At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the delivery of our retail platform and drive continuous improvement.
- Company: Join Betfred, a pioneering force in the global betting and gaming industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, wellness support, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career growth and development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of betting while working with innovative technologies.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail environments and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 85000 £ per year.
About Us
Our mission is to dominate the betting and gaming industry on a global scale and we need the very best Tech talent to help us achieve this. With the help of our proprietary platform, we're able to pioneer new products and drive more advanced, creative technologies. The result? Unrivalled experiences for millions of customers worldwide. Betfred's Technology department is driven by innovation, and you'll be at the heart of unlocking our new platform's potential. So, if you want to help shape the future of betting and gaming, then it's time to join us.
Job Purpose
Reporting to the Programme Director, as an experienced Programme Manager, you will lead the delivery of the retail platform within Betfred delivery teams, encouraging a continuous improvement mentality in all that we do to ensure effective outcomes for the organisation. You will provide strategic guidance to teams and project managers in ways that promote the company’s culture. The ideal candidate will be an excellent leader with strong experience in retail environments (ideally retail betting / gaming or regulated retail), with a clear understanding of store / retail operations, trading cycles, and compliance‑driven delivery. They will have experience managing multiple disciplines and vendors to deliver outcomes in both Waterfall and Agile delivery models, particularly in seasonal or peak trading periods (e.g. sporting events, and high‑volume retail cycles). They will be able to operate confidently at senior stakeholder level while remaining hands‑on when required. Your ultimate goal will be to ensure that the programme delivers the desired outcome for our organisation.
Job Duties
- Providing overall leadership for the delivery, ensuring alignment with retail online and shop operations, trading initiatives, and compliance requirements.
- Work closely with Retail team to decide on suitable roadmap, strategies and objectives for the programme, considering both business‑as‑usual retail operations and peak seasonal demand (i.e. Cheltenham and Grand National).
- Coordinating cross‑project activities and dependencies within the programme, including retail (SSBT, FOBT, OTC), compliance, trading, payments, and technology teams.
- Developing and controlling deadlines and activities aligned to retail release cycles, seasonal peaks, and regulatory milestones.
- Applying change, risk, and resource management with awareness of retail operational constraints and compliance obligations.
- Assuming responsibility for the programme’s people and vendors across both business and technology delivery streams.
- Assessing programme performance and aiming to maximise outcome based and value driven delivery through flow metrics and predictable delivery outcomes, where applicable.
- Maintaining the programme roadmap and schedule, ensuring alignment with retail priorities and seasonal events.
- Reporting on programme status to senior executives with clear visibility of risks, dependencies, and retail impact.
- Accounting for retail programme and project delivery, ensuring efficient delivery across both Agile and Waterfall initiatives as required.
- Driving continuous improvement in delivery practices, including adoption of new ways of working, key programme and business metrics measure to improve predictability and throughput.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
- Proven experience as a Programme Manager within a retail, regulated, and customer‑facing operational environment.
- Strong understanding of retail operations (store or online retail), trading cycles, and compliance‑driven processes.
- Experience delivering programmes across both Waterfall and Agile delivery models, including hybrid environments.
- A thorough understanding of programme, project management with Agile and Waterfall techniques and methods.
- Demonstrable experience of initiating and delivering complex programmes in previous organisations.
- Good understanding of flow‑based delivery metrics and their practical application for retail online business.
- Outstanding leadership, problem‑solving and organisational skills with ability to operate in fast‑paced retail environments with hands‑on delivery approach.
- Excellent communication skills with experience engaging senior‑level executives and business stakeholders.
Desirable
- Experience in retail or regulated environments (betting, gaming, financial services, or retail), with understanding of store operations, compliance constraints, trading systems, and customer impact.
- Proven ability to balance BAU retail operations with large‑scale transformation programmes, including delivery in seasonal, high‑pressure peak periods.
- Experience driving Agile maturity for retail online initiatives with flow‑based delivery improvements (e.g. lead time, cycle time, throughput) across multiple teams and programmes.
- Collaborative and hands‑on leader who builds team cohesion, improves governance and transparency, challenges ways of working, and drives practical, value‑led change.
What is in it for me?
We offer a variety of competitive benefits, some of which vary depending on the role you’re recruited to. Some of what you can expect in this role includes:
- A competitive rate of pay and pension contribution (£65,000 - £85,000)
- Generous discretionary bonus schemes, incentives and competitions
- An annual leave entitlement that increases with length of service
- Access to an online GP 24/7, 365 days a year for you and your immediate family.
- Employee wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Pay
- Long Service Recognition
- Access to a pay day savings scheme, financial coach and up to 40% of your earned wage ahead of payday, through Wagestream.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Manager (Retail) in Manchester
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Betfred, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Betfred!
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Manager (Retail) in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Betfred, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Betfred and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Betfred that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Betfred
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
