Transformation Project Manager

Ocado; Hatfield; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading online supermarket is seeking a Transformation Project Manager to oversee critical transformation projects. This role involves managing the full project lifecycle, partnering with cross-functional teams to deliver business benefits, and mentoring junior colleagues. The ideal candidate will have project management experience, excellent stakeholder management skills, and the ability to communicate effectively. The position offers competitive benefits including hybrid working options and a range of health and wellness initiatives.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Annual bonus scheme

Up to 7% matched pension contributions

Discounts on Ocado and M&S

26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays

Free shuttle bus from Hatfield station

Qualifications

• Experience in project management at every stage of the project lifecycle.
• Experience in an online retail environment.
• Experience in line managing or coaching team members.

Responsibilities

• Manage transformation projects from concept to delivery.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to solve complex business problems.
• Lead project teams and mentor junior members.
• Report project progress in senior leadership forums.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Agility

Curiosity and learning

Education

Project management qualifications (e.g., APM PMQ)

Job description

We are at an exciting moment in the development of the Ocado Retail business with a broad base of fundamental business change programmes underway which will step change the capabilities within the business. The Transformation team and delivery of effective change are fundamental to this. The Transformation team is responsible for planning, sequencing and executing a portfolio of exciting transformation projects across the business. The projects range from operational improvements to critical and strategic cross‑functional programmes. The team needs to ensure the organisation is prepared for the upcoming changes and manage the end‑to‑end lifecycle of transformation to ensure business benefits are fully realised and changes are successfully embedded. The Transformation Project Manager will have end‑to‑end responsibility on a number of high‑profile high‑impact projects and will involve research, analysis and commercial modelling, project design and ultimately managing projects to achieve their business benefits. The Transformation Project Manager will be able to manage projects autonomously, reporting to the Transformation Programmes Lead. The role may involve managing multiple projects, or multiple workstreams, at the same time. This means a successful Transformation Project Manager will have an agile and flexible approach, and the ability to prioritise whilst working on different projects concurrently. As a key member of the team, the Project Manager may be expected to provide line management, coaching and mentoring for more junior members of the team, as well as championing the Ocado Way for Managing Projects throughout the wider business.

What you’ll do

• Ownership of transformation projects or work streams within large scale transformation programmes
• Responsible for all dimensions of the project: concept, structure, delivery, governance, reporting, risk & issues, financial/budget management, resourcing and communication
• Partner with Insights & subject matter experts to solve complex business problems associated to projects
• Partner with Finance to create robust business cases for transformation projects and lead post‑project reviews, including commercial modelling
• Be responsible for reporting progress in a variety of senior leadership forums and producing the relevant documentation
• Working with stakeholders, both internal and external, to ensure all teams are working towards the same goal and that strong and lasting professional relationships are built
• Act as a mentor to more junior colleagues in the Transformation team
• Encouraging best practice and consistent working across the wider business, being a champion of the Ocado Way for Managing Projects
• Owning the value delivery of each project and more broadly ensuring Transformations projects are contributing to the headline Ocado Retail strategy
• Planning & Organisation – Able to multitask, prioritise, create clear and realistic plans with strong attention to detail
• Leadership & People Management – Able to set a clear direction and develop team members to achieve personal growth
• Results‑oriented – Proactive with a focus on the delivery of successful project and programmes
• Data & Commercially driven – Able to ask the right questions of complex data and bases decisions on solid rationale supported by data and insights and can explain the decision in a logical and structured way to a wide range of stakeholders
• Finance literacy – Understands and can manipulate the drivers underlying a project's payback (capex, benefits case, etc)
• Stakeholder Management – Ability to build strong working relationships quickly and work cooperatively with a wide range of departments and specialists, tailoring the approach to effectively influence colleagues with other business priorities
• Consensus building – bringing a group with different viewpoints to a shared understanding of what is required
• Communication – able to clearly communicate across the organisation, to our partners, and to senior leadership, recognising individual styles and adapting accordingly. Ensuring stakeholders are well informed.
• Curiosity – Enjoys learning new subject matters & comfortable stepping into projects outside existing domain knowledge

Preferred experience & qualifications

• Very helpful to have, but not essential if you tick the above boxes
• Experience in project management at every stage of the project lifecycle
• Experience in an online retail environment
• Experience line managing, coaching and developing direct reports
• Theoretical understanding of project management methods and tools/project management qualifications (e.g., APM PMQ)

Our mission

Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value.

Benefits

Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance with option to add your family, Digital GP appointments, market‑leading family policies, mental health support, discounted gym memberships, dental insurance, and more.

Spend & Save: Annual bonus scheme split between personal and business objectives, recognition with reward platform, up to 7% matched pension contributions, 15% Ocado discount, 20% M&S discount, free breakfast every day in the office, electric vehicle leasing scheme, and free shuttle bus from Hatfield station to the office.

Never miss the moments that matter: Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays, options to buy extra holiday, 2 weeks work from anywhere, and lifestyle break opportunities.

We're Ocado Retail, a market‑leading joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S, and the world's largest dedicated online supermarket, ocado.com. Not only is Ocado.com the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, it's also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands. We're also the brains behind Zoom by Ocado, our same‑day grocery delivery service. By joining Ocado Retail, you'll have the chance to experience life at the world's largest online retailer, work with an amazing bunch of people who challenge what's possible each day, and grow your skills and career in online retail. If that's not enough to tempt you, you'll also get access to loads of great benefits to sweeten the deal.