Programme Manager – Inventory Planning/Stock Optimisation
Location: Reading (Hybrid, 2 – 3 days per week)
Duration: Initial 6 months
Contract Type: Inside IR35 Day Rate
Travel: Occasional to Dublin and other locations
We’re looking for an experienced Programme Manager to lead a major transformation programme focused on inventory planning, forecasting, and stock optimisation with a strong preference for experience delivering enterprise‑scale planning solutions.
This is a high‑impact role at the heart of our retail operations, shaping how we plan, move, and manage stock across a global footprint. If you thrive in complex environments, love driving clarity from ambiguity, and have a track record of delivering large‑scale retail technology programmes, this is your next challenge.
The Role
You’ll take end‑to‑end ownership of a multi‑year programme to modernise and optimise our inventory planning capabilities. From vendor selection and solution design to implementation, change management, and benefits realisation, you’ll lead cross‑functional teams to deliver a step‑change in how we forecast demand, plan stock, and improve availability.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of an enterprise‑scale inventory planning / stock optimisation programme
- Drive vendor selection, evaluation, and commercial negotiation
- Oversee solution design, data readiness, integration planning, and operating model changes
- Establish programme governance, planning, RAID management, and executive reporting
- Partner with senior stakeholders across Supply Chain, Merchandising, Digital, Finance, and Technology
- Manage cross‑functional delivery teams and third‑party partners
- Ensure successful rollout, adoption, and measurable benefits realisation
- Champion change management, training, and communication across the organisation
What You’ll Bring
- Proven experience delivering large‑scale retail transformation programmes
- Hands‑on experience and implementation of inventory planning, forecasting, or stock optimisation systems
- Strong understanding of retail supply chain, merchandising, and stock flow processes
- Experience working in complex, enterprise‑scale environments
- Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills
- Ability to bring structure, pace, and clarity to ambiguous, multi‑stream programmes
- Strong vendor management and cross‑functional leadership capability
Why Join Us
You’ll be leading a strategically critical programme that will transform how we plan and manage stock across a global retail network. Expect a fast‑paced environment, senior visibility, and the opportunity to deliver meaningful, measurable impact at scale.
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