Senior Project Manager

550 per day

We are recruiting an experienced and technically credible Senior Project Manager to join our Distinguished Aerospace client in Leighton Buzzard. Working in direct support of the Project Chief Engineer you would have primary accountability for structuring and leading the delivery of assigned development programmes. You would act as the principal project interface with the customer and key stakeholders spanning UK, France, and US sites.

The role is being offered on an initial 6 month contract with the opportunity to convert into a permanent employee. It will require 4 days a week onsite at the clients site in Leighton Buzzard. It’s paying a rate of 550 per day inside IR35.

Key Responsibilities
• Structure and lead the project objectives across performance, cost, quality, and schedule, and arbitrating.
• Establish and drive the project development plan, ensuring the PCE or product engineer validates achievement of product performance objectives.
• Own accountability for Non-Recurring Cost (NRC) and Recurring Cost (RC) targets allocated to the project.
• Drive convergence of the technical-economic product definition against programme targets.
• Plan project activities and development reviews in line with programme and customer milestones.
• Analyse and instruct impact assessments (cost, schedule, risk) for any project evolution or change, in conjunction with responsible Work Package leaders.
• Lead identification, assessment, and management of technical risks and opportunities, considering return-of-experience.
• Ensure the project risk register is maintained, reviewed at appropriate cadence, and escalated where required.
• Assess the cost, schedule, and risk impact of all changes before approval, and present recommendations to the PCE, Programme Manager, Steering Committee.
• Serve as the primary project interface with the customer and all stakeholders (regulatory bodies, partners, suppliers) in the execution of the project, in line with the framework set by the Programme Manager, Steering Committee, PCE.
• Represent the Voice of the Customer within the project team and maintain alignment between IPT members and customer commitments.
• Develop and maintain the project master schedule in the company tool, integrating inputs from UK, France, and US.
• Ensure regular reporting of development progress to the Programme Manager and the Steering Committee.
• Approve project documents in line with governance requirements.
• Pilot a PMO function where required to support project governance.
• Ensure compliance with project management processes, development lifecycle process rules, design best practices, and test material conformance requirements.
• Ensure the project is resourced appropriately — budget, skills, competencies, and equipment — commensurate with project objectives.
• Champion use of Safran digital tools and standard PM methodology across the project team.

Essential Requirements
• Demonstrable experience leading complex engineering development programmes in an aerospace, defence, or similarly regulated environment.
• Strong track record of managing programme performance against cost (NRC/RC), schedule, and quality targets through the full development lifecycle.
• Experience acting as the primary customer interface and managing senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional, cross-site IPTs, including management of external suppliers and build-to-spec partners.
• Proficiency in formal project management methodologies — APM, PMI, or equivalent — with a working understanding of PLM framework or an equivalent stage-gate development process.
• Proficiency in risk and opportunity management, change control, and project governance frameworks.
• Degree-level qualification in Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.

Desirable Experience
• Direct experience within a large Tier 1 aerospace supplier.
• Knowledge of Planisware OSMOZ or equivalent enterprise PM/ERP system.
• Familiarity with the company PLM system and engineering change management processes.
• Experience of APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) and aerospace quality standards (AS9100).
• Familiarity with MBSE, digital engineering tools, or Model-Based Digital Controller development.
• French language skills (working proficiency) — beneficial for cross-site coordination with the programme community.
• Experience with Agile project management methodology and its application in an engineering development context.

Recognising the RESTRICTED nature of the work, suitable candidates will need to be BPSS cleared or eligible for this level of clearance before starting on site