Senior Program Manager

CEL Critical Power is an Irish-based manufacturer, distributor, and exporter of electrical switchgear, controls, and related products and services, with a 40-year track record, focused on supplying the global data centre industry.

Operating from Ireland and in support of our 400,000 sq ft of manufacturing capacity in Williamsburg, Virginia, we aim to double in size each year for the next three years.

As part of this ambitious growth journey, we are seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager to lead the delivery of complex, high-value customer programmes across our international operations.

About the Role

This is a strategic leadership role responsible for ensuring customer commitments are delivered safely, efficiently, and consistently while supporting CEL's rapid global expansion. Working across Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Commercial, and Project Management teams, you will provide programme oversight, governance, risk management, capacity planning, and delivery leadership across a portfolio of major programmes.

You will establish the frameworks, processes, and delivery discipline required to scale programme execution across the business. This includes driving programme governance, scheduling, resource planning, performance management, and continuous improvement to maintain delivery certainty as CEL continues to grow.

Working closely with teams in Ireland and the United States, you will help shape and embed a consistent approach to programme delivery across the organisation. Your leadership will be instrumental in supporting operational excellence, customer confidence, and the successful scaling of our global operations.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end delivery of complex, high-value customer programmes, ensuring commitments are met across scope, schedule, cost, quality, and customer expectations.
• Develop and maintain integrated master schedules across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Commercial workstreams.
• Establish clear programme governance, stage gates, reporting cadences, delivery KPIs, and decision-making forums.
• Use delivery data, financial metrics, forecasting, and variance analysis to monitor programme health and drive timely action.
• Identify and mitigate programme risks proactively, own change control, and escalate critical issues with clear resolution plans.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Supply Chain to align programme demand, material readiness, production capacity, throughput, and resource requirements.
• Work with Engineering on design readiness, design for manufacture, and new product introduction into production.
• Translate customer and commercial commitments into controlled, realistic, and executable delivery plans.
• Lead delivery performance across subcontractors, outsourced partners, and modular build contractors, ensuring CEL standards for quality, cost, and delivery are achieved.
• Drive improvements in schedule adherence, cost performance, delivery predictability, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Assess and implement appropriate programme management tools and automation to improve visibility, reporting efficiency, and delivery control.
• Build a high-performance, accountable delivery culture and develop programme and project delivery capability across the business.
• Lead executive programme reviews and provide clear, proactive communication to customers and senior stakeholders.
• Establish and continuously improve programme governance, planning, and delivery processes to support consistent execution across the business.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in programme or project management within industrial, engineering, manufacturing, or engineered product environments.
• 10+ years of experience in senior delivery leadership roles with direct customer accountability.
• Proven end-to-end ownership of complex, high-value, multi-workstream programmes across cross-functional teams.
• Strong experience in programme governance, integrated planning, risk management, change control, and performance reporting.
• Experience operating across multiple sites or international delivery environments.
• Strong understanding of programme financials, cost performance, forecasting, capacity planning, resource planning, and variance management.
• Experience managing subcontractors, outsourced delivery partners, or complex supplier dependencies.
• Proven ability to improve schedule adherence, cost performance, delivery predictability, and customer outcomes.
• Strong people leadership and team development skills, with a visible and hands-on leadership style.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the confidence to operate in customer and executive forums.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Business, or a related discipline.
• Fluent English, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel between CEL sites and customer locations as required.

Desirable

• Experience in power systems, electrical infrastructure, switchgear, data centres, automotive, aerospace, industrial capital equipment, or a comparable engineered sector.
• Experience scaling production or delivery capability in a high-growth organisation.
• Experience delivering programmes across multi-line or multi-shift manufacturing environments.
• Experience with new product introduction, design for manufacture, and production ramp-up.
• Knowledge of US electrical industry practices, including UL standards and NEC codes.
• Recognised programme or project management certification, such as PMP, PMI-ACP, PRINCE2, or equivalent.
• Experience implementing programme management tools, automation, or data-led reporting solutions.

Benefits

Why Join CEL Critical Power?

Join a Trusted Industry Leader - 42 Years of Excellence

CEL has been delivering high-quality, bespoke power distribution solutions for over four decades, with products that stand the test of time.

Be Part of a Global Expansion

With CEL launching its first US manufacturing plant, you will have the opportunity to work on international projects and documentation standards while collaborating with colleagues across North America.

Collaborate with World-Class Engineers, Vendors & Industry Experts

You’ll work alongside leading engineers, project managers, document controllers, product managers, and global vendors, ensuring excellence and operational success across CEL’s international teams.

Shape the Future of CEL - Critical Power

This is more than just an operator role-it’s an opportunity to help forge the future of CEL and our expansion across the US.

Competitive Salary, Benefits & Career Growth

We offer structured career development, professional training, and leadership opportunities, ensuring long-term career progression.