Agile Project Manager
Contractor - 6 months initial term

We are Data Technology, a programme that comprises a number of agile, cross-functional teams between London, Sofia and Bangalore. We grow data platforms, build front-end data products and predictive models, and provide experimentation and technical analytics expertise for News UK. We focus on the capture, management and utilisation of customer, clickstream and content data, in order to drive growth and increase revenue for our users. Our users include the newsroom editors, marketing, advertising and product teams associated with our world-leading digital and print publications. From operations and infrastructure support to data technology and software development, we are committed to finding creative solutions to deliver essential news around the globe.

The Role: We’re looking for an Agile Project Manager to join our Data Technology delivery team. You’ll work closely with stakeholders across News UK brands The Times, The Sun and Broadcast to deliver data capabilities aligned with their business objectives. Your role will help ensure the Data Technology cross functional team keeps closely aligned to stakeholders objectives whilst adapting to the ever changing world of News.

The successful candidate will be the delivery lead for two Agile squads, these are blended local and offshore (Sofia and Bangalore) teams composed of Business Analysts, Product Owners, Data Scientists and Machine Learning Engineers. You may also work with Data Architects, BI Engineers, Platform Engineers and Software Engineers. You’ll be part of a team passionate about data, a team who looks to experiment and drive data technology to enable data capabilities across our brands.

Day to Day

• Delivering data science, machine learning and/or other data-driven automation projects, ideally in cloud based environments.

• Application of Agile and lean techniques including Scrum and Kanban.

• Facilitate agile key ceremonies (stand ups, squad retrospectives, etc.).

• Track and follow up activities with squads, maintain squad’s backlog, report back status to squad leads, product managers, the programme manager and/or stakeholders.

• Using metrics effectively to identify and implement opportunities for improvement in squad processes, and in general identify improvement areas towards agile ways of working.

• Tailoring facilitation techniques to achieve expected outcomes.

• A great communicator able to influence and communicate effectively.

• Stakeholders management through proactive communication and exception handling.

• Identification of links/dependencies between squads under your remit and other squads in Data Technology.

What we are looking for from you

• You should be capable of adapting and evolving Agile processes alongside our project management team, capable of adjusting and adapting Agile methodologies to our delivery cycle.

• You’ll show passion for technical challenges and the bravery to take risks with bold ideas. We want you to help us build self-organised, highly motivated teams with the curiosity to unravel complex problems and the optimism to take exciting, innovative approaches.

We are News UK: a company full of talented, dedicated and creative people. We are an ambitious and ever-growing organisation with a passion for storytelling, capturing moments, meaning and magic to make sense of the world.

Our newspapers reach more than 30 million people each week and include The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times. News UK is also home to Unruly, a global ad tech company, and Wireless, a leading UK and Irish media company boasting independent local and national radio stations.

We are Technology: an innovative department with people and product at our heart, and winners of the Real IT Awards 2018 “Best Place to Work in Digital”. Passionate and trusted experts creating industry-leading solutions through attracting and developing the best talent.

Life at News

At News UK some of us work flexibly, in many different ways. We encourage you to talk to us about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to offer exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

We champion diversity and inclusion, we strive to maximise and encourage every individual’s potential and ensure everyone feels valued. We support this through our Diversity Board, D&I strategy & training, creating more diverse content and our intern and apprenticeship programmes. We also have 8 employee-led networks; Cultural Diversity, News is Out, GenZ, Sustainability Champions, News for Parents, Women in Tech, News UK Christian Fellowship and we are awaiting the launch of our Women’s Steering Group.

We take pride in looking after our amazing talent at News UK supporting the Health and Wellbeing of our staff. We offer private medical insurance covering pre-existing conditions, discounted gym memberships, ClassPass at Home, weekly virtual HIIT, yoga and run club classes, and a ‘Bikes for Work’ scheme, as well as offering opportunities for physio/massage, counselling and legal support.

In addition we also offer:

• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%;

• 25 days holiday and up to 4 volunteering days per year;

• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks;

• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access.

We want to ensure that everyone we meet has the opportunity to perform to their best when interviewing, so feel free to let us know, at any stage, whether you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, and we will do our best to accommodate.