IT Project Manager
About the role...
The Project Manager works as part of the business facing team for the IT function, leading the management and delivery of a wide range of technology related projects through every stage of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) to agreed time, quality and cost parameters. You will work closely with the IT Portfolio Manager, to ensure successful delivery of strategic IT initiatives.
The Project Manager is the main link between the key business stakeholders, IT and 3rd parties and drives change delivery that enables business strategy, and goals.
We uphold three core behaviours that guide all our actions:
Love Our Customers: We strive to delight our customers, listening and responding to their needs because they are our priority.
Care for Our Colleagues: We support each other to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive.
Protect Our Pounds/Euros: We are committed to cost-efficiency and value, ensuring every penny counts.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Why choose us?
Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in-house development programmes to set you up for success or to pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme.
Bonus Potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses, rewarding your hard work and achievements.
Car Allowance: Enjoy the advantage of a car allowance, allowing you to choose your own vehicle while reducing commuting costs.
Free On-Site Parking: Enjoy the convenience of free parking, making your daily commute hassle-free.
Onsite Coffee Lounge: Take advantage of our onsite coffee lounge, a perfect space to relax and recharge during breaks.
Exclusive Store Discounts: Receive a 10% discount on most in-store purchases, enhancing your shopping experience.
Family-Friendly Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits are designed to support your and your family’s needs.
My Staff Shop: Gain exclusive discounts through our ‘My Staff Shop’ portal, saving on various products and services.
Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with our life assurance cover, securing your family’s future.
Health & Wellbeing Programme: Benefit from an employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing.
Generous Holiday Allowance: Start with a generous leave entitlement of 33 days per year, with the option to buy additional holidays annually. Celebrate your special day off work every year with an extra day of holiday because we believe birthdays are important.
Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our contributory pension scheme, helping you save for a secure retirement.
Your Impact and Responsibilities…
Project Delivery
- Utilising project artefacts to proactively manage projects on a day-to-day basis with focus on risks, issues, resource contention, scope and timescales to ensure that IT are always actively communicating challenges to stakeholders in these areas.
- Defining, confirming and controlling scope for all assigned IT initiatives, ensuring this is clearly and consistently communicated to all stakeholders throughout.
- Leading IT initiatives ensuring delivery by following the Poundland IT Delivery Framework, and that this framework is clear and understood by all stakeholders.
Stakeholder Management
- Build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders that can be leveraged during the delivery of IT initiatives.
- Engaging with and managing senior stakeholders from board level down on project progress, challenges and required support.
- Managing new and existing third-party suppliers working with Poundland on the delivery of IT projects, ensuring that they have clear, scope, deliverables and timescales, and that their chosen method of delivery is aligned to the project and the Poundland IT Delivery Framework.
Continuous Improvement
- Facilitates a continuous improvement mindset within the project teams, ensuring efficiency is built into delivery of projects and programmes.
- Contributing to the evolution of the Poundland IT Delivery Framework, sharing ideas, improving processes and educating colleagues from across the organisation.
Governance & Reporting
- Creating, maintaining and executing detailed, task orientated project plans covering all stages of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) as appropriate, from shaping, discovery, development, testing, implementation and support.
- Organising and running all required project meetings in line with the Poundland IT Delivery Framework as required, including but not limited to project kick off meetings, daily stand ups, weekly project reviews and monthly steering group meetings.
- Completing, publishing and communication of critical project information as necessary in line with the Poundland IT Delivery Framework, including but not limited to requests for work, benefits cases, project highlight reports, project steering group reports and budget reports.
- Ensuring the completion and maintenance by relevant project team members of all necessary project management artefacts in line with the Poundland IT Delivery Framework including but not limited to requests for work, benefits cases, RAID logs, RACI logs, project plans, hand over to support documents, project closure documents, managing budgets and resource timesheets.
Skills and Knowledge…
The ideal candidate will have a proven record of delivering complex, technology-led projects (software, hardware, data, and infrastructure) in fast-paced retail or similar environments. They will demonstrate strong end-to-end SDLC experience, stakeholder management from C-suite to shop floor, and effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and third parties. Knowledge of Prince2 Foundation or APMG methodologies is beneficial but not essential.
Skills
- Decisive and analytical, with sound judgement and proven decision-making ability
- Self-starter who can balance technology complexity with business needs under time, quality, and cost constraints
- Strong stakeholder management and situational awareness
- Able to think strategically and tactically to resolve issues, mitigate risks, and ensure delivery
- Resilient and focused, with leadership across people, process, and technology challenges
- Proactive ownership and team leadership skills
- Familiar with project management tools and frameworks (e.g., MS Project, DevOps)
- Comfortable working in unstructured, fast-changing environments
- Excellent interpersonal and emotional intelligence
Knowledge
- Understanding of end-to-end retail functions (Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Trading, Retail & Digital)
- Familiarity with project management best practices, Agile methodologies, and sprint-based delivery across multiple scrum teams
About us...
Since our humble beginnings in 1990, Poundland has evolved into a retail powerhouse with over 650 stores and 13,000 dedicated colleagues across the UK and Republic of Ireland. The addition of Dealz in 2011 further solidified our presence, enabling us to reach millions of customers with our unparalleled value offerings.
At Poundland & Dealz, we don't just offer products at unbeatable prices; we cultivate an environment where every colleague can thrive and contribute to our mission of providing amazing value to millions of customers.
Our commitment to excellence, inclusion, and sustainability forms the foundation of our culture, empowering our team members to be the best versions of themselves while making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. Our behaviours and the hard work, commitment and passion of our wonderful colleagues make it all possible.
We like to keep things simple, so we have just three behaviours that lie at the heart of everything we do and keep us on track. They are Love our customers, Care for our colleagues, and Protect the Pounds and Euros. By living our behaviours every day, we've created a land that is fun, friendly, and full of surprises—a place where our people can truly be the best versions of themselves!