Technical Programme Manager

Up To £70 Per Hour Umbrella / Up To £52.32 Per Hour PAYE Role Overview We are seeking a senior Technical Programme Manager to lead a critical digital transformation initiative within the Belfast plant (Programme Sparrow). This role is pivotal to the separation and modernisation of our digital landscape following the sites transition. With a deadline of December 2027, the successful candidate will have approximately two years to replace the entire ecosystem of legacy systems supporting Production, Manufacturing Engineering (ME), Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Warehouse Management, and Finance. This is a complex, high-stakes programme where success is necessary to ensure business continuity and production stability. The role requires a hybrid approach, governing the programme via the formal LBIP+ methodology while driving the technical implementation using SAP Activate and Agile principles. Responsibilities Programme Leadership & Delivery End-to-End Delivery: Assume full accountability for the delivery of _Day 2_ target solutions from the Prepare phase through to Deploy and Hypercare, ensuring alignment with the December 2027 TSA (Transitional Service Agreement) exit deadline. Scope Management: Manage complex technical workstreams including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), ERP (Finance/Procurement), and Quality Management Systems, defining the _To-Be_ state and solution. Strategic Alignment: Ensure the Belfast architectural and functional solution aligns with parallel implementations (i.e. similar implementations at other plants) to maintain group-wide coherence. Governance & Methodology (LBIP+ & SAP Activate) Governance Setup & Maintenance: Define, agree, and establish the programme Governance Model. Once established, manage and maintain the governance framework to ensure effective decision-making and escalation paths throughout the lifecycle. LBIP+ Compliance: Enforce adherence to the LBIP+ (Leaner Business Improvement Projects) lifecycle. You will be responsible for preparing and passing Key Milestone Gates (G2, G5, G7, G9), ensuring all Project Maturity Criteria are met. Agile Execution: Operationalize the SAP Activate Methodology within the execution phase. Drive the shift from traditional Waterfall planning to an iterative Fit-to-Standard approach , managing the Product Backlog and facilitating Sprint cycles. Stakeholder & Vendor Management TSA Exit Management: Act as the primary technical interface regarding the exit of transitional services, managing dependencies and data migration from legacy environments with relevant third parties/intermediaries. Senior Stakeholder Engagement: Manage the Programme Board and Steering Committees, providing accurate RAG status reporting, budget forecasts, and earned value analysis. Change Management: Collaborate with the Change Manager to ensure organizational readiness, specifically regarding the impact of new systems on shop-floor production staff. The successful candidate will be immediately responsible for closing the Prepare Phase and initiating the Explore Phase, delivering: Governance Model: Defined decision-making hierarchy, meeting cadence, and escalation paths approved by the Programme Board. Programme Schedule: Baselined project plan with Critical Path Analysis (CPA) targeting the 2027 deadline. Functional Design Specifications: Signed off by Business Process Owners and Technical Design Authority. Test Strategy: Comprehensive strategy covering Unit, Integration, and User Skill Set Essential Experience: 10+ years in Project/Programme Management delivering complex digital transformations. Technical Background: Proven track record of delivering large-scale ERP (SAP S/4HANA preferred) and MES/MOM implementations in a brownfield site. Methodology: Deep understanding of PMBOK/PRINCE2 governance structures combined with practical experience in Agile/Scrum delivery (SAFe or SAP Activate certification is a plus). Risk Management: Ability to manage complex risk registers, specifically relating to production stoppages, data migration integrity, and TSA deadline penalties. Desirable Desired / Preferred Industry Experience: Previous experience within the Aerospace, Defence, or Heavy Manufacturing sectors is highly advantageous. Financial Control: Experience managing Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) and programme budgets >€10M.