Head of Store Systems (IT)
Location: Swindon or London Support centre
Fixed Term Contract: 18 months

At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth.

The Head of Store Systems is accountable for the delivery of Strategic Programme of work for WHSmith. Through partnering with WHSmith business leaders, key stakeholders, partners and IT colleagues to deliver specific business outcomes.

What you will be doing

• Accountable for the successful delivery of change projects / programmes across multiple areas of the business
• Leading and influencing resources across WHSmiths and partners to achieve outcomes. Guiding the team in the resolution of issues and constraints to ensure the projects meet time / cost / quality criteria
• Accountable for managing and communicating the fundamental elements of the programme (scope, plan, resourcing requirements, financial forecasts, status, risks and issues).
• Communication with key stakeholders to ensure the programme status is understood and accepted (Senior Manager / Exec Sponsor).
• Leads the team in navigating the governance arrangements and quality assurance for all projects.
• Drives the transition of the project outcomes into Business as Usual, often across multiple functions to ensure adoption, business and service acceptance
• Accountable for delivering the projects / programme within the agreed budget and controlling changes to that budget.
• Lead, motivate and co-ordinate the project resources to meet the programme objectives

What we are looking for

• Excellent organisation skills, often juggling multiple priorities, and the ability to command respect from the existing team is imperative
• Analytical skills to critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a more general understanding, distinguish presented user requests from the underlying true needs, and distinguish solution ideas from requirements
• Facilitation and Negotiation skills to lead requirements gathering workshops
• Observational skills to validate data obtained to expose new areas for requirements gathering
• Skills to work with the vast array of stakeholders and to manage/set expectations
• Knowledge of product management concepts and how enterprise software products are positioned and developed
• Domain knowledge; to have instant credibility with business unit colleagues and work effectively with them

How we reward our teams

• Hybrid working model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday finish
• Flexible Working
• 24 days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family friendly leave
• Company pension
• Sharesave Scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and Personal Performance
• Competitive salary and car allowance
• Staff discount card for stores and online

About us
Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.
WHSmith have occupied our place in our customers’ hearts for over two decades. You’ll find our stores and our family of brands in airports, hospitals, railway stations, on high streets and in shopping centres – as well as right across the world! We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation, resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture.

At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here.

We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!