Programme Manager

Programme Manager

Location: Onsite, 5 days per week (Occasional WFH flex)

Travel: Occasional Filton (Bristol) customer meetings

Sector: Aerospace

Type: Contract - Inside IR35

Overview

We are recruiting a Programme Manager to support a critical recovery and growth programme for our Aerospace client, the role carries high visibility, urgency, and impact.

You will lead an integrated cross-functional team and act as the primary interface between engineering, manufacturing, operations, and the customer.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate an Integrated Project Team across ME, Engineering, Network & Production Scheduling, Operations, and Customer Service.
• Drive delivery performance, ensuring adherence to schedule, cost, scope, and technical targets.
• Provide clear guidance, challenge teams, and create accountability across all functions.
• Collate and interpret programme data, reporting status, risks, and actions to senior leadership and customer teams (up to president level).
• Work closely with senior customer stakeholders, including US-based leadership, to manage expectations, communicate progress, and negotiate changes.
• Identify risk, mitigate issues, and proactively adjust plans to recover slippage.
• Ensure full visibility of performance metrics, variances, and programme health.
• Support scope changes, claims, or commercial opportunities that improve revenue or margin.
• Apply strong programme management processes (e.g., gated NPD/prolaunch-style methodologies).
• Capture and share lessons learned to drive continuous improvement.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Proven leadership experience within aerospace or complex manufacturing.
• Comfortable in high-pressure recovery environments with significant senior exposure.
• Strong organisational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Capable of influencing and motivating teams in a matrixed environment.
• Technical aptitude and understanding of engineering/manufacturing interactions.
• Proficient in MS Office; MS Project beneficial.
• Experience driving schedule adherence and operational performance.

Preferred

• Programme/Project Management accreditation (PMP/PMI).
• Experience in NPD, gated development processes, or product introduction environments.
• Understanding of contracts, risk management, and programme financials.

Environment & Expectations

• Full onsite presence due to the technical and operational nature of the programme.
• Occasional extended hours to meet programme demands.
• Occasional late-afternoon calls with US counterparts.
• Collaboration with senior UK and US stakeholders, including customer service leadership.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK freely adhering to ITAR restrictions.