Programme Manager (Smart Retail Ordering)

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.