Program Manager

Programme Manager | News Technology & Transformation | Contract (6 months)

London UK | 2 Days onsite a week | £600–£650 Inside IR35

I'm looking for an experienced Programme Manager to lead a major Rights Management System (RMS) replacement and transformation programme within the broadcast media industry.

This is a high-profile, end-to-end delivery role with a hard deadline. The existing legacy system reaches end-of-support in mid-2028, so the successful candidate will take ownership of the journey from requirements gathering and procurement through to implementation, large-scale data migration and decommissioning.

You'll need a strong technical understanding, proven programme delivery experience within news or broadcast media, and a track record of delivering complex enterprise technology replacements.

The Programme

The programme centres on replacing a legacy rights management platform used to manage broadcasting contracts, TV rights data and associated licensing processes. The role will involve working with business and technology stakeholders, software vendors and the existing programme team to ensure a successful transition to a new solution ahead of the 2028 deadline.

Key Responsibilities:

• Programme leadership: Own end-to-end delivery of the RMS replacement, managing scope, budgets, timelines, dependencies, risks and programme governance.
• Requirements and procurement: Lead market analysis, requirements gathering and the RFI/RFP process to evaluate and select a suitable replacement platform.
• Vendor management: Manage vendor selection, onboarding, commercial negotiations and contractual engagement with enterprise software providers.
• Implementation: Oversee the implementation and integration of the new system, working closely with technical teams, vendors and business stakeholders.
• Data migration: Lead the strategy and delivery of large-scale data migration, including TV rights data, broadcasting contracts, licensing rules and associated business logic.
• Legacy decommissioning: Manage the transition away from the existing platform, ensuring data integrity, operational continuity and effective risk mitigation.
• Stakeholder management: Work across news, broadcast operations, technology and commercial teams, supporting the transition alongside the incumbent programme lead and relevant external partners.
• Deadline management: Drive delivery against the mid-2028 end-of-support deadline, ensuring the replacement solution is implemented and the legacy system can be safely retired.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience delivering complex, end-to-end Rights Management System (RMS) implementations or replacements .
• Experience within the broadcast media, television, news or entertainment rights management sector.
• Strong technical programme management experience across enterprise system implementations, integrations and legacy replacements.
• Demonstrable experience managing large-scale data migrations, particularly involving broadcasting contracts, rights data, licensing information or complex business rules.
• Hands-on programme delivery experience across procurement, requirements gathering, RFI/RFP processes, vendor selection and commercial negotiations.
• Experience managing multiple workstreams, third-party suppliers, technical teams and senior stakeholders.
• Strong risk management capabilities, particularly when delivering against fixed end-of-support deadlines.

Desirable Experience

Experience with rights management platforms such as MediaGenix WHATS'ON, Fadel, Sintec Media or other proprietary TV rights management systems would be highly advantageous.

Familiarity with enterprise rights management solutions such as RightsLogic, particularly in environments managing broadcasting contracts and rights operations, would also be beneficial.

The Ideal Candidate

You'll be a technically credible Programme Manager who understands the complexities of broadcast rights operations and has successfully delivered a comparable enterprise system replacement. You can lead the commercial and procurement process, challenge technical teams and vendors, and take accountability for a complex migration and transition programme with a non-negotiable deadline.

Role Type: Contract (6 months)

Location: London UK (2 Days onsite a week)

Rate: £600–£650 Inside IR35

If you've delivered a rights management system implementation, replacement or major migration within the broadcast media industry, I'd love to hear from you.