IT Programme Manager – POS and Payment - #2194644

We're looking for an experienced IT Programme Manager to join our award-winning Technology team on a 12-month fixed term contract and play a pivotal role in leading the end-to-end purchase, design and deployment of a major POS and payment hardware replacement programme across more that 1,500 pubs and restaurants.

The role will be accountable for managing the programme from commercial mobilisation through to solution design, pilot, operational readiness and full estate rollout.

The successful candidate will work closely with Operations, Procurement, Technology, Finance, suppliers and deployment partners to ensure the selected hardware solution is commercially robust, operationally fit for purpose, technically supportable and deployed with minimal disruption to trading. A key focus of the role will be operator engagement, ensuring frontline teams, business leaders and field operations are actively involved in shaping the solution, validating the deployment approach and preparing sites for change.

Based at our Birmingham City Centre Head Office, this role offers a flexible hybrid working approach.

You’ll be rewarded with:

• 33% discount across all M&B brands.
• 20% Friends & Family discount for up to five people.
• Option to buy up to two additional weeks of holiday.
• Matched pension contributions (up to 1.5x your contribution).
• Private healthcare and dental plan.
• Cycle to Work and wellbeing schemes.
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid working and flexible approach.
  
  

What you’ll be doing in this IT Programme Manager role:

Programme Leadership and Governance

• Lead the full lifecycle delivery of the POS and payment hardware programme, from business case and design through to pilot and full deployment.
• Establish and manage programme governance, including steering groups, decision forums, risk management, issue resolution and executive reporting.
• Develop and maintain an integrated programme plan covering, commercial agreements, stock purchase, solution design, testing, site readiness, pilot, communications, training and rollout.
• Manage scope, budget, resources, milestones, dependencies and benefits, ensuring the programme remains aligned to business priorities and operational needs.
• Provide clear, concise and evidence-based updates to senior stakeholders, sponsors and governance forums.

Procurement, Commercial and Supplier Management

• Manage suppliers and third-party partners responsible for POS hardware, payment devices, all-in-one ordering and payment devices, installation and support services.
• Ensure supplier plans are realistic, integrated and aligned to programme milestones, operational constraints and business readiness activity.
• Hold suppliers accountable for delivery performance, quality, issue resolution, reporting and contractual commitments.
• Manage commercial and delivery risks associated with hardware lead times, installation capacity, support arrangements, site access and deployment sequencing.

Solution Design and Operational Readiness

• Lead the coordination of business, technology and operational design activity to ensure the hardware solution supports differing pub and restaurant service models.
• Ensure requirements are clearly defined, baselined and managed across POS terminals, payment devices, all-in-one devices, peripherals, installation services and support processes.
• Oversee design decisions relating to site layouts, device mix, cabling, tills, printers, scanners, payment journeys, handheld devices and future operating models.
• Ensure the solution is tested, supportable, secure, compliant and ready for operational deployment.
• Use pilot outcomes, site survey insight and operator feedback to refine the solution, deployment model and change approach before full rollout.

Deployment and Rollout

• Own the end-to-end deployment strategy for more than 1,500 pubs and restaurants, including pilot planning, rollout sequencing, site readiness, installation scheduling and acceptance into service.
• Coordinate deployment activity across suppliers, field teams, Operations, Technology, Service Desk, support teams and site leadership.
• Ensure deployment plans minimise operational disruption, protect guest experience and support safe, efficient site installation.
• Manage readiness gates, go/no-go decisions, cutover planning, hypercare and transition into business-as-usual support.
• Track deployment performance, lessons learned, defects, site feedback and remedial activity to ensure continuous improvement throughout rollout.

Operator Engagement and Change Management

• Build strong relationships with operators, operational leaders, field teams and frontline colleagues to ensure the programme is shaped by practical site needs.
• Lead an operator engagement approach that includes demonstrations, roadshows, pilot feedback, champions, communications and structured decision input.
• Ensure operational feedback is captured, assessed and translated into clear design, deployment or change requirements.
• Work with change and communications colleagues to prepare sites for deployment, including manager briefings, training materials, operational guidance and support routes.
• Champion operator-led decision making while balancing commercial, technical, compliance and delivery constraints.

What you’ll need to bring to this IT Programme Manager role

• Proven experience leading complex, multi-site technology or hardware deployment programmes,...