Senior Project Manager

Description

The company's Precision Guidance IPT is looking for a Senior Project Manager to help deliver seeker capabilities for UK and international customers.

The role sits in the Sensors Business Area, part of the Integrated Sensing & Protection (ISP) Line of Business.

You will lead a set of long-running projects that have supplied specialist capability to the UK MoD for decades and still give the armed forces an operational edge.

The title moves between PM and Senior PM depending on the level you come in at.

Responsibilities

• Take personal accountability for delivering specific projects in the portfolio.
• Lead several complex projects to agreed time, cost and quality targets, using sound governance, leadership and problem-solving.
• Lead early-stage technology work where requirements, technical feasibility and resourcing are still uncertain, keeping it aligned with long-term product strategy.
• Set up governance and risk frameworks for low-TRL initiatives, spot technical, schedule and integration risks early, and put mitigations in place to move technologies to higher TRLs faster.
• Help shape bids and campaigns across the Precision Guidance IPT to improve win probability.
• Work with the Project Engineering Lead and Project Engineering Managers to match available resource to forecast demand, and escalate issues you cannot settle locally to the Head of Programmes and the Head of Engineering Projects.
• Support the IPTs on low-TRL tasks and on internally funded work to develop next-generation products and system upgrades.
• Prepare internal project reporting for the business, including Monthly Project Reviews with the VP Sensors and, when needed, the SVP ISP.
• Find ways to improve delivery and financial performance against baseline targets.
• Make sure company governance and processes are followed, including Lifecycle Management (LCM), tailored to each project.
• Track cost and schedule closely, and lead the team through planning, work allocation and reporting so projects and their objectives are delivered.
• Anticipate, manage and act on dependencies, risks and synergies that affect business performance.
• Build and keep strong working relationships across all functions so you can influence, support and deliver projects.
• Help develop and strengthen relationships with internal and external customers and suppliers, based on trust, collaboration and mutual respect.
• Coach and mentor IPT members, especially those in the Project Management function.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading projects, including early-stage work where requirements, technologies and risks keep changing.
• Strong stakeholder management and engagement skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and build trusted customer relationships.
• A solid understanding of product development, from concept and low-TRL maturation through to sustainment and retirement.
• Skill in managing risks and issues, with a record of acting early in uncertain, fast-moving settings.
• Experience leading people and developing teams, encouraging collaboration and ownership across multi-disciplinary groups.
• Disciplined governance and delivery, keeping projects within scope, schedule and budget even when the phase is early and uncertainty is high.
• Knowledge of compliance standards and regulatory requirements for defence and aerospace.
• Clear communication and presentation skills, able to make complex technical and commercial material understandable to varied audiences.
• A proactive, results-focused approach with a drive for continuous improvement and high performance.
• Working knowledge of LCM, Project Execution, Risk Management and Project Controls.
• Experience supporting bids and planning campaigns to win business.
• Ability to organise and prioritise your own work and to work independently in a fast-moving environment.
• Flexibility and resilience when plans change or pressure rises.
• Strong problem-solving and lateral thinking, especially in ambiguous early development phases.
• Ability to communicate and integrate across many functions and geographically spread teams.
• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Ideally APMP, PRINCE-2 or PMI PMP certified.
• Security clearance.

Conditions

Full-time permanent role, based in Basildon with hybrid working.

Some out-of-hours and extended hours may be needed.

Travel to other company and customer sites may also be required.

Pre-employment screening to the UK Government's Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) applies, and further National Security Vetting (NSV) checks may apply, which could include The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).

Pay follows a grade-based framework with broad bands; the advertised range is the approved grade band or a narrower hiring range within it, benchmarked against the external market, and any offer above the standard range goes through governance controls to protect internal equity.

If you need adjustments during recruitment, tell the company and it will help.

Benefits

• Up to 12 additional flexi-days a year on top of generous leave.
• A company-funded pension with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Free access to mental health support, financial advice and employee networks, including Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity.
• Bonus scheme open to all employees at management level and below.
• Free access to over 4,000 online courses through Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• A referral reward for recommending someone who is hired.
• Up to £500 a year in flexible benefits, such as private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech and lifestyle discounts and gym memberships.
• Flexible hours with hybrid options; part-time arrangements can be discussed for this role.
• Further company benefits are listed on the company website.