Job Description

Premier Foods - IT Project Management Office (PMO) Graduate Scheme - 2026
Based in St Albans
Permanent
This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and detail-oriented graduate to join our IT Project Management Office (PMO) as part of a structured two-year development programme. If you're passionate about project delivery, governance, and continuous improvement and want to build a career in project management, business analysis, or PMO this role is for you.
You'll gain hands-on experience across the full project lifecycle, develop core skills in governance, reporting, and analysis, and be supported by a dedicated mentor and buddy system throughout your journey.
Overview of the IT Function
Premier Foods' IT function plays a critical role in driving innovation, operational efficiency, and digital transformation across the business. The department is structured around centres of excellence located in Manchester, St Albans and Winchester, supporting both head office and manufacturing sites.
Key Focus Areas
Smart Solutions & Innovation: The IT team is instrumental in delivering new technologies and digital tools that empower colleagues and enhance business performance.
Service Excellence: Providing best-in-class support through the IT helpdesk and technical support teams, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
Business Partnering: IT Business Partners act as strategic liaison between IT and business functions, helping to shape and deliver technology solutions aligned with commercial goals.
Application Development & Project Delivery: Teams work on a range of initiatives including software development, solutions, and project management.
Architecture & Infrastructure: Ensuring robust, scalable, and secure systems that support the company's growth and innovation agenda.
Culture & Career Development
The IT department fosters a collaborative and supportive environment, where early responsibility and exposure to real business challenges are encouraged.
Graduates and early-career professionals benefit from structured development, including training in Business Analysis, PMO and Project Management, and opportunities to lead or contribute to impactful projects.
What does an IT Project Management Graduate Scheme at Premier Foods involve?
Over two years, you'll rotate through key areas of the PMO and project delivery teams, learning and applying key skills in:
Project Management of end to end projects and workstreams
PMO governance: project logs, dashboards, resource tracking
Business analysis: stakeholder engagement, requirements gathering, process mapping
Differing project delivery methodologies
Change management techniques
What You'll Be Doing and Learning:
Supporting project and programme teams with documentation, reporting, and analysis
Maintaining project documentation and project dashboards
Participating in stakeholder workshops and process mapping sessions
Leading projects and workstreams
Contributing to portfolio-level reporting and benefits tracking
Presenting insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders
Assisting in the preparation of business cases and project charters
Coordinating project meetings, preparing agendas, and capturing minutes
Supporting change management activities and internal communications
Conducting impact assessments and tracking project benefits
Learning and applying different project delivery methodologies
Creating and maintaining project schedules and resource plans
Collaborating with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and define solutions
Using tools like Planview, Excel, Visio, and SharePoint to support project delivery
Shadowing experienced Project Managers, Business Analysts, and PMO Analysts to gain practical insights
What will we expect from you?
To take ownership for your own learning and show commitment to the scheme and to the role you perform
To be a team player - we are all in it together here at Premier Foods
If you are not already 'commercially aware'', we'll need you to develop this thinking quickly
We operate Hybrid working. This means working part of the week in the office and part of the week at home. You can work 5 days in the office if you want to, but we expect office based employees to be in the office at least 2-3 days a week.
Our graduates play a role in supporting our ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy, primarily around being charity/volunteering champions.
Do you offer...?
Degree qualified in a relevant subject such as Business, IT, Engineering, Mathematics, or related disciplines
An understanding of the UK FMCG/Retail sectors
Demonstrated interest in project delivery or business analysis through work experience or extracurriculars
Comfortable working with data and reporting tools
Analytical and highly numerate skills
The permanent right to work in the UK
Your base will be St Albans AL1 2RE and you will need to be prepared to relocate here: you may be required to spend time in other locations with overnight stays.
The package and benefits...
Starting salary - 30,000 per annum
Attractive benefits package including: 25 days holiday plus statutory holidays, pension scheme, life assurance, Sharesave scheme, employee discount scheme including travel, food and shopping discounts.
Relocation support loan
Employee assistance scheme
A real community of like-minded fellow graduates
A Business Mentor
More than 10 days of off-job development workshops covering such topics as communication, presentation and influencing skills
Invitations to social events and executive networking opportunities. Our graduates are sociable and enjoy informal dinners and drinks and have the opportunity to attend more formal events such as charity dinners and sales conferences
Ready to apply...?
Click apply, submitting an up-to-date CV tailored to this opportunity. We look forward to hearing from you.
A great British food company
Premier Foods is one of Britain's biggest listed food companies, employing over 4,000 colleagues at 13 manufacturing sites and offices up and down the country.
Many of our brands have been part of UK life for more than a century and you'll find them in 90% of British households.
At Premier foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

Skills Required