Programme Manager

🚀 Interim Programme Manager – Central Operating Model (Retail Transformation)

📍 London - Hybrid

💰 Negotiable and competitive

✅ Immediate Start

A leading UK retailer is launching a high-impact Central Operating Model programme to transform its Buying, Merchandising, and central operations. The goal: streamline processes, drive automation, cut costs, and free teams to focus on value-adding activities - all without a large-scale system overhaul.

Your role:

You’ll be the hands-on leader coordinating a portfolio of interdependent projects, working closely with internal SMEs and a senior programme sponsor.

Key initiatives include:

• Promotions Process Redesign – end-to-end review across Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, and Space teams to optimise efficiency and reduce administration.
• Forecasting Enhancements – improve and operationalise existing ML models to link with stock ordering processes.
• EDI Programme Integration – align finance-led EDI initiatives with the broader operational programme.
• Automation Projects – streamline line cards and stock tracking using internal BI/data science capabilities.
• Supplier Intake & Scorecards – establish measurement frameworks and reporting to improve supplier performance visibility.
• Legacy Systems Optimisation – extract and leverage data from existing allocation systems to reduce bottlenecks without replacement.

You’ll prioritise initiatives to secure quick wins, reduce inventory, save thousands of hours in operational time, and cut unnecessary costs. You’ll also embed change management, engaging stakeholders across functions and bringing people on the journey - no dedicated change team exists, so your influence is critical.

Who we’re looking for:

✔ Extensive retail experience with a strong grasp of the “plan, buy, move, sell” cycle.

✔ Proven operator with credibility, gravitas, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.

✔ Personable, proactive, and tenacious — someone who builds trust and momentum across the business.

✔ Delivery-focused and pragmatic, thriving in a fast-paced environment.

✔ Experienced in driving tangible, operational outcomes, with a track record of successful programmes and quick wins.

Why this is exciting:

• You’ll lead a high-visibility programme with a hands-on, commercially astute sponsor.
• Make an immediate impact in a dynamic, cost-conscious, and agile retail environment.
• Work on meaningful, visible change that directly affects operations, efficiency, and profitability.
• Hybrid, flexible working with a focus on results rather than bureaucracy.