Lead Technical Programme Manager - Customer & Loyalty

If you love a challenge this one is for you. Launched in 1995 Tesco Clubcard has grown to become the largest retail loyalty scheme in the UK.  There are 20 million Tesco Clubcard households in the UK, and 7 million Clubcard app users.  Clubcard usage in large stores has jumped from 67% of sales in 2020 to 80% this year, and from 50% to 70% across all store formats. 

Today customers expect more immediate and personalised service, and we want to ensure that the more customers use Tesco the more useful Tesco becomes to them. Our ambition is for customers to “take ownership” of the Clubcard by “getting preferred prices” on items in the most valued shopping basket.

This is an opportunity for an experienced Technical Programme Manager to be involved right from the initial stages of a key strategic programme.  You will be working closely with Business and Technology teams to shape the next chapter for Clubcard. You must be comfortable with ambiguity, and skilled at shaping programmes from early inception and then taking them through to delivery.

Lead Technical Programme Managers (TPMs) deliver complex, cross-functional technology programmes that support colleagues and help serve our customers better. They work collaboratively, influence Product, Engineering and business colleagues and lead the programme to deliver value quickly and often.

Whilst specific responsibilities will be dependent upon the changing needs of the Tesco business, the following provides an overview of the role’s key responsibilities and measures:

• Deliver complex programmes with multiple business and technical risks that will impact the success of key Tesco business priorities
• Establish new or improve existing programme delivery methodology to deliver the programme goals
• Shape programmes with ambiguous scope and uncertain delivery approach
• Create and track a plan to deliver the programme goals, including the technical implementation plan, ensuring colleagues and stakeholders from across Tesco are kept up to date
• Provide advice and guidance on programme delivery (line management and mentoring other TPMs and supporting Engineering/Product teams)
• Understand trade-offs in software delivery using experience and influencing skills to drive consensus with the Engineering and Product teams to obtain the best value and solution
• Able to foresee potential risks and issues, establish a process, facilitate discussion, and manage escalations
• Am aware and evaluate trends and new concepts in programme and product delivery
• Able to understand a technical architecture to be able to foresee the impact on dependencies, delivery timelines and implementation plans
• Have good knowledge of engineering best practices and practical infrastructure implementations to appreciate delivery challenges
• Collaborate with the Product and Engineering teams to define annual budgetary requirements
• Build positive relationships with suppliers & external stakeholders to deliver software or professional services, holding them to account on delivery and improvement plans
• Support vendor selection processes (tendering, agreeing SLAs, warranty periods, outsourcing)
• Facilitate and support the development of individuals
• Communicate clear objectives and career path for any direct reports
• Coach peers and other roles, teaching where required, on methodologies and programme management tools and coach/mentor on leadership
• Participate in the recruitment process
• Contribute actively to TPM community

An ideal candidate must have demonstrated below key skills in their current and past roles:

• Have a proven record of accomplishment in delivering technology and/or infrastructure; having done so across multiple teams in multiple geographies
• Have experience of building credible relationships and influencing senior management & leadership teams
• Strong Project, Stakeholder & Programme management skills
• Strong vendor management and negotiating skills.
• Exceptional reporting skills for programs and financial forecasting
• Excellent communication & influencing skills and adoptability to changes

We offer excellent benefits that help make Tesco a great place to work!  These include but are not limited to:

• Annual bonus scheme
• Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (and bank holidays)
• Great colleague discounts and deals, saving you money on everyday purchases, utility bills for the home and more
• Retirement savings plan – save between 4% and 7.5% and Tesco will match your contribution
• Buy as you earn and Save as you earn share schemes
• Opportunities to get on – take advantage of our ongoing learning opportunities and award-winning training to help you achieve the career you want

Our vision at Tesco is to become every customer’s favourite way to shop, whether they are at home or out on the move.  Our core purpose is “Serving our customers, communities and planet a little better every day”.  Serving means more than a transactional relationship with our customers.  It means acting as a responsible and sustainable business for all stakeholders, for the communities we are part of, and for the planet.

We are proud to have an inclusive culture at Tesco where everyone truly feels able to be themselves.  At Tesco, we not only celebrate diversity, but recognise the value and opportunity it brings.  We’re committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued, and make sure that all colleagues are given the same opportunities.  We’re a big business with diverse working patterns and many business areas which means that we can find something that works for you.  Everyone is welcome at Tesco.

We have recently announced that we are moving to a more blended working week – combining office and remote working.  Our offices continue to be where we connect, collaborate and innovate.  Talk to us about how this can work for you.

Note: Should you be successful in your application, your employment will be subject to and conditional upon you providing your bank account details on your agreed start date.