Programme Manager - Commerce (Contract) in London

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy’s.

The opportunity: You lead teams to deliver high quality, complex project(s) on budget and within a specified timeframe to achieve the potential benefits defined in the business case. You work closely with the Account Director to achieve productivity goals and contribute to the organisation’s overall success.

What you’ll be doing:

• Accountable for all delivery across the programme.
• Analyse, evaluate, and overcome programme risks, and produce accurate programme reports for management and stakeholders.
• Maintain organisational standards of satisfaction, quality, and performance, including the creation and implementation of ways of working at the start of a programme.
• Create and implement effective ways of working at the start of the programme and ensure these are adhered to throughout the project lifecycle.
• Track and manage dependencies between projects and workstreams, creating programme level plans to ensure these are addressed.
• Ensure programme goals are reached by keeping the workstreams updated on progress and any changes that need to be made.
• Provide support and guidance to project managers within your account and line management for several project managers outside of your account.
• Maintain a resource plan showing resource commitment across the projects and keep track of potential end dates in association with functional lead personnel.
• Track resource requests and manage fulfilment of these requests internally or externally as appropriate.
• Develop strong relationships with WTC team members and client stakeholders at all levels.
• Work with the client to understand their vision and plan the programme of work to successfully achieve that vision to the greatest effect.
• Define and implement programme level governance in conjunction with the client.
• Manage third party vendors on behalf of the client.

What we want from you:

• Experience in managing multiple teams across different workstreams. As a minimum, if in a team management role, this should be at least 20 people.
• A good understanding of the software development lifecycle & release management.
• Proven track record in the successful delivery of an ecommerce migration/Re-platform.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent negotiation skills and an ability to handle sensitive issues with tact & diplomacy.
• Exposure to medium to large scale fixed price project delivery.
• Experience in multi‑vendor management.
• Experience in managing people and financial budgets (including programme budgeting, monitoring financials etc.) ideally in an eCommerce environment.
• Experience of overseeing 3rd parties.
• Excellent risk management skills.
• Minimum of three years’ experience working in an Agile environment.
• Proven track record of working with organisations moving from Waterfall to Agile delivery approaches.
• Working knowledge of Agile frameworks, Scrum and Kanban.
• Effective leadership skills with experience of managing other project managers.
• Strong time management & organisational skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Good commercial knowledge, experience of contract negotiations would be advantageous.
• Software Application Development related Project management experience (min 6 years).
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Packages, especially MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Minimum BA/BS degree with a major in information management, marketing, communications, business or other closely‑related areas is an advantage.

What we can offer you:

Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world, we’ll also prioritise your career development and help you grow your skills. We’ll empower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are.

Our culture thrives on our core values, designed for impact‑driven individuals: Heart, Brains and Courage.

We lead with Heart, fostering empathy and trust where genuine connections and human‑centric work flourish. We empower your Brains for innovation, valuing relentless curiosity and collaborative intelligence to solve complex challenges. And we champion Courage, inspiring you to speak up, embrace experimentation, and advocate for bold solutions that push our thinking to be better than yesterday.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.