Technical Project Manager - WMS Upgrade & ADAPTO Integration (Hybrid)

MacMillan Distribution Ltd.; Swansea; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing company is seeking a highly skilled Technical Project Manager for a critical initiative involving warehouse management system upgrades and integrations. The ideal candidate will oversee the entire project lifecycle, from system design to implementation, and will possess expertise in software upgrades and automated material handling systems. This role is hybrid, requiring occasional office presence in Swansea, offering a competitive salary and substantial benefits.

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance

Enhanced employer pension contributions

Employee discounts

25 days holiday plus statutory holidays

Free parking

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a Technical Project Manager with a proven track record in software upgrade and integration projects.
• Direct experience with WMS solutions and automated material handling systems is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary project lead for the multi-phased initiative.
• Develop and maintain a detailed project plan for both the WMS upgrade and the ADAPTO integration.
• Lead and mentor cross-functional technical teams to ensure project goals are met.

Skills

Exceptional Communication

Strategic Leadership

Complex Problem-Solving

Stakeholder Management

Adaptability and Resilience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Are you aa highly skilled Technical Project Manager ready to lead a critical, multi-phased initiative?

The Position:

Macmillan Publishers is seeking a highly skilled Technical Project Manager to lead a critical, multi-phased initiative. This role involves first managing a complex Blue Yonder WMS upgrade, followed by the end-to-end integration of the upgraded WMS with the Vanderlande ADAPTO Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS).

This pivotal role requires a deep understanding of warehouse management systems, software upgrades, and automated material handling. The ideal candidate will be responsible for overseeing the entire project lifecycle, from system design and specification to build, delivery, testing, and successful implementation of both the WMS upgrade and the subsequent AS/RS integration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary project lead for the multi-phased initiative, defining project scope, objectives, and deliverables.
• Develop and maintain a detailed project plan for both the WMS upgrade and the ADAPTO integration, including timelines, milestones, resource allocation, and budget.
• Lead and mentor cross-functional technical teams to ensure project goals are met on time and within budget.
• Phase 1: Blue Yonder WMS Upgrade
• Manage the technical aspects of the WMS upgrade, including design, configuration, and data migration.
• Coordinate with the Blue Yonder vendor and internal teams to execute the upgrade roadmap, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal operational impact.
• Oversee all testing cycles specific to the WMS upgrade.
• Phase 2: Blue Yonder WMS Upgrade – Integration
• Lead the technical design and specification of the integration layer between the upgraded Blue Yonder WMS and the Vanderlande ADAPTO system.
• Collaborate with both vendor teams to ensure their systems are configured and integrated to meet business requirements.
• Manage the development and configuration of all necessary APIs and data transfer protocols for seamless communication.
• Execution & Delivery
• Drive the execution of both project phases, ensuring all software development and system configurations are completed according to the project plan.
• Manage the delivery pipeline, coordinating software releases and system deployments in a controlled environment.
• Testing & Implementation
• Develop and manage a comprehensive testing strategy, including unit, integration, and user acceptance testing (UAT) for both the upgraded WMS and its integration with ADAPTO.
• Lead the final implementation and go-live, ensuring a smooth transition and minimal disruption to operations.
• Stakeholder Management
• Serve as the key liaison between internal stakeholders (Operations, IT, etc.) and external vendors (Blue Yonder, Vanderlande).
• Provide clear and regular project status updates to senior leadership, highlighting key risks and mitigation plans.

About you:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience as a Technical Project Manager, with a proven track record of managing complex software upgrade and integration projects.
• Direct experience with WMS solutions is mandatory; experience with Blue Yonder is highly preferred.
• Direct experience with automated material handling systems (e.g., AS/RS, conveyors) is mandatory; experience with Vanderlande ADAPTO or similar systems is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC), data mapping, and API integration.
• Proficiency in developing detailed project management plans, RAID logs and project management tools, specifically Jira and Confluence, is highly preferred.

• Skills: Exceptional Communication, Strategic Leadership, Complex Problem-Solving, Stakeholder Management, Adaptability and Resilience.

Contract: 12-month fixed term contract (initially)

Location: Hybrid - Swansea, UK (1-2 days fortnightly in the Swansea, UK office)

Benefits:

A competitive salary and fantastic benefits such as Private Medical Insurance/Medical cash plan, enhanced employer pension contributions, employee discounts portal, 25 days holiday (plus statutory holidays), free parking, employee assistance programme and much more.

Macmillan Publishers is a leading publishing company and home to some of the world's most cherished authors and creators. Our imprints publish a wide range of genres and formats for every kind of reader — from adult fiction and nonfiction to many inspired children’s books. Our list features bestselling, award-winning literary talent, including the Nobel Prize, the Man Booker Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal.