About the Role
Join Next’s dynamic Warehouse & Distribution Technology Domain, a crucial part of one of the UK’s largest online retail platforms. As a team of circa 160 professionals, we deliver and support a portfolio of software development projects and are looking for a Product Development Manager to join our team. This pivotal role takes full strategic ownership of core products, directly impacting our warehouse operations both here and abroad, enabling cost savings, service enhancements, capacity increases and resiliency improvements.
You will lead and have line management responsibility for a software development team, overseeing all aspects of project delivery in a highly collaborative and agile framework, providing ongoing communication to ensure progress is fully transparent, understood and aligned to our quality standards and IT governance. The role demands strong leadership and technical acumen, aligned with proven project management capabilities and excellent communication.
Responsibilities
* Overseeing all stages of project delivery, managing risks, issues and decisions.
* Establishing and validating project scope aligned with strategic business drivers.
* Ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget and aligned with priorities.
* Managing the product development lifecycle using Agile Delivery Methods.
* Leading, coaching, and developing a team of Developers to deliver the highest standards.
* Managing team performance, setting clear objectives, and fostering collaboration.
* Communicating project status clearly to all stakeholders.
* Partnering with cross-functional teams to integrate workflows.
* Ensuring full compliance with policies, governance, and NEXT standards.
* Actively managing all project risks and driving continuous improvement in processes.
About You
We're looking for a hands-on leader with a blend of strong project management and exceptional leadership skills, ready to drive efficiency and innovation on a global scale.
* Proven experience managing complex projects and portfolios.
* Strong senior stakeholder management and communication skills.
* Demonstrated experience in team leadership, coaching, and development.
* Background in a fast-paced warehousing, logistics, eCommerce, marketing, retail technology environment or similar.
* Proficiency with ALM tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps).
* Familiarity with Agile or hybrid project delivery models.
* The ability to plan and prioritise workload in an agile, demanding environment.
* Excellent communication skills.
Location
You’ll be doing all this from our Yorkshire Office on the same complex as four of our biggest warehouses, so you can really see the impact and value of the projects we deliver and be close to our key stakeholders and business owners. You’ll be joining a fast-paced, encouraging, and supportive environment. Bring your energy. Play to your strengths. Make things bigger and better than before. Let’s Take It On.
About Us
You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 35,000 people across the UK and Ireland. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 500 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy online from over 70 countries around the world. So we’ve gone global!
About The Team & Benefits
* 25% off most NEXT, MADE, Lipsy, Gap and Victoria's Secret products (when purchased through NEXT).
* Company performance based bonus
* Sharesave scheme
* On-site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
* 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
* Early VIP access to sale stock
* Access to staff discounts
* Restaurants with great food at affordable prices
* Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
* Free on-site parking
* Financial Wellbeing - Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
* Apprenticeship - Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
* Direct to Work - Discount online and in-store, collect items next day for free from your place of work or local store
* Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
* Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, please contact us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include "Workplace Adjustments" in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
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