Senior Technical Program Manager
Posted 1 day ago by Forsyth Barnes
£700 Per day
Inside
Hybrid
London Area, United Kingdom
Summary: The Senior Technical Programme Manager role is a critical position within a major retail technology environment, focusing on strategic delivery of technical infrastructure modernization and POS/checkout transformation programs. This hands-on leadership role requires strong stakeholder engagement and third-party management, merging two senior vacancies into one. The successful candidate will lead initiatives across the enterprise technology landscape while managing key relationships with external vendors. The position demands extensive experience in technical program management, particularly in a retail context.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead programmes across the full technical landscape — from legacy estate through to modern platforms
- Drive initiatives involving patching systems and operating systems, replacing unsupported or end-of-life technology, store infrastructure upgrades, and security improvements
- Manage and prioritise a backlog of infrastructure work
- Work closely with Product leadership
- Lead delivery of checkout and POS initiatives within a complex retail environment
- Manage key third-party relationships, including payment providers
- Oversee delivery through external vendors and internal development teams
- Lead critical programmes including AI-driven fraud detection
- Line management responsibility for Programme Managers
- Manage direct reports and budget forecasting
- Strong stakeholder management at senior level
Key Skills:
- Senior Technical Programme Manager background
- Strong infrastructure delivery experience
- Familiarity with enterprise technical landscapes
- Experience replacing unsupported technology and driving OS/system upgrades
- Proven third-party and vendor management
- Retail experience highly desirable
- Strong governance, reporting, and budget management capability
- Proactive, hands-on approach with ability to work cross-functionally
Salary (Rate): £700 daily
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: Senior
Industry: IT
Job Title : Senior Technical Programme Manager
Location : London – Hybrid (3 Days Per Week Onsite)
Contract Length: 6–9 Months
Rate : £650–£700 per day (Inside IR35)
Start Date : ASAP
Interview Process: 1 Stage
Send CV to : james.robinson@forsythbarnes.com
The Opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Senior Technical Programme Manager to join a major retail technology environment, supporting strategic delivery across both technical infrastructure modernisation and POS/checkout transformation programmes. This role merges two senior vacancies into one critical hire. You will operate across the enterprise technology landscape while also leading high-profile checkout initiatives delivered through third parties. This is a senior-level, hands-on leadership role requiring strong stakeholder engagement, third-party management, and deep technical programme experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Infrastructure & Technical Modernisation
- Lead programmes across the full technical landscape — from legacy estate through to modern platforms
- Drive initiatives involving:
- Patching systems and operating systems
- Replacing unsupported or end-of-life technology
- Store infrastructure upgrades
- Security and resilience improvements
- Manage and prioritise a backlog of infrastructure work
- Work closely with Product leadership (including a Senior Product Manager currently in role until April)
- Be proactive across D&T — identifying stakeholders, removing blockers, and driving progress
- POS / Checkout & Payments Programmes
- Lead delivery of checkout and POS initiatives within a complex retail environment
- Manage key third-party relationships, including payment providers such as Worldline
- Oversee delivery through external vendors and internal development teams
- Lead critical programmes including AI-driven fraud detection and change platform proof of concepts
- Ensure systems operate securely and compliantly
- Leadership & Governance
- Line management responsibility (minimum 5 years’ experience managing Programme Managers)
- Manage 3–4 direct reports (external resources)
- Budget forecasting and financial governance
- Strong stakeholder management at senior level
- Comfortable operating in fluid, evolving delivery environments
Essential Experience
- Senior Technical Programme Manager background
- Strong infrastructure delivery experience
- Familiarity with enterprise technical landscapes (legacy through to modern architecture)
- Experience replacing unsupported technology and driving OS/system upgrades
- Proven third-party and vendor management
- Retail experience highly desirable and admirable
- Strong governance, reporting, and budget management capability
- Proactive, hands-on approach with ability to work cross-functionally