At wagamama, we’re an eating house for the soul. with over 160 uk restaurants and growing, our purpose is to nourish the world from bowl to soul. inspired by fast-paced, japanese ramen bars since 1992. a celebration of asian food brought wagamama to life
about the role
at wagamama, we’re on a mission to nourish modern society through positive eating – and we’re evolving to do just that. our transformation function is the engine driving this change, and we’re looking for a senior project manager to lead the delivery of complex, cross-functional initiatives within our strategic plan and wider change portfolio – a set of key initiatives designed to accelerate and enable growth, enhance operational effectiveness, and future-proof the business.
this is a pivotal role, responsible for turning strategy into execution. you’ll work across all areas of the business – from operations and food development, to IT, commercial, and HR – ensuring key initiatives are delivered on time, on budget, and with lasting value.
why this role is important
the wagamama transformation programme represents one of the most important strategic undertakings in wagamama’s evolution – a structured set of initiatives aimed at unlocking long-term growth, boosting efficiency, and strengthening our guest and team member experience. the senior project manager plays a vital role in making this ambition a reality.
you will be at the forefront of change delivery – creating actionable plans, coordinating cross-functional teams, and ensuring that the right outcomes are achieved. your ability to connect the dots across functions, manage complexity, and embed sustainable change will be critical to wagamama’s ability to transform with purpose and pace. quite simply, this role is key to delivering the initiatives that shape wagamama’s future.
what you’ll be doing
* leading the end-to-end delivery of high-impact, cross-functional initiatives within the strategic portfolio – from initial mobilisation through to benefits realisation
* managing delivery across multiple workstreams at once, often with short timelines and high visibility
* collaborating with senior leaders and functional teams to align delivery with strategic goals, ensure clarity of ownership, and enable seamless cross-team collaboration
* designing and executing robust project delivery plans, managing dependencies, risks, budgets, and timelines to keep delivery on track
* tailoring delivery frameworks to suit each initiative – bringing a strong grasp of best practice (e.g. waterfall, agile, hybrid) but applying them pragmatically to fit context, pace, and stakeholders
* ensuring change management best practice is at the forefront of your critical paths, including clear communications, stakeholder engagement, and adoption planning to ensure initiatives land successfully and stick
* supporting the continuous improvement of our transformation capabilities, including governance, reporting, and delivery rhythm
* championing a culture of accountability, transparency, and delivery excellence across the transformation team and beyond
what we’re looking for
* a seasoned project and change delivery leader, with significant experience – ideally 8+ years – leading cross-functional programmes and strategic business change in fast-paced, customer-focused environments
* deep understanding of change and transformation principles, with the ability to balance structure and agility in complex project + programme environments
* strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence and credibility to influence senior leaders and drive consensus across functions
* a delivery-focused mindset, with a passion for solving problems, removing blockers, and keeping momentum high
* a strong working knowledge of delivery and change frameworks (e.g. prince2, agile, msp), and the ability to apply them flexibly to meet the needs of each initiative
* experience managing multiple projects in parallel, and comfortable working in a high-paced, evolving environment where initiative lifecycles are often short and outcomes-focused
* someone who thrives in a fast-moving, people-led culture – who’s energised by action, not afraid to roll up their sleeves, and can bring both structure and adaptability to everything they do
wok's in it for you |
* a competitive annual salary
* discretionary 20% bonus opportunity per year
* £200 monthly wagamama food allowance
* private healthcare
* pension contribution
* 25 days holiday + all bank holidays
* various discount across retail, hospitality + leisure
* internal progression opportunities | fully funded apprenticeship programmes to support your growth
* kintsugi wellness | access to councillors, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym + leisure
* family friendly policy | any expectant person or anyone adopting a child will receive 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay
* financial wellbeing support | access to loans repaid through your salary for those ‘strapped for cash’ moments in life
be you, be wagamama
wagamama is proudly part of disability confident