Programme Manager - China

Job description:

WHAT TO EXPECT

We are seeking a driven individual with proven project and people management skills to join our Digital team as a China Programme Manager. This permanent role will provide you with the opportunity to work at the centre of an ambitious and dynamic digital team which focuses on delivering value. We are looking for talented professionals who share our vision of delivering critical initiatives successfully in a way which inspires confidence, enhances transparency and empowers teams.

You will play an important role in the delivery of strategic programmes, working closely with digital colleagues, business partners and third parties. This role will form part of our China domain to provide delivery leadership in the UK to support China programme delivery across the organisation. It enables this role to be assigned to a varied range of business/ IT projects (vehicle programmes - PCDS & BCDS, business transformation programmes, etc) and provides an excellent platform for you to further a career within Digital or the wider organisation.

You will be able to demonstrate a track record of programme delivery and will need an analytical and systematic approach to work, enthusiasm for innovation and smart ways of working. Attention to detail, timely submission of reports, active management of risks, budget and resources are considered fundamental to the role and are equally core to accurate progress reporting.

Good communication and relationship building skills are essential for this role, which will involve working with colleagues across the enterprise. You will be expected to communicate in an open and unambiguous manner, have the skills to understand and rationalise conflicting points of view to reach an optimum solution, and lead teams through empowerment and interpersonal skills.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Provide delivery leadership in UK for China programmes such as PCDS, BCDS, etc. with UK Programme team and wider-business community
Engage with the Programme and business teams to fully understand their vehicle/business strategy and operational requirements.
Partner with global domain teams (Programmes, Industrial Ops, Corporate and Commercial) to support China programmes
Work with UK and China delivery and operation team to create an accurate IT requirement for each programmes as well as the supporting documentation and cost estimation models.
Ensure all solutions align to Global and China IT Strategy and Landscape
Communicate programme requirements and associated cost-base to key program stakeholders, ensuring operational drivers and cost are fully accepted.
Monitor both operational and IT requirements throughout the life-cycle of the programmes and ensure that any IT submission reflects changes in operational demand and is communicated to programme stakeholders in a timely fashion.
Leads the successful delivery of programmes, through identifying, planning and coordinating tasks, ensuring priorities, interdependencies and resources are managed effectively.
Ensure dependencies are identified and managed between programmes or the various workstreams within the programme
Timely reporting of the programme and projects via the appropriate tools (Jira/Planview) in line with appropriate JLR delivery methodology and Digital governance processes
Partner with relevant process owners and Product Managers to ensure that all programme deliverables are met.


WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential:
Deep experience in JLR New Model Programs (PDCS) and BCDS Programmes methodology
Experience with China business context and IT landscape (JLR China and CJLR)
Working knowledge of AME, Manufacturing Operations, New Model Launch, Logistics and Supply Chain
Excellent communication skills
Proven experience of complex stakeholder management, successfully balancing communications and expectations of stakeholders with different views
Strong analytical skills to identify how one issue can impact on another and put in place the required interventions through support and/or from own knowledge base
Strong influencing and negotiation skills
Ability to manage significant risks and issues
Ability to work to tight timescales
Ability and willingness to work with colleagues across time zones


Desirable:
Formal Project / Programme Management Qualification such as Prince, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner, APMG International Agile Project Management (AgilePM)
Competent user of Planview & Jira toolsets
In depth knowledge and demonstrable application of Agile principles and practices, as well as the ability to blend together with traditional methodologies in the right proportions to fit a project and business environment.
Understands the need for and how to flex your leadership style to effectively manage teams working to a Waterfall vs. Agile style