Interim Senior Technical Project Manager

Senior Technical Project Manager, 6-Month Contract

The Role

The Senior Technical Project Manager is accountable for the end-to-end delivery of complex, cross-team technical initiatives, from early discovery through to implementation. The role ensures clear planning and project management, strong governance, effective vendor management, and predictable outcomes across multiple product teams and third-party partners.

Operating in a matrix environment, the Senior Technical Project Manager provides leadership across technology, product, vendor and business stakeholders to ensure initiatives are delivered on time, within constraints, and aligned to strategic objectives.

This role is available on a 6-month basis with the potential to extend.

Key Accountabilities

Initiative Ownership & Delivery

• Own one or more complex technical initiatives from high-level discovery through to implementation, providing clear end-to-end accountability

• Translate strategic intent and discovery outcomes into a coherent technical delivery approach, plan and governance model

• Maintain responsibility for delivery timelines, risks, issues, dependencies and change control across the full lifecycle

• Track and report progress, risks and outcomes to senior stakeholders, ensuring transparency and effective decision-making

Governance & Control

• Establish and run governance appropriate to the scale, complexity and risk profile of each initiative

• Ensure adherence to relevant technology, security, architectural and delivery governance standards

• Proactively identify and manage delivery risks and dependencies, escalating where required with clear recommendations

Stakeholder & Matrix Leadership

• Lead and influence senior technology, product and business stakeholders without direct line management authority

• Coordinate work across multiple internal product delivery teams to achieve aligned outcomes

• Act as a single point of accountability for technical delivery, fostering clarity of roles, responsibilities and decisions

Vendor & Commercial Management

• Lead vendor engagement across the full lifecycle, including discovery, onboarding, delivery, assurance and closure

• Support commercial activities including RFPs, vendor selection, contract mobilisation and performance management

• Manage vendor dependencies, risks and delivery commitments to ensure integrated delivery outcomes

Outcome & Value Focus

• Maintain a clear focus on outcomes and benefits, ensuring technical delivery remains aligned to agreed objectives

• Support effective transition into live service and operational ownership where applicable

• Contribute to continuous improvement of delivery practices, governance and ways of working

What it takes

• Strategic Planning - able to structure complex initiatives, shape delivery approaches and plan across horizons

• Senior Stakeholder Management & Influence - confident engaging and influencing at senior levels

• Commercial Acumen & Vendor / RFP Management - experienced in working with third-party suppliers and commercial processes

• Risk, Issue & Change Control - disciplined approach to delivery control and decision enablement

• Dependency & Systems Thinking - strong ability to manage interdependencies across teams, systems and vendors

• Communication & Executive Storytelling - clear, concise communication tailored to senior and executive audiences

• Matrix Leadership - effective leadership without direct authority in complex organisational structures

• Outcome & Benefits Focus - drives delivery with a clear line of sight to value and outcome

Experience & Background

• Significant experience leading complex technology initiatives in large, distributed organisations

• Proven track record managing cross-team and multi-vendor technical delivery

• Strong understanding of technology delivery lifecycles, governance, and risk management

• Experience operating in environments with hybrid delivery models (e.g. agile, incremental, phased)

Special Factors

• Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position

• This is a hybrid position and would require you to work in the office 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday)

Position Details

• Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

• Employment Type: Full time

• Contract Duration: 6 months (with potential to extend)

• Job Requisition ID: 177731