Project Manager (New Market Entry)

For a quarter of a century, the Jellycat family have brought joy, wonder and playful fun to people of all ages, in every part of the world. Utterly original and in a class of their own, they are currently among the most loved and collected toys of their kind. How has this gentle tribe endeared themselves to so many? Perhaps it is their whimsical expressions. Or the deliciously soft fabrics. Or the beautiful way in which they sit in your hand. Whatever it is, there is something magical and unmistakeable about each one of them. This role is critical to the success of this aim via driving our continual innovation and improvement.

This role is for a highly motivated and dynamic Project Manager with experience managing projects to take an existing business into a new market and who possesses a strong inclination towards hands on involvement and a profound commitment to collaboration.

Working closely with our CCO and In Market General Manager, the role requires an individual who can bring all activity needed to launch in a new market together and manage the programme end to end.

The project team will be a global team with some aspects being run by sub-project teams at our head office in London. We are looking for somebody to directly manage all local elements of the project, the key focus being warehousing and logistics, but also oversee the plan for delivery of the project as a whole.

This role is designed for a leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, actively seeks out project responsibilities, and excels at bringing together diverse teams to achieve common goals. The ideal candidate will be someone who does not shy away from diving deep into project details and works closely with team members at all levels to drive project success.

You'll be;

Project Leadership and Execution: Leading the project from conception to completion working primarily with our In Market General Manager but also with the wider Jellycat business to ensure requirements are clear, documented and delivered. Ensuring the project is delivered on time, within scope, and budget. You need to embrace hands on involvement in all project phases, actively engaging with team members, stakeholders, and vendors to maintain project momentum.

Collaborative Project Team Management: Fostering a culture of collaboration within the project team. Facilitating regular team meetings and workshops to ensure open communication, problem solving and team alignment. Act as a mediator to resolve conflicts and encourage a positive work environment.

Stakeholder Engagement: Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with our Head of Market and Leadership Team as well as all project stakeholders. Ensuring their needs and expectations are clearly understood and addressed through continuous engagement and communication.

Risk Management and Problem Solving: Proactively identifying potential project risks and issues. Leading the effort in problem solving and decision making processes with a collaborative approach, involving the relevant team members and stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement: Promoting a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging feedback from team members and stakeholders. Implement best practices in project management, leveraging team insights and industry trends to enhance project efficiency and effectiveness.

Resource Management: Efficiently securing and allocating project resources including cross functional team members, budgets, ensuring the right mix of skills and expertise is available to meet project demands. Actively participate in the selection and onboarding of project team members.

You'll have;

• A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management or related field. Alternatively clear demonstratable equivalent experience. PMP certification is a plus.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in project management, with a demonstrated history of successful project delivery. Experience of working with agile teams a distinct advantage.
• Experience in Global Operations Projects e.g. third party logistics/warehousing
• Knowledge of the local market (localisations etc) including legislation, safety requirements etc.
• Exceptional leadership skills with a strong focus on mentorship and team development.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to engage effectively with team members, stakeholders and vendors at all levels from CEO to operational team members.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with a hands on approach to tackling challenges.
• Strong commercial awareness and able to demonstrate ability to control costs and ensure quality in project deliverables.
• An unwavering commitment to collaborative work and a passion for driving team success.

Desirable:

• Experience of complex new market entry projects with a mix of in-house, 3 rd party and contracted resources.
• ERP Project Management experience.
• eCommerce Project Management experience.
• Retail/Commercial Project Management experience.
• Extensive experience working with UK/US companies.
• Proficiency in project management software and tools. Experience of Monday.com is an advantage.