Project Manager

Overview

In this role you will lead the delivery of high-value, complex projects in the defence and maritime domain, guiding cross-functional teams from bid to in-service acceptance. You will manage contractual commitments, budgets, and schedules while prioritising risk, quality, and stakeholder engagement. The position sits within the Surface Ship domain and involves collaboration with customers, suppliers and government and navy stakeholders. This is an opportunity to drive delivery excellence on strategically important programmes and contribute to business development through bid support.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible working arrangements

Responsibilities

• Manage delivery of complex, high-value projects from inception to completion
• Define project structures, delivery plans and WBS based on bid information
• Form project teams and specify work packages including subcontracted activities
• Monitor performance against budgets, schedules, milestones and delivery requirements
• Oversee lifecycle activities including planning, progress reviews, and gate reviews
• Ensure contracts align with objectives and wider business goals
• Manage risks, opportunities, security, trade controls, quality and configuration management
• Build and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and stakeholders
• Represent the business in meetings, negotiations and external engagements
• Ensure timely achievement of contractual milestones and optimise cash flow
• Support bid management with stakeholder management, planning and documentation
• Set objectives and monitor performance of teams, providers and suppliers
• Provide regular updates to senior management and stakeholders
• Travel as required to support delivery

Key requirements

• Proven experience delivering complex, high-value projects (ideally >£3 million)
• Experience taking technical products from design to testing and in-service acceptance
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of contractual requirements
• Excellent organisational, leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to manage projects against challenging timescales, budgets and technical demands
• Strong communication, presentation and negotiation skills with senior stakeholders
• Comfort communicating with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to engage with senior management, government representatives, navy personnel and industry stakeholders
• Delivery-focused mindset with motivation to achieve objectives

• leadership
• stakeholder management
• communication
• project lifecycle management
• risk and quality management
• contractual and commercial awareness

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