Project Manager, UK Strategic Governance (12 month FTC) in Reading

This role will support the governance and execution of the UK Snacks Strategy, helping to manage priority workstreams and partner with Operating Unit, Extended Leadership Team and Executive stakeholders to drive progress. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong PMO discipline, advanced Excel and modelling capability, and the ability to simplify complex issues into clear, actionable insights. They should have the confidence and credibility to engage effectively with senior stakeholders. They will be well organised, analytical, and collaborative in their approach, with a willingness to work at pace and dive into the detail to drive progress. This role offers a valuable opportunity to gain exposure to the end‑to‑end business and build strong networks across functions and at all levels within PepsiCo.

Responsibilities

• Managing PMO governance routines, meeting cadence, action tracking and follow‑up.
• Working with Executive and ELT sponsors to prepare clear updates, governance materials and decision papers.
• Tracking progress, risks, issues, dependencies, milestones and owners across priority workstreams.
• Maintaining project plans, action logs, decision logs, risk trackers, timelines and governance documents.
• Building Excel models, trackers, dashboards and PowerPoint packs to support decision‑making.
• Turning inputs from multiple teams into concise, accurate and decision‑oriented updates.
• Getting involved in strategic pillars where needed to support delivery, unblock delays and help workstreams stay on track.
• Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, functional teams and project owners.
• Bringing structure to ambiguous or fast‑moving work so teams move quickly from discussion to action.
• Challenging constructively to clarify updates, surface risks early and keep decisions moving.
• Supporting project owners to define scope, milestones, benefits, risks and required support.
• Getting into the detail where needed – from building trackers to chasing actions and solving blockers.
• Lead or support other initiatives as directed by the UK Strategy and Transformation leadership team and aligned to UK Executive priorities.

Qualifications

• Strategic mindset and highly analytical thinker with very close attention to detail.
• Strong project management experience, ideally within a strategy, transformation, PMO, commercial, finance or operations environment.
• Experience supporting senior governance forums, steering committees or executive‑level decision‑making.
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to build and maintain structured trackers, models and analysis.
• Strong PowerPoint and Word skills, with the ability to create clear, concise and senior‑ready materials, governance documents, briefing notes and written updates.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, competing priorities and a dynamic environment whilst ensuring progress and project delivery and connect the dots across multiple initiatives with interconnecting impacts.
• Results‑oriented problem solver who demonstrates a bias for action with a can‑do approach to work and a willingness to get into the detail and do what is needed to move work forward.
• Strong influence, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions and with senior stakeholders.
• Outstanding project management skills, with the ability to manage a broad and changing agenda.
• Ability to handle competing priorities.
• A people person who can build trust quickly and bring people with them.
• Experience in FMCG, consumer goods, retail, consulting or a similarly fast‑paced commercial environment would be advantageous.
• Experience working in a PMO, transformation office, or chief of staff environment would be advantageous.
• Project management certification or training, such as PRINCE2, Agile, PMP or equivalent, would be advantageous.