About the role

Job Title: Head of IT Program Management & Business Partnerships

Location: United Kingdom (weekly travel to schuh HO required)

Reports To: Genesco - Global Chief Information Officer

Department: Information Technology

Position Overview:

The Head of PMO & IT Business Partnerships is responsible for leading the Project Management Office (PMO) while driving strategic IT initiatives that align with business objectives. This role will oversee the end-to-end management of all IT projects, ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions within scope, budget, and time. Additionally, this position will establish and manage strong collaborative relationships with senior business leadership & the Genesco Global Chief Information Officer, ensuring strategic alignment between evolving business capabilities and supporting IT solutions.  

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Strategy:
  • Partner closely with Genesco VP, PMO & IT Governance in developing and implementing project management best practices, methodologies, and standards.
  • Develop the overall IT project strategy in alignment with organization priorities, ensuring seamless integration across IT functions, business domains, and external third parties.
  • Partner closely with the Global Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, & the Head of Enterprise Applications in developing, socializing, prioritizing, maintaining, and executing a comprehensive (multi-year) application & platform modernization roadmap.
• Project Management:
  • Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of IT projects, ensuring they meet scope, time, and budget requirements.
  • Drive continuous improvement through timely project retrospectives, teasing out lessons learned that can be leveraged for ongoing execution elevation, including working with the business to validate stated project benefits (e.g., revenue growth, efficiency improvements, cost take out, etc).
  • Ensure proper risk management, issue resolution, and change control processes are in place for all projects.
• Governance & Reporting:
  • Partner with the Genesco VP, PMO & IT Governance to develop, implement, & maintain a governance framework for IT project management, ensuring compliance with internal policies, auditing requirements, and other external regulations.
  • Provide regular status reports, updates, and dashboards to senior management, highlighting key metrics, risks, and project outcomes.
  • Ensure project documentation, including business cases, project plans, and postproject reviews, is maintained to high standards.
• Business Partnership:
  • Partner closely & often with schuh Leadership Team to understand key business objectives & needed capabilities, translating those into enabling IT initiatives. o Facilitate communication between IT and business teams, ensuring alignment and understanding of project priorities, statuses, and opportunities.
  • Identify opportunities for IT to provide innovative solutions to business challenges, driving modernization, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
• Team Management & Development:
  • Build and lead a high-performing PMO team, providing guidance, coaching, and development opportunities.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning within the team.
  • Set clear objectives, priorities, and expected results for the team, regularly reviewing progress and making adjustments as needed.
• Budgeting & Resource Management:
  • Manage the PMO budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources across projects and initiatives.
  • Work with IT and business leaders to prioritize projects and allocate resources effectively.
  • Monitor and control project costs, ensuring financial objectives are met or exceeded.

Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master's degree is preferred.
  • PMP or equivalent project management certification is highly desirable.
• Experience:
  • 10+ years of experience in IT project management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
  • Proven experience in leading a PMO and managing large-scale IT projects.
  • Strong track record of building and managing business relationships at all levels.
• Skills:
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
  • Deep understanding of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proficient in project management software and tools (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project, JIRA, Confluence, etc.).
• Personal Attributes:
  • Strategic thinker with a business-focused mindset.
  • Highly organized and detail-oriented.
  • Ability to influence and drive change across the organization.
  • Strong commitment to delivering high-quality results.

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