Agile Programme Manager (Data)

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced Agile Programme Manager to join our Data & Analytics function in Leeds or London

Are you our next star player?

Reporting to the Associate Director of Data Portfolio and Transformation this role is responsible for delivering the broad range of technical and process transformation programmes for our Data & Analytics tribe in partnership with other senior managers.

Our Data team is looking for someone to join us on our journey to transform our data & analytics capabilities over the next 3-5 years. If you have experience of programme management and relish the opportunity to take on new challenges as we embark on our new data strategy, then this is the opportunity for you. We provide a proactive & supportive environment in which to grow your career.              

This role follows a hybrid approach to working, allowing you to combine working from home with working in our modern offices. These discussions are between you and your manager to find the best pattern for you both! We will kit you out to work from home but know that working as a team is what makes us great and spending quality time together is essential for keeping us mission aligned.

Why we need you

Data capabilities – from data science to data products – are essential to powering our strategic business objectives over the next several years.

You’ll be supporting several data technology initiatives across Scrum engineering teams. Your focus will be coordinating the programmes with the support of engineering managers, product management, and project managers.

Strong communication skills, ability to build cross team working relationships, analytical thinking and a love of detail are all must-have traits.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and optimise the flow of value through programmes using various tools from agile and programme management
• Facilitate programme planning to align objectives, roadmap, backlogs, features and capabilities
• Manage issues, risks, and dependencies across multiple workstreams effectively
• Encourage and facilitate collaboration between all squads and cross-tribe teams such as Architecture and shared SMEs
• Work with Product Managers and Product Owners to help ensure strategy and execution alignment
• Improve the flow of value through value streams by improving and assessing the practices of the data tribe and help to drive continuous improvement
• Plan, track, monitor, and report on key technical & process transformation programmes that emphasise iterative delivery
• Establish metrics indicating programme health/progress and drive forward corrective action when needed.
• Provide executive level as well as stakeholder communication on programme status
• Work with Delivery & Engineering Managers who are responsible for delivery to track complex projects that span across multiple squads / tribes
• Communicate project value proposition and programme roadmaps for business review

Who we’re looking for

• 5+ years of experience in roles such as Senior Project Manager, Delivery Manager, Agile Programme Manager
• A clear understanding of Agile value-driven approaches where we value more responding to change over following a strict plan
• Strong communication skills with ability to present to Exec level as well as to wider stakeholders
• Significant programme management experience with a proven track record of delivering business value through technology (especially data technologies)
• Experience developing programmes tracked via roadmaps that are guided by company OKRs
• Experience working with stakeholders, managing expectations, refining requirements, achieving buy-in on scope, and prioritisation in an atmosphere of positive constructive collaboration
• Experience driving team engagement, motivation, morale and providing quick action when productivity is affected
• Experience negotiating trade-offs, displaying thoughtful, informed decision making when needed to ensure timely delivery
• Experience with translating technical roadmaps and plans into a programme structure
• Understanding of how different technical teams can best contribute to the success of a programme milestone
• Ability to quickly identify, flag and drive resolution on varied challenges that arise throughout the lifecycle of the programme
• Ability to identify programme timelines and milestones based on scope and resourcing
• Experience & understanding of Data Platforms and/or Data Science would be an advantage

Your Behaviours:

• Listens to our external and internal customers and puts their needs and wants at the centre of all you say and do
• Keeps players entertained and safe, so they keep loving our brands
• Focuses resources and time where they have the biggest impact
• Operates and makes decisions to the full mandate of their role and empowers others to make decisions and act
• Raises the bar, do what you say and call on others to do the same
• Tries new things and treat mistakes as opportunities to learn and improve
• Speaks up and always ready to challenge and support
• Shares ideas, knowledge, and successes
• Finds ways to value the differences across a global mix of people and brands