Telefonicatech
Senior Project Manager
Job description
As a Senior Project Manager at Telefónica Tech, you occupy a pivotal "Player-Coach" position. You are responsible for the direct, hands-on delivery of our most complex and high-profile technology projects, serving as the internal benchmark for the Programme Excellence Framework. Reporting to a Programme Manager, you will lead by example while holding direct Line Management responsibility for a team of Project Managers. You will ensure your team meets the highest standards of governance and delivery while personally navigating the high-stakes challenges of our Tier-1 client engagements.
Key Responsibilities
1. High-Profile Project Delivery
Lead by Example: Personally manage the end-to-end lifecycle of complex, high-value projects. Your delivery must demonstrate "gold-standard" adherence to the Programme Excellence Framework regarding scope, budget, and quality.
Hands-on Execution: Maintain an active, practitioner-level role. This is not a passive oversight position; you are expected to navigate technical ambiguity and drive project milestones directly.
Stakeholder Management: Act as the senior point of contact for client escalations, providing confidence through analytical reporting and decisive problem-solving.
Governance & Control: Enforce rigorous financial tracking (P&L) for the workstreams you and your PMs support, working in direct liaison with our Commercial Team. You must demonstrate and demand a gold standard of RAID management and change control protocols in line with business requirements.
2. Team Leadership & Line Management
Line Management: Directly manage a cohort of Project Managers. Conduct regular 1-to-1s, set clear performance objectives, and lead annual performance reviews.
Mentorship & Coaching: Actively develop the talent within your team. Identify performance gaps and provide specific, actionable coaching to elevate their project management capabilities.
Quality Assurance: Review and challenge the project plans and status reports of your direct reports to ensure consistency and accuracy across the portfolio, anchored in the Programme Excellence Framework.
Resource Management: Manage team capacity, ensuring your direct reports are effectively utilised and supported.
Essential Requirements
Project Management Expertise: demonstrable experience managing complex technology projects.
Line Management Experience: proven experience of direct line management responsibility for Project Managers. You must be able to evidence a track record of developing staff and managing performance.
Enterprise Service Experience: Proven experience delivering projects within an Enterprise Service environment or large-scale Managed Services Provider (MSP).
Technical Understanding: A solid grasp of IT Infrastructure (including EUC Technologies, Networking, Hosting, Cyber Security) sufficient to challenge technical assumptions and manage technical risks effectively.
Delivery Track Record: Proven ability to manage high-profile, multi-million-pound projects within a fast-paced UK&I service provider or consultancy environment.
Methodology: Deep practitioner-level knowledge of PRINCE2, Agile, or APM. You must be able to apply these frameworks pragmatically to "real-world" project volatility.
The Successful Candidate
Analytical Rigour: You make decisions based on data and project metrics, not optimistic assumptions.
Direct Communication: You provide honest, clear, and concise updates to the Programme Manager and senior stakeholders.
Resilient Leadership: You thrive under the pressure of delivering high-profile work while simultaneously supporting the professional growth of your team.
Commercial Acumen: You understand the impact of delivery performance on business profitability and client retention.
Qualifications
Mandatory: PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM PMQ, or equivalent.
Desirable: MSP (Managing Successful Programmes) or advanced Agile/Scrum certifications.
Education: A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.
At Telefónica Tech, we believe inclusion is the bridge that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. We celebrate and respect our differences because diversity drives innovation and makes us stronger.
Be yourself with us, and feel that you belong.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and identities regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
We are also committed to equity, accessible hiring practices, and creating an inclusive culture through many means including TogetHer (Women's network) and our Employee Resource Groups which include Diversity and Inclusion, Telefónica Tech Pride, Neurodiversity, ELEVATE (African and Caribbean heritage network), and Sustainability.
We don’t believe hiring is a tick box exercise, so if you feel that you don’t match the job description 100%, but would still be a great fit for role, please get in touch.
