IT Project Manager

Job Introduction

Card Factory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greetings cards, dressings, and gifts with over one thousand stores across the UK and Ireland. In 2020 we launched our exciting 5-year business strategy including our vision of becoming a technology-enabled Omni-channel retailer. This strategy sees significant investment into our IT team with a number of opportunities available to join a fast-paced environment and be part of our IT and digital journey. Our vertically integrated business will provide candidates the opportunity to work across multiple technology disciplines and to provide innovation for the next phase of our growth. If you are passionate about technology and how that can deliver real business value, now is the time to join Card Factory and be part of our exciting journey!  

Job Purpose:  

As a Card Factory Project Manager, you will be responsible for managing multiple Technical and Commercial Projects as part of the Business 5-year strategy Plan and IT Portfolio of work.   

You will contain and resolve issues within the projects that do not require sponsor attention and ensure sponsors receive the right information at the right time regarding project performance. As a PM it is integral that you uphold a strong relationship with key stakeholders. Ultimately, you will serve as the point of contact for the Project, Project Sponsor, Business Unit , and overall project team.   

As a Project Manager, you will promote and uphold the CF Project Lifecycle and governance guidelines in delivering projects to Time, Cost, and Quality.

Main Responsibilities

• Managing end-to-end delivery for Projects to support the strategic direction of the organisation  

• Liaise with functional business groups in order to scope project requirements and ensure best practice is adopted and interdependencies are recognised/optimised  

• Control business projects to agreed time/cost/deliverable targets   

• Responsibility for ensuring client sign off at each stage of the project   

• Ensure compliance is adhered to against legal, regulatory, policy, and best practice requirements within any given project   

• Support any project related Testing (ST/SIT/UAT/Regression/Performance/Operation) within your statement of work   

• Ensure the smooth transition of projects from development to Live  

• Responsible for producing and maintaining MS Project plans   

• Management of any project related Risks, Issues, Dependencies, and Change Requests   

• Provide project performance information to sponsors per the schedule defined in the performance reporting process  

• Develop a budget and operating plans for the project  

• Managing a team with a diverse array of talents and responsibilities  

• Producing accurate and timely reporting of project status throughout its life cycle  

• Producing project governance adherence to a gold standard   

The Ideal Candidate

Essential:  

• Have a clear understanding of the Software Delivery Lifecycle (SDLC) and be responsible for ensuring the integrity of Card Factory Project methodology is maintained   

• Must be able to demonstrate a strong track record of successfully controlling and delivering a number of IT and business projects in a complex end to end retail business including but not limited to: back-office systems, supply chain, warehouse, HR & Finance, Architecture, and Infrastructure  

• Be a Prince2 Practitioner with previous experience working in a Prince2 environment or similar   

• Have the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions  

• Have the ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in verbal, written or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables  

• Have the ability to effectively prioritise and execute tasks in a high-pressure, ever-changing work environment   

• Have strong Technology, Infrastructure, and software knowledge (MS Teams, Project, Visio, PowerPoint, and Excel skills)  

• Have proven Stakeholder and Supplier Management experience  

• Have end to end supply change knowledge   

• Strong analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving abilities   

• Be highly self-motivated and directed  

• Strong customer service orientation and keen attention to detail   

Desired:  

• Strong presentation skills  

• Six Sigma/ISO/CMMi   

• Process analysis and documentation   

• Able to influence and negotiate with stakeholders at all levels   

• Have experience working in Retail   

• Bachelor degree or master degree in business or related field   

This role is very flexible as the tasks are varied. Travel between business sites may be required at times. This role is flexible in terms of location and whilst there is no formal requirement to be office-based, attendance will be required at times as dictated by the needs of the project(s) or the function. The jobholder must maintain confidentiality and respect of personal information at all times due to the nature of the work. 

About The Company

In return we offer a wide range of benefits to support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

• 33 days annual leave entitlement (inc public / bank holidays)
• Save as you Earn scheme
• 15% Staff Discount
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• O2 open mobile contracts
• Salary Finance
• Pension 
• Discounted Car Leasing
• Employee Care
• Flex My Day
• Card Factory Foundation
• MyCardFactory App: discounts at leading retailers

This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate. If this role describes you and your career aspirations, click apply now.

For any questions email: vacancies@cardfactory.co.uk (we do not accept CVs/Applications via email) 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications have been received. We advise applying early to avoid disappointment as applications will be reviewed regularly. 

No agencies please.