Project Manager

Project Manager (12 month FTC)

HarperCollins Publishers is seeking a Project Manager to play a key role in evolving the technology stack across its international offices. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract position within a small team leading technology transformation for offices in France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Japan, and Brazil.

Role Overview

Reporting to the International Technology Director, the Project Manager will manage concurrent projects within HarperCollins Technology using appropriate methodologies. You will be the main point of contact for business stakeholders, undertake business analysis for projects and company initiatives, and ensure business requirements are met within budget and agreed timeframes.

Key Tasks And Accountabilities

Project Details & Scope

Data

• Align Data Infrastructure with central architecture ensuring seamless/accurate acquisition and distribution to key stakeholders.

Software

• Manage key deliverables from several software vendors used exclusively in International Technology.
• Manage the implementation of a new Digital Asset Management software.

Skills Required

Project Management

• Demonstrate proven experience in methods and techniques associated with planning, monitoring and managing projects.
• Gather and assess business requirements, ensuring that the needs of the business are being met by the project.
• Define scope of projects and maintain project plans.
• Work with MD’s/Stakeholders to establish and manage expected benefits and keep updated on project status.
• Provide support and guidance on best practice and delivery.
• Organise and chair regular and weekly meetings.
• Define the roles/tasks of project team members.
• Monitor and respond to risks and issues that become apparent.
• Maintain and cultivate internal and external relationships with those involved in projects.

Business Analysis

• Use good working knowledge and experience in conceptualising business processes and producing appropriate models to illustrate them.
• Gather and assess business information from disparate sources.
• Meet and interview staff members to capture current, and discuss future, business processes.
• Define and document workflows.
• Use initiative to draw information from various business systems.
• Apply media knowledge to ensure analysis is meaningful and relevant to the business.
• Work with MD’s to update Business Cases where applicable.

Experience

• Proven experience in methods and techniques associated with planning, monitoring and managing projects.
• Good working knowledge of and experience in conceptualising business processes and producing appropriate models to illustrate them.
• Project Management experience within an I.T. setting.

Competencies

• Solid knowledge of MS packages including PowerPoint, Excel, Visio and Project.
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills.
• Excellent communication skills with strong orientation to providing outstanding customer service.
• Ability to manage expectations.
• Jira and Confluence knowledge.
• German or other European languages are a plus.

Benefits

• Hybrid working model (3 days in the office).
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days).
• Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
• Private healthcare cover and life assurance.
• Summer Hours.
• Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24-hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal.
• Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme.
• Relocation Rent Support Loan.
• Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work, Pride at HC, Social Mobility Network and Neurodiversity at Work.
• Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes.
• Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers.
• Gym membership discount.
• Onsite physiotherapy (London only).
• Charitable donation matching and 2 volunteering days.
• We're a certified Carbon Neutral company.
• Free e-books and audiobooks, digital newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books.
• Subsidised canteen and retail discounts.
• Onsite prayer room.

Application Information

At HarperCollins, we value authenticity and integrity. We ask that all responses to assessment questions reflect your own thoughts, experiences, and capabilities. The use of AI tools or external assistance is discouraged unless explicitly permitted.

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position, please reach out directly to stephanie.jemmett@harpercollins.co.uk with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title. We aim to respond within 5 working days. Please note, you must submit your application via Applied; email applications are not accepted.

Key skills/competency

• Project Management
• Business Analysis
• Stakeholder Management
• IT Project Management
• Requirement Gathering
• Risk Management
• Vendor Management
• Process Improvement
• Agile Methodologies
• MS Project