Senior Technical Programme Manager – Online Programmes

The Online teams have led the way in creating systems which are driving the transformation of the Tesco technology platform:   We have significantly grown the number of customers who rely on us to deliver their shopping to their home or convenient location. We saw substantial increases in volumes and customers through the pandemic which tested and proved the scalability of the platform. These increases saw use regularly exceed over 1.3m orders a week though the retail platform.

Through the “Easily the most convenient” Strategic Driver, we are starting the next chapter for Grocery Home shopping. Balancing changes across the App and online platform to support the ambitious growth and proposition plans for Tesco customers. We want to ensure that the more customers use Tesco the more useful Tesco becomes to them, though Grocery Home Shopping, Click and Collect and Whoosh etc.

This is an opportunity for an experienced Programme Manager to lead a team who together will drive a portfolio of strategic programmes.  You will be working closely with Business and Technology teams to shape the next chapter for Online Technology services. You must be comfortable with ambiguity, skilled at shaping programmes from early inception and then taking them through to delivery.

Senior Technical Programme Managers (STPMs) lead teams that deliver complex, cross-functional technology programmes that support colleagues and help serve our customers better. They work collaboratively, influence Product, Engineering, and business colleagues to deliver value quickly and often.

Whilst specific responsibilities will be dependent upon the changing needs of the Tesco business, the following provides an overview of the role’s key responsibilities and measures:

• Deliver complex programmes with multiple business and technical risks that will impact the success of key Tesco business priorities
• Establish new or improve existing delivery methodology to deliver the programme goals
• Initiate and shape programmes with ambiguous scope and uncertain delivery approach
• Create and track a plan to deliver the programme goals, including the technical implementation plan
• Provide expert advice and guidance on programme delivery (mentoring other TPMs and supporting Engineering/Product teams)
• Understand trade-offs in software delivery, using experience and influencing skills to drive consensus with the Engineering and Product teams to obtain the best value and solution
• Able to foresee potential risks and issues, establish a process, facilitate discussions and manage escalations
• Act on opportunities to adopt trends and new concepts in programme and product delivery
• Able to understand a technical architecture to be able to foresee the impact on dependencies, delivery timelines and implementation plans
• Have good knowledge of engineering best practices and practical infrastructure implementations to appreciate delivery challenges
• Ask probing questions of Engineering and Product teams to ensure solutions meet programme objectives
• Understand technology concepts, grasp new ones quickly and appreciate their implications on delivery
• Effectively manage major incidents, ensuring stakeholders are updated with the right information to drive the correct decisions
• Collaborate with the Product and Engineering teams to define annual budgetary requirements
• Build positive relationships with suppliers & external stakeholders to deliver software or professional services
• Add value to vendor selection processes (tendering, agreeing SLAs, warranty periods, outsourcing)
• Proactively research trends and development in retail, technology, and programme and product delivery
• Coach peers and other roles, teaching where required, on methodologies and programme management tools and coach/mentor on leadership
• Take a leading role in the recruitment process and make final recruitment decisions
• Play an active leadership role in the TPM guild and community – proactively influencing capability and capacity planning for TPMs

Key Skills and Experience

An ideal candidate must have demonstrated below key skills in their current and past roles:

• Have a proven record of accomplishment in delivering technology and/or infrastructure; having done so across multiple teams in multiple geographies
• Have experience of building credible relationships and influencing senior management & leadership teams
• Strong Project, Stakeholder & Programme management skills
• Excellent communication & influencing skills and adaptability to changes

Desired experience

• Strong vendor management and negotiating skills.
• Exceptional reporting skills for programs and financial forecasting
• Proven track record of development and management of teams

Our vision here at Tesco is to become every customer's favourite way to shop, whether they are at home, out shopping, on the move, anywhere in the world.

We want our customers to be inspired and whatever they are looking for, we’re finding bigger and better ways to provide it.

Everything is underpinned by our continuous drive for the best tools and technology to deliver our vision. We’re driving innovation and transforming our Technology to become the world’s leading retailer.

We need people who share our ambition to deliver for our customers; passionate and confident people willing to take the initiative and drive us forwards. In return we offer excitement, a great team, an excellent benefit package, and significant career development opportunities.

Joining us means playing a part in defining; building and launching an ambitious roadmap of digital products that could affect the lives of millions of people over the years to come.

If that sounds exciting, then we'd love to hear from you.

The position will be based in the UK with occasional travel to other Tesco sites i.e.  Central Europe and India offices.