Senior IT Project Manager - Retail Technology

Job TitleSenior IT Project Manager - Retail TechnologyLocationLas Vegas - Las Vegas, NV 89119 US (Primary)Job TypeFull-timeCategoryInformation TechnologyEducation-Job DescriptionLocation: Las Vegas, NevadaBusiness: WHSmith North AmericaEmployment: Full-timeTravel: Regular travel across North AmericaSalary: $120,000 /yearThe RoleWHSmith North America is looking for an experienced Senior IT Project Manager to lead the delivery of technology projects across our North American retail estate.This is a hands-on delivery role requiring strong experience of technology within physical retail environments. The successful candidate will understand what it takes to open, change, refresh and close stores and will be comfortable coordinating multiple technology suppliers, internal IT teams, retail operations and other business stakeholders.The role will be based in Las Vegas but will support projects across North America, including stores within airports and other travel locations.Key ResponsibilitiesLead IT projects from initial requirements and planning through implementation, cutover, handover and closure.Manage technology delivery for new store openings, store refurbishments, relocations and store closures.Develop and maintain project plans, budgets, RAID logs, dependencies, milestones and delivery reporting.Coordinate internal IT teams, business stakeholders, third-party technology vendors, contractors and service providers.Own the technology readiness plan for store openings and ensure all technology is installed, configured, tested and operational before opening.Manage store decommissioning, including removal or redeployment of technology assets, service termination and secure disposal where required.Manage multiple concurrent projects across geographically dispersed locations.Work closely with Retail Operations, Store Development, Construction, Finance, Loss Prevention and other functions to coordinate store delivery.Manage technology cutovers and provide clear go/no-go criteria for store launches.Ensure appropriate operational handover to support teams following implementation.Identify project risks and issues early and drive them through to resolution.Manage third-party suppliers against agreed deliverables, dates and service expectations.Ensure project documentation, technical standards and governance requirements are followed.Provide clear project status reporting to senior IT and business stakeholders.Continually improve the standard approach, templates and processes used for retail technology deployments.Retail Technology ExperienceCandidates should have practical experience delivering technology into physical retail locations and understand the interdependencies between store technology components such as:Point of Sale (POS)Payment terminals and payment servicesStore LAN, WAN and Wi-FiInternet and telecommunications circuitsBack-office systemsPCs, tablets and mobile devicesPrinters and peripheral devicesHandheld scanners and inventory devicesStock and inventory systemsDigital signageCCTV, EAS and other technology supporting loss preventionStore servers and edge technology where applicableDevice configuration and deploymentStructured cablingTechnology asset managementRemote support and store support modelsThe candidate does not need to be a technical engineer but must understand these technologies sufficiently to challenge suppliers, identify dependencies and manage successful implementations.Store Opening ExperienceThe successful candidate should be comfortable owning the IT workstream for a store opening, including:Design Procurement Connectivity Installation Configuration Testing Cutover Opening Hypercare HandoverThey should understand issues such as circuit lead times, equipment delivery, site access, construction dependencies, POS configuration, payment testing, stock-system readiness and opening-day support.Store Closure ExperienceExperience should also include management of store closures, including:Technology shutdown planningAsset identification and recoveryEquipment redeploymentNetwork and telecom service terminationPOS and payment device removalData/security considerationsSupplier coordinationAsset disposalUpdating configuration and asset-management recordsWhat Good Looks LikeSuccess in this role means stores open on time with technology that works from day one.The Senior IT Project Manager will create predictable, repeatable technology delivery across the WHSmith North America estate and provide clear ownership of IT delivery throughout the store lifecycle.Job RequirementsEssential ExperienceMinimum 5 years’ experience delivering IT projects.Retail experience is essential.Demonstrable experience delivering technology into physical stores.Experience managing new store openings, store closures and/or store refurbishment programmes.Experience managing multiple projects concurrently.Experience managing third-party technology vendors.Strong understanding of retail IT infrastructure and applications.Strong project planning, financial management, risk management and governance skills.Experience working with both technology and operational business teams.Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.Comfortable working in a fast-paced operational retail environment.Willingness to travel regularly throughout North America.Highly DesirableExperience within any of the following would be particularly valuable:Travel retailAirport retailConvenience retailMulti-site retailHospitalityHigh-volume retail environmentsPOS replacement programmesNetwork/Wi-Fi deploymentsPayment technologyRetail infrastructure refreshesLarge-scale store rollout programmesExperience working within airports would be particularly advantageous due to the additional complexity of airport access, installation windows, landlords, concession partners and operational restrictions.Project Management SkillsCandidates should demonstrate strong capability in:Project planning and schedulingBudget managementRAID managementVendor managementStakeholder managementChange controlDependency managementProject governanceExecutive reportingCutover planningOperational readinessLessons learned and continuous improvementPMP, PRINCE2, Agile or equivalent project-management qualifications would be beneficial but are less important than proven delivery experience.