UK IT Programme Manager

DP World in the UK is at the heart of Britain’s trading future, providing world‑class port infrastructure, smart logistics solutions and the benefits of freeport status to our customers.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our UK Information Technology team for a UK IT Programme Manager. This is a senior, business‑critical role with responsibility for the end‑to‑end oversight, coordination and governance of complex, multi‑disciplinary IT programmes that support DP World’s terminal operations and strategic objectives.

The UK IT Programme Manager plays a pivotal role in driving the successful delivery of a portfolio of interdependent initiatives spanning systems, applications, development, infrastructure, networks, service delivery, operational technology and cyber security. The role provides structure, governance and leadership from early discovery and planning through design, delivery, deployment and post‑implementation stabilisation, ensuring outcomes are operationally resilient, secure and aligned to business priorities.

The role is accountable for programme direction, dependency management, risk and issue control, stakeholder engagement and supplier performance, ensuring delivery across both DP World London Gateway and DP World Southampton meets agreed scope, cost, timeline and quality expectations.

The vacancy is a UK role and may be based at either DP World London Gateway (Essex) or DP World Southampton. Regular travel between both terminals will be required to support cross‑site delivery, coordination and assurance.

• Provide end‑to‑end leadership and governance for a UK IT programme portfolio, ensuring initiatives across systems, applications, infrastructure, networking, cyber and service delivery are aligned to business objectives.
• Set clear programme direction, priorities and delivery structure, managing interdependencies, risks, issues and change across multiple workstreams.
• Oversee the full programme lifecycle, including discovery, requirements definition, planning, design and architecture approvals, delivery, testing, deployment and benefits realisation.
• Maintain robust programme governance artefacts including integrated plans, RAID logs, dependency maps, change controls, readiness assessments and cutover plans.
• Coordinate delivery across IT teams, operations, engineering functions and external suppliers to ensure cohesive planning, testing, transition and implementation.
• Ensure all projects adhere to technical, security and operational readiness standards, securing appropriate approvals prior to go‑live and handover to BAU.
• Monitor programme performance against agreed milestones, budgets, quality and risk thresholds, intervening early to resolve blockers and maintain momentum.
• Lead programme‑wide testing coordination, including functional, UAT, performance, resilience and integration testing, ensuring dependencies and readiness criteria are met.
• Support secure‑by‑design delivery by working closely with Architecture, Cyber Security and Engineering teams to address risks, controls and compliance requirements.
• Manage third‑party vendors and delivery partners, ensuring accountability for outcomes and adherence to contractual and service obligations.
• Provide regular, clear and structured programme reporting to sponsors and senior leadership, highlighting progress, risks, dependencies and required decisions.
• Build strong relationships across UK terminals, regional IT teams and Group IT to ensure alignment with wider organisational initiatives and standards.
• Promote continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to optimise delivery approaches, infrastructure outcomes and operational readiness.

• Proven experience delivering large‑scale, multi‑disciplinary IT programmes within complex enterprise environments.
• Strong background overseeing initiatives across systems, applications, development, infrastructure, networking, cyber security and service delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple teams, suppliers and interdependencies across parallel workstreams.
• Experience operating in operational or service‑led environments, ideally within 24/7 industries such as ports, logistics or critical infrastructure.
• Broad technical understanding of high availability, resilience, disaster recovery, integration, security and service transition, with the ability to challenge and assure design decisions.
• Strong governance, planning and delivery discipline, with confidence producing and managing programme artefacts and reporting.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to influence and facilitate decisions at senior leadership level.
• Experience working within structured delivery and governance frameworks (e.g. MSP, PRINCE2, PMP, Agile or equivalent).
• A collaborative, delivery‑focused mindset with a strong emphasis on operational stability, risk management and measurable business outcomes.

DP World offers exciting and challenging roles within a growing international organisation. We strive to hire and develop the right people, locally and globally, supporting professional growth within an inclusive and collaborative working environment. A market‑competitive compensation package is offered.

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.

With a diverse workforce of more than 103,000 people across 75 countries, DP World operates across Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, combining global infrastructure with deep local expertise.

The DP World family includes Syncreon, Imperial and P&O, delivering integrated end‑to‑end supply chain solutions that continue to redefine global trade through innovation and automation.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW TO CHANGE WHAT’S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE

DP World is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). We believe diversity is central to our success and recruit based on experience and skills. We value authenticity and welcome you to bring your whole self to work.