Programme Manager - Commerce

Position: Programme Manager - Commerce (Contract)
Who We AreVML 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 award-winning human-first work for clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. In 2026, VML was named Campaign’s Global Network of the Year and ranked #2 Creative Network of the Year at Cannes Lions.

VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visit and follow along on Linked In #WeAreVML.Programme Manager with extensive experience including experience managing small programmes of work needed to join our team

This is a London based Contract role

The opportunity:

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

What you’ll be doing :

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 work streams, creating programme level plans to ensure these are addressed

Ensure programme goals are reached by keeping the work streams 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 the 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 we want from you:

Experience in managing multiple teams across different work streams. As a minimum, if in a team management role, this should be at least 20 peopleA 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

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…