Programme Manager

Who We Are

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 agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

Programme Manager wanted to join our team in Portugal.

The opportunity:

You will lead teams to deliver high quality, complex projects on budget and within a specified timeframe to achieve the potential benefits defined in the business case. You'll work closely with the Account Director to achieve productivity goals and contribute to the organisation’s overall success.

What you’ll get to do:

• 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 VML 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 you should have:

• 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 & 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 of 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.

Permanent only:
We offer a great benefits package including a discretionary bonus scheme, training opportunities, competitive pension, medical insurance, life assurance, social events, opportunities to buy and sell holidays, family friendly policies, discounts with hundreds of retailers and much more.

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.

AT VML Enterprise Solutions

Our Enterprise Solutions division houses strategic consultants, creative and technical architects and skilled developers and operators that together help some of the world’s leading organisations to deliver outstanding digital experiences across all major routes to market worldwide: marketplaces, online retailers, D2C, B2B and social platforms. With over 4,200 experts in 55 operational centres across 34 countries, our capabilities span the entire buying journey from customer acquisition, through engagement, to conversion and loyalty, driving multi-channel growth for world-leading brands.

We work with some of the most exciting brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, EY, Bosch, Unilever, Ford, DFS, Mercedes-Benz, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Shell and Tiffany & Co. We’ve built over 500 platforms for brands and retailers and generate in excess of $29bn annually for our clients and work with over 50 strategic partners including Adobe, SAP, Salesforce, HCL, Shopify, Sitecore, BigCommerce, commerce tools and Acquia. Our reputation is based on our people, and we believe we have some of the best in the business.

As our business grows internationally, we’re looking for new people to join us on our journey to inspire and take a key role in shaping some of the best commerce solutions, services, and websites in the world. Working as a team, no problem is insurmountable; we share in our client’s successes and believe that anyone can show creative bravery no matter what their role is in the team.

#LI-EMEA #LI-HYBRID

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

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.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit  www.vml.com, and follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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