Programme Manager

• PAYE + Holiday
• Fareham, England
• Contract

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.