Senior Project Manager

About the role

We are looking for a highly capable Senior Project Manager to join our IS&S Delivery function, playing a critical role in delivering complex, business-critical technology programmes across DS Smith.

This is a high-impact, global role where you will lead the successful delivery of infrastructure, security and service transformation initiatives , working across multiple regions and business units. You will operate at the heart of our technology organisation, driving projects that enable strategic change while ensuring robust governance, risk management and delivery excellence.

Specific knowledge around Identity Access Management tooling and implementation, specifically CyberArk would be highly advantageous.

As a senior member of the delivery team, you’ll be accountable for managing large-scale, multi-stream programmes with complex interdependencies, engaging senior stakeholders, and ensuring alignment with broader organisational goals. You’ll also play a key leadership role, supporting and mentoring other project managers and contributing to the continuous improvement of delivery practices.

Key Responsibilities

Project & Programme Delivery

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex, global IT and security projects across multiple workstreams
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, ensuring alignment to strategic programmes and business objectives
• Manage interdependencies, timelines and deliverables across internal teams and third-party partners

Governance, Risk & Performance

• Own project governance, ensuring delivery in line with DS Smith methodologies and standards
• Proactively identify, assess and mitigate risks, issues and dependencies
• Track and report project performance through established governance forums and programme boards

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage project budgets and resource allocation, ensuring effective use of investment
• Oversee internal, external and vendor resources to ensure delivery outcomes are achieved

Stakeholder & Leadership Engagement

• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across business and technology functions
• Provide clear, confident communication on project progress, risks and outcomes to executive audiences
• Act as a trusted advisor, influencing decision-making and driving alignment across complex stakeholder groups

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, coach and mentor project managers and delivery teams, fostering a high-performing and collaborative culture
• Contribute to the development of delivery capability, best practices and continuous improvement initiatives

Vendor & Compliance Management

• Manage third-party vendors and partners, ensuring compliance with procurement and governance processes
• Support security, audit and compliance activities, ensuring adherence to regulatory and organisational standards

About You

You are a seasoned project delivery professional with a track record of leading complex programmes in global environments. You are equally comfortable navigating ambiguity, managing risk, and influencing at senior levels.

Experience & Expertise

• Proven experience delivering large-scale IT, infrastructure or security programmes with multiple stakeholders and workstreams
• Strong experience in project governance, budgeting, risk management and programme reporting
• Experience in IAM tooling and implementation, specifically CyberArk
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional, multi-cultural teams across geographies
• Experience working within complex organisational structures and driving change at scale
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence at executive level
• Strong leadership capability, with a passion for developing people and building high-performing teams
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to balance competing priorities and deliver results in fast-paced environments
• Degree in Computer Science, IT, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• Professional certifications such as PRINCE2, MSP, APM or equivalent
• Experience with Agile, SAFe or Lean delivery methodologies

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 60,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

“To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.”

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