Programme Manager – Data Platform

We’re looking for a Programme Manager to join the SN Data – Data Competence Centre within Springer Nature Operations. You would be joining a transformation programme to drive sustained change in how Springer Nature understands, manages, and uses its data. The Data Platform programme seeks to create data and technical capabilities to create a foundation, adding value to cross-organisation initiatives and data-driven transformation.

The role is reporting to the Director of Data Transformation Programmes and can be based in London (UK), Berlin (Germany) or in Heidelberg (Germany). There will be travel at times with colleagues in many of our global offices. We are an equal opportunity employer. We work in a relaxed, friendly environment and offer the flexibility to work from home 3 days a week.

About You

You are a proactive, curious person who provides a calm outlook to those around you. You are willing to probe, question and investigate difficulties as they arise. You will have:

• An existing track record of planning, delivering, and monitoring successful programmes as a Programme Manager, Delivery Lead or significant contribution to complex programmes as a Project Manager or equivalent
• A substantial list of improvements that you’ve been responsible for in the way your current programme, team, or project works
• Effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience driving delivery in agile and hybrid environments
• A broad understanding of agile methodologies or frameworks
• Experience in mentoring agile Project Managers, Delivery Managers, Scrum Masters or equivalent
• Problem-solving skills

Additionally, you might have some or all of:

• Experience working with platform or enablement teams
• An understanding of complexity and systems thinking
• A proven ability to make progress and find a place to start in the face of ambiguity
• An understanding of OKRs, change management frameworks, common obstacles and practices
• An additional understanding of non-agile, industry-standard, programme/project management tools
• Knowledge of technical processes and ability to hold your own in technical discussions
• Experience of continuous delivery or a frequent release cadence
• Line management experience

Key tasks

In this role, you will:

• Work with the Director of Data Enablement to maintain an up-to-date strategy roadmap
• Run effective steering sessions to support stakeholders in understanding progress and gather steer, support and input
• Work with teams and stakeholders to ensure project-level OKRs and appropriate planning are in place, and teams are working towards them
• Work with the Platform and Programme Directors, teams and stakeholders to define programme-level OKRs, plan and manage work against them
• Create artefacts that communicate, amongst other things, roadmaps, progress, risk, and opportunities at an appropriate level
• Raise and address risks, issues to the programme and work with the appropriate teams or individuals to mitigate them
• Collaborate with teams and stakeholders in reporting on the programme at different levels of detail, depending on audience
• Foster a culture of collaboration, ownership and empowerment, bringing people together with a clear purpose within the programme and advocate for this approach
• Work with the Director of Data Enablement and Data Platform team to ensure they are able to deliver effectively
• Enable teams to reach decisions quickly and effectively, and understand dependencies within and outside the programme
• Ensure success measures are in place to help teams and stakeholders understand the impact of work
• Improve internal processes, including hiring, onboarding and project management
• Line management of the platform project manager
• Provide mentoring, support and guidance to project managers and BAs
• Work effectively with 3rd parties as needed to deliver on programme OKRs

We are an ambitious and dynamic organisation, and home to some of the best-known names in research, educational and professional publishing. Working at the heart of a changing industry, we are always looking for great people who care about delivering quality to our customers and the communities we work alongside. In return, you will find that we open the doors to discovery for all our employees – offering opportunities to learn from some of the best in the business, with a culture that encourages curiosity and empowers people to find solutions and act on their instincts.

Whether you are at the beginning of your career or are an experienced professional, we invite you to find out more about the roles we offer and explore our current vacancies. We are a global and progressive business, founded on a heritage of trusted and respected brands – including Springer, founded in 1842, Macmillan, founded in 1843 and Nature, first published in 1869. Nearly two centuries of progress and advancement in science and education have helped shape the business we are today. Research and learning continues to be the cornerstone of progress, and we will continue to open doors to discovery through trusted brands and innovative products and services. Springer Nature Group was created in May 2015 through the combination of Nature Publishing Group, Macmillan Education and Springer Science+Business Media.