Job Description

Programme Manager, Digital

About Us

The Financial Times ranks among the world’s top news organisations. It is known globally for its authority, integrity, and accuracy. Its mission is to provide quality information and services worldwide.

At the FT, curiosity flourishes and ambitious thinking is valued. Here, you have the opportunity to reach millions, produce work that matters and provide impartial journalism in a polarised world.

In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing.

Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and motivate you. With no set route, you’ll uncover new skills and build a career that can take you anywhere.

Develop a newsworthy career at the FT.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be acknowledged, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and perform to their full potential. We are dedicated to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.

The Role

We want an experienced Programme Manager to direct complex technology projects that back the FT's digital publications along with technologies managing reader preferences, cookies, and consent.

Within Product & Tech, you will manage programmes across multiple teams, workstreams, and technology partners. Your role is to align delivery with strategic priorities and generate clear value for the business and our readers.

You will collaborate with colleagues from Product, Engineering, Data, Cyber Security, Infrastructure, Architecture, and other business areas to handle dependencies, address technical issues, and aid sound decision-making.

This is an opportunity to influence how the FT develops and manages its digital platforms. It combines programme leadership, technical understanding, and working with collaborators to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Programme leadership and delivery

• Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives supporting the FT's digital publications, reader journeys, technology platforms and business transformation priorities.
• Manage programmes related to cookie governance, consent management platforms, reader preferences, and connected technology integrations.
• Develop and maintain coordinated delivery plans across multiple workstreams, internal teams, suppliers, and technology partners.
• Establish clear programme objectives, success measures, governance and accountability, ensuring delivery remains aligned with business priorities.
• Coordinate implementation, operational readiness, business change and adoption activities to ensure successful results and benefits realisation.

Programme governance and financial management

• Establish proportionate programme oversight, reporting, and assurance processes that support effective decision-making.
• Lead steering committees and governance forums, providing clear updates on programme progress, risks, dependencies and financial performance.
• Manage programme budgets, forecasts, investment tracking and associated commercial considerations.
• Identify and address programme risks, issues and delivery challenges, implementing recovery plans where necessary.
• Ensure programme delivery aligns with relevant architecture, security, risk and compliance standards.

Cookies, consent and reader preferences

• Manage the delivery of cookie and consent management capabilities, including consent capture, preference updates, withdrawal and consent signal integration.
• Partner with Privacy, Legal, Data, Product and Engineering teams to translate relevant requirements into practical delivery plans and controls.
• Oversee coordination of cookie inventories, technology integrations and changes affecting first-party and third-party digital services.
• Support consistent, accessible reader experiences that clearly communicate choices and reflect consent and preference changes across relevant platforms.

Technology and supplier management

• Collaborate with technical specialists to understand architectural requirements, technical dependencies, implementation risks and operational impacts.
• Coordinate delivery relationships involving external suppliers, systems integrators, and technology partners.
• Monitor supplier performance against agreed achievements, contractual commitments and programme outcomes.
• Coordinate internal and external delivery teams, resolving dependencies and advancing risks where appropriate.
• Support procurement, commercial discussions and contractual delivery arrangements.

Collaborator engagement and business outcomes

• Build trusted relationships with senior business and technology collaborators, programme sponsors and delivery teams.
• Facilitate decisions involving competing priorities, investment considerations, technical constraints and delivery risks.
• Communicate complex programme information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Support argument development, benefits tracking and measurement of programme outcomes.
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative and accountable approach to programme delivery.

Required Skills and Experience

• Proven experience managing complex technology programmes or large-scale business transformation initiatives involving multiple teams and workstreams.
• Solid programme management skills, encompassing planning, governance, risk control, financial supervision, and benefits delivery.
• Experience managing programmes that include digital products, enterprise technology platforms, infrastructure, cloud technologies, data, cyber security, or organisational transformation.
• Practical experience implementing cookie governance, consent management, preference management, or privacy-related technology projects, with the ability to coordinate relevant specialists.
• Experience working across Agile, hybrid and traditional delivery environments.
• Ability to manage complex collaborator relationships, influence senior decision-makers and bring together cross-functional teams.
• Experience coordinating with external technology vendors, systems integrators, and environments involving multiple suppliers.
• Strong commercial awareness, including programme budgeting, investment management and supplier performance.
• Ability to understand technical dependencies and collaborate effectively with engineering, architecture, security and business teams.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, problem-solving and organisational skills.
• Familiarity with recognized programme management frameworks, such as MSP, PgMP, PfMP or equivalent, and the capability to implement them effectively.

Desirable

• Experience working in media, publishing, subscription businesses, SaaS or other technology-led organisations.
• Experience delivering enterprise transformation, operating model change or technology modernisation programmes.
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture, cloud platforms, cyber security frameworks and modern software delivery practices.
• Professional programme management credential, such as MSP, PgMP, PfMP or equivalent.

What's in it for You?

Our benefits differ depending on the location, but we are dedicated to offering top-tier perks at all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical coverage, inclusive parental leave packages, discounted gym memberships, and chances to contribute to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here.

We currently operate a hybrid model which requires staff to work onsite 50% of the time, subject to role requirements & regular review. While flexible working requests will be considered, not all patterns are suitable for all roles. We believe this balanced approach supports flexibility and protects our culture, making collaboration and communication easier, building stronger relationships and team cohesion, and supporting peer learning. We reserve discretion on reasonable notice to change this approach either generally or for specific individuals or teams.

Accessibility

We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory.

Kindly let us know if you require any reasonable modifications or adjustments as part of the application process or to support your attendance at an interview. Should you want to discuss your needs or have any questions, email talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be pleased to help.

Further Information

The FT values innovation and technology and recognizes that candidates might bring AI tools into their application process. You are welcome to use AI to support your application, but all details must be authentic and accurately portray your skills, experience, and qualifications.

Candidates should be aware that the use of AI during the application process might be observed to guarantee a fair and transparent hiring experience for everyone.

Please be cautious of fake job listings and offers pretending to be from the Financial Times. Genuine positions require applications only through the official Financial Times careers website. The FT will not request financial details, payments, or third-party referrals at any stage of hiring. If you are worried about a job posting's authenticity or suspect fraudulent activity, contact talent@ft.com.

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