Head of Technical Program Management - Networks

Summary

M&S are embarking on a multimillion-pound investment in its network infrastructure. We are advertising for several roles who will work with our chosen network provider to both transition from our existing vendor and transform our network.

We are looking to hire a Head of Technical Program Management who will work to lead the third‑party team on technical delivery of the new capabilities and connect third party teams into the M&S Digital and Technology teams.

The program of transformation has over 30 streams of work which will deliver a transformed network infrastructure that will power M&S retail and digital growth for the future.

In the role you will need to have a strong technical knowledge – ideally in networks. Plus be comfortable working in a matrixed environment with Engineers and third parties networked into you.

Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing outstanding quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.

• After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third‑party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
• A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
• Ample perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
• Industry‑leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
• Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
• A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you’re passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.

The Head of Technical Program Management is the glue of engineering, product and business strategies – owning programmes of work of significant visibility and complexity with broad cross‑organisational and/or deep architectural impact. You are accountable for end‑to‑end technical delivery and performance across domains within the organisation and external suppliers, utilising your expertise in handling constraints, improving quality or removing blockers.

The mission is to harness agile ways of working and embed our strategic ambitions to successfully deliver sophisticated change  key to the success of this role is simplifying the complex processes into simple, straightforward solutions and building positive, trusting relationships through consistent delivery of solutions and effective communication in‑line with the M&S Way.

More specifically, the Head of Technical Program role is the embodiment of ‘own it, and get it done’ with key responsibilities as follows:

• Plan, own and deliver highly complex and multi‑disciplinary initiatives, collaborating with senior leaders to align strategic goals and drive a customer‑first mind‑set in Technology.
• Creates roadmaps and objectives and key results alongside the Head of Product & Head of Engineering to ensure alignment to strategic ambitions for M&S including the Technology Strategy.
• Facilitate continuous refinement and prioritisation of initiatives working alongside Product, Engineering and Business leaders.
• Drive data‑driven decisions through metrics and regular reporting to provide visibility creating a culture of transparency.
• Develop trusted relationships with partners across business areas using deep and relevant technology experience to simplify sophisticated technology issues.
• Manage and maintain executive relationships with vendors and other external partners to ensure successful delivery of outcomes through innovation and thought…