Our client is a pace setter in providing advanced media and telecommunication services. With activities in 11 countries in Europe and over $2 billion in revenues it is one of the main players in the media-telecom industry. They are now looking to recruit a Program Manager.
The Program Manager role exists within the Program Management & Delivery team to manage and deliver the programs for the Products & Online Media Group of the company, with responsibility for:

• Program management of assigned programs/projects
• Top level tracking and reporting of Products & Online Media Group programs/projects and awareness on relevant company wide programs
• Weekly status reporting, key stakeholder communication and management support
• Support of Roadmap development and maintenance as well as the coordination of deliveries to the CPMO for the Group
• Products & Online Media Group process implementation and adherence
• Interfacing at a program level with the CTO, ECC, CIO teams
• The role is key within the Products & Online Media Group to ensure deliveries are achieved, schedules maintained and to assist with managing priorities while ensuring alignment between functions is maintained and overall expectations managed

Key Facts and Figures

• This role is a direct report to the Director Program Management & Delivery, however, has a good level of independent responsibility working with the other Product & Online Media Group Directors and Managers
• The position has no direct reports though the person in this role needs to be able to operate in a matrix management environment exerting influence to “get the job done” without necessarily having the direct mandate
• No direct responsibility for cost centre budget although may be required to control or track project level budgets
• The initial product focus of programs/tasks will be on TV though in time the role will need to work across the full suite of Products & Online Media Group products and responsibility areas (TV, Online Media, Internet/Telephony)
• The Program Manager role has an important responsibility as well as playing a significant part in the overall success in product and process delivery of the Products & Online Media Group

Main Responsibilities

Program Management

• The Program Manager will manage a number of assigned programs/projects within the Products & Online Media Group. The role played in each will vary from one where there is responsibility from initiation to delivery & launch, where coordination of deliveries into larger COMPANY’S programs is required or the need to be aware and keep others aware of company wide programs and will cover:
- Project planning
- Project tracking
- Milestone reporting
- Change management
- Issue management
- Action management
- Risk management

• The scope of responsible programs will cover TV (Interactive/eTV content applications, deliverables to support STB code programs or CTO application deliveries). In time, the role will expand to Online Media (PC apps, product and services) and 3rd Party and Internet/Telephony programs (as defined)

Reporting, Communication and Representation

• The Program Manager must be aware at all times as to the status, task priority, critical path and key dates of their projects/ programs operating as the first point of contact for these projects/programs and as the formal communication path
• Regular and accurate reporting will be expected to contain progress, risk and issues that affect the program/project. Reports must be professionally presented in line with required timeframes & team templates and must be suitable for audiences at all levels of the organization
• The Program Manager will have responsibility for representing Products & Online Media Group on a number of internal and external program, project & management forums

Process Management

• The Program Manager will be responsible for ensuring that their program/projects adhere to all defined Group processes and, where these processes are lacking, for working with the Director Program Management & Delivery to implement or improve these processes
• The Program Manager will also be responsible for managing or improving other assigned Group processes, e.g. new project initialization, D4A CR process interaction, Group Status Reporting etc

Products & Online Media Group Roadmap, Gating Committee and CPMO Deliveries

• The Program Manager will support the Director Program Management & Delivery in the management and maintenance of the Group’s product roadmap ; this will include assisting in the internal definition, driving through the company-wide agreement of the yearly product roadmaps, and keeping the roadmap up-to-date
• The Program Manager will also be aware of the CPMO/MSD timetable and will coordinate where applicable deliverables or materials that are required from the rest of the Group to support the CPMO/MSD process

Other such duties as may reasonably be requested

Context/Environment

The Products & Online Media Group is responsible for defining and delivering new products and services to be launched onto the market for the company; within this group, there are five departments - Digital TV, Internet, Telephony, Online Media and Strategy & Planning with the Program Management & Delivery team being part of the latter
The Strategy and Planning Group works closely with all the departments in the Products & Online Media Group as well as with the Corporate Sales, Marketing, Customer Care, CTO, ECC and CIO teams within the company.
Occasional travel to UK and other European countries may be required.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential

• Experience of the entire project/application lifecycle, especially with regard to delivery, testing, default resolution and recognized development methodologies according to structured project management methodologies
• A minimum of 4+ yrs hands-on project & program management experience in digital TV with associated technical experience and/or knowledge of IP & DVB standards, broadcast technologies and multiplatform architecture
• Additional experience across web/internet/telephony projects
• Competency in change, risk & issue management, planning & reporting
• A good team leader and player with excellent skills in interpreting the requirements from different groups across the organization and the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent analytical, communication and interpersonal skills (the ability to converse with, enthuse and influence peers and superiors)
• An inherent need to put the customer and product first backed by an ability to evaluate and implement a variety of technical & business solutions with experience of the requirements of multi-lingual TV/PC/Internet/Telephony products
• Self-motivated and proactive in the working environment. Proven ability to work with speed and accuracy to deadlines is essential

Desirable

• Degree level education (relevant equivalent experience also considered)
• Qualification in a formal structured project management methodology, e.g. PRINCE2
• Fluent English speaker, ideally other European languages

Key Measures

• Achievement of delivery to plan and quality
• Regular, accurate reporting of status & progress and timely reporting of issues
• Ensuring all stakeholders are aware of the correct status, task priority and key dates of their programs/projects
• Accuracy at all times
• Other key measures & objectives will be developed on a yearly basis as part of the annual performance review

Working Relationships and Team Working

• The role will report to the Director Program Management & Delivery, however, has a good level of independent responsibility working with the other members and management team of the Products & Online Media Group
• The Program Management and Delivery team has a high degree of coordination with program management teams of CTO, ECC, and CIO and potentially external 3rd parties

Only candidates with strong project management experience in a creative environment (Web Company, Advertising, TV/Media) will be considered.