Strategic Projects Manager in London

Reports to: Matrix reporting to Head of QR and to Programme and Business Operations Manager (line manager)

Direct reports: None

Employment type: 12 months fixed-term contract

Salary Range: £50,000 - 53,000

Application Requirements: A cover letter is required and must be submitted alongside your CV as part of your application.

Accountabilities: At GS1 UK, we are working with the industry on transformation from barcode to QR codes powered by GS1. The Strategic Projects Manager will play a key role in scaling this transformation. As a priority, this role will be responsible for designing and delivering QR service proposition for GS1 UK to be offered to GS1 UK members. This will include building frameworks, toolkits and effective ways of sharing them with the target audience. In addition, the role will support the development of GS1 UK’s next three-year strategy and the implementation of a consistent account management approach, helping to bring structure, coordination and high-quality outputs across these priorities.

Key responsibilities:

• Create QR service catalogue: Analyse and segment the target market and recommend relevant offerings for different segments (mass market off-the-shelf solutions vs tailored approach).
• Map out member needs and service gaps.
• Understand, document and standardise current services through shadowing QR engagement managers. Where applicable, translate current services into replicable formats that can be consistently scaled.
• Drive delivery and implementation of proposed solutions, ensuring highest standards of external proposition and internal efficiency in delivery.
• Provide personal insight, analysis and recommendations to the programme team and steering committee to inform decision-making.
• Develop guidance for GS1 UK internal teams on how to deliver the services such as workshop facilitation.
• Continually identify, recommend and implement improvements to the necessary processes and systems to increase the efficiency and quality of our offering.
• Support account management and business process improvement activities.
• Facilitate workshops, coordinate cross-functional inputs and help drive alignment across teams.
• Develop clear materials, templates and deliverables to support rollout and adoption.
• Develop appropriate reporting to track progress.
• Track progress and support the coordination of key activities to ensure consistent implementation.
• Support the development of GS1 UK's three-year strategy, working alongside internal leadership and external partners.
• Help coordinate inputs across teams and ensure alignment of material and messaging.
• Translate strategic direction into clear outputs and supporting materials where required.

Person specification:

Background and experience:

• Essential:
• +2 years of consulting experience, or similar advisory experience.
• Experience of bringing services or products to market.
• Experience of implementing new tools, systems or processes.
• Proven track record of working collaboratively within cross-functional teams to deliver against strategic plans.
• Demonstrable experience in producing clear action plans and successfully delivering against them.
• Desirable:
• Experience in digital transformation and implementation of technology innovation.
• Retail industry experience, incl. a good understanding of the retail value chain, consumer challenges and digitalisation opportunities.
• Demonstrable proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications (e.g. Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel) and cyber security awareness aligned with the UK Cyber Essentials framework, including secure working practices, threat recognition, and responsible data handling.

Personal strengths and style:

• Consistently delivers high-quality outputs, brilliant communicator with strong PowerPoint skills.
• Organised, proactive, problem solver, self-starter with a positive ‘can-do’ attitude.
• Has a practical approach and be willing to get ‘stuck in’ and ‘get stuff done’.
• Action-oriented – can identify and work to clear priorities, manage time and resources effectively.
• Logical thinker who can move from a big picture to detail orientation where required, but also present detailed and complex information in a format that is easy to understand and digest.
• A critical thinker who is committed to a culture of continuous improvement and operational efficiency.
• Curious and willing to learn.
• Someone who can build positive and resilient relationships across the organisation, but who can also hold staff accountable for delivery.
• Someone who can communicate with staff at all levels of seniority and confidently.
• Professional - ethical, honest and respectful.

Why join us?

As a colleague at GS1 UK, you will enjoy a supportive working environment along with a generous amount of benefits available to you:

• A healthy work-life balance (hybrid working with flexibility on start and finish times).
• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays) with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days every year.
• Join our social and charity team events.
• Generous pension scheme with employer contributions up to 12%.
• Life assurance policy (5x annual salary) to give you peace of mind.
• Full range of benefits available (PMI, dental, travel, gym membership and many more).