Lead Technical Programme Manager (Cyber)

Job Description

Lead Technical Programme Managers (TPMs) deliver complex, cross-functional technology programmes across Tesco, collaborating with Product, Engineering, Operations and business teams to deliver value rapidly and sustainably. This role is positioned with a primary focus on our Cyber Defence function.

You will lead high-impact cyber security programmes that strengthen Tesco’s threat-informed defence, detection engineering capability, intelligence-led prioritisation, threat investigation and incident response. While TIDE is your primary alignment, you will also provide programme management leadership across other Cyber teams according to changing business priorities.

This role requires advanced, hands-on experience managing cyber delivery, navigating technical interdependencies, and operating confidently where cyber risk, regulatory expectations, and threat context directly shape delivery decisions.

Whilst specific responsibilities will be dependent upon the changing needs of the Tesco business, the following provides an overview of the role’s key responsibilities and measures:

• Deliver complex, multi-team cyber security programmes that materially strengthen Tesco’s detection, intelligence and response capabilities.
• Lead threat informed defence initiatives, ensuring TIDE engineering work is sequenced, integrated and driving measurable uplift in coverage and resilience.
• Shape programmes with ambiguous scope and evolving threat landscapes, defining structure, clarity and delivery direction.
• Create and maintain integrated delivery plans covering technical design, implementation, operational readiness, change management and measurable outcomes.
• Provide advice and guidance on programme delivery (line management and mentoring other TPMs and supporting Engineering/Product teams).
• Work closely with CTI and Detection Engineering teams to turn intelligence outputs into detection engineering priorities, supporting threat informed programme planning.
• Understand cyber and security architectures sufficiently to anticipate dependencies, platform constraints, sequencing challenges and integration risks.
• Influence senior stakeholders across Cyber Defence, Engineering and Technology to drive decision-making and unblock fiction points.
• Foresee risks and issues, establish escalation paths, facilitate discussions and ensure risks are owned, tracked and resolved.
• Collaborate with the Product and Engineering teams to define annual budgetary requirements.
• Build positive relationships with suppliers & external stakeholders to deliver software or professional services, holding them to account on delivery and improvement plans.
• Support vendor selection processes (tendering, agreeing SLAs, warranty periods, outsourcing).
• Communicate clear objectives and career path for any direct reports.
• Coach peers and other roles, teaching where required, on methodologies and programme management tools and coach/mentor on leadership.
• Participate in recruitment processes.
• Contribute actively to the wider TPM community.

An ideal candidate must have demonstrated below key skills in their current and past roles:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience managing cyber security delivery programmes or portfolios within Cyber, Security or Technology Risk.
• Proven ability to deliver large-scale technology or security initiatives across multiple teams, disciplines, and geographies.
• Strong programme, stakeholder and risk management skills, including influencing senior leaders and driving alignment in ambiguous environments.
• Strong understanding of security architectures, detection engineering concepts and threat informed defence approaches (familiarity, not hands-on engineering)

Excellence communication and reporting skills, able to translate complex cyber topics into clear business narratives
Our vision at Tesco is to become every customer's favourite way to shop, whether they are at home or out on the move. Our core purpose is ‘Serving our customers, communities and planet a little better every day’. Serving means more than a transactional relationship with our customers. It means acting as a responsible and sustainable business for all stakeholders, for the communities we are part of and for the planet. We are proud to have an inclusive culture at Tesco where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. At Tesco, we not only celebrate diversity, but recognise the value and opportunity it brings. We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued, and make sure that all colleagues are given the same opportunities. We’re proud to have been accredited Disability Confident Leader and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support we can offer, please click here. We’re a big business and we can offer a range of diverse full-time & part-time working patterns across our many business areas, which means that we can find something that works for you. We work in a more blended pattern - combining office and remote working. Our offices will continue to be where we connect, collaborate and innovate. If you are applying internally, please speak to the Hiring Manager about how this can work for you - Everyone is welcome at Tesco.