These programmes span multiple technologies, suppliers, and geographies, and carry significant technical, operational, and commercial risk. You will lead programmes end‑to‑end, shaping ambiguous initiatives through to execution and rollout. A core expectation of the role is the active use of data, automation, and AI‑driven insights to improve operational efficiency, delivery predictability, risk management, and decision‑making at scale.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a portfolio of complex, large‑scale technology and infrastructure programmes aligned to key business outcomes
• Define, own, and continuously optimise integrated delivery plans, including technical implementation, rollout sequencing, and operational readiness
• Initiate and shape programmes with ambiguous scope, evolving requirements, and uncertain delivery models
• Manage dependencies across engineering, platform, product, operations, and supplier teams, using AI‑enabled tracking and insights to provide transparency and early risk visibility
• Build a deep technical understanding of infrastructure architecture and the store operations it supports, enabling informed, high‑quality decisions
• Apply strong judgement and influence to manage trade‑offs across cost, risk, quality, and speed, supported by data‑driven and AI‑assisted analysis
• Leverage AI and analytics to improve operational efficiency, including:
  • Predictive risk identification and mitigation
  • Delivery performance tracking and forecasting
  • Incident trend analysis and root‑cause identification
  • Automation of reporting, governance packs, and operational insights
• Establish new or enhance existing delivery methodologies, embedding automation and AI to improve pace, consistency, and execution quality
• Lead the management of major incidents, ensuring timely, accurate, insight‑led communication to enable effective decision‑making
• Ensure post‑incident reviews are data‑driven, actions are tracked, and learning is systematically embedded into future delivery
• Provide strong leadership that enables delivery through others, fostering ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Support long‑term planning and annual budget definition, using data and AI‑supported forecasting to improve investment decisions
• Build trusted relationships with supplier partners and internal/external stakeholders to deliver hardware, software, rollouts, and professional services

Qualifications

• Delivering complex technology and/or infrastructure programmes across multiple teams and geographies
• 3+ years’ experience leading multiple large‑scale technology programmes, ideally in distributed, retail, or operational environments
• Strong technical knowledge of infrastructure, deployment architectures, and the software development lifecycle
• Deploying both data‑centre and distributed hardware solutions supporting 24/7, business‑critical applications
• Anticipating risk and proactively mitigating issues using structured, data‑driven approaches
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex topics clearly to senior stakeholders
• Building credibility and influencing senior leadership teams
• Excellent programme, stakeholder, and vendor management capability
• Demonstrated resilience during incidents, change, and ambiguity while maintaining delivery momentum
• Strong understanding of agile and modern delivery techniques
• Experience applying data, automation, or AI to improve delivery efficiency, insight, and outcomes

What’s in it for you?

• Annual bonus scheme up to 20% of base salary
• Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance
• 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (after 1 year’s service) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay; 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave
• Free 24/7 virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and your family, free access to a range of experts to support your mental wellbeing