Land Programme Manager

Role Purpose

Joining the Programme team and reporting to the Programme Director, the Programme Manager will manage the overall execution of an assigned Programme within Chess Dynamics. A programme will consist of several concurrent projects (both internally as well as externally funded) and clients within a specific domain.

Key Responsibilities

• The oversight and development of Project Management staff assigned to projects within the domain.Delivering on planned profit, revenue and growth targets associated with the assigned programme through resource and project-product based planning, effective cost management, leveraging outcomes for similar projects running together and benefits management.
• Participate in proposal planning and generation (including detailed Project Management labour estimates, project-management volume content and the initial, detailed master schedule to support labour and material cost spend profiling). Support Business Development in customer relationship development.
• Ensure new contracts or internal R&D projects for the programme are suitably staffed and launched in the planned timeframe with resource needs assessed early and at transition into each new phase until closure.
• Ensure Project and commercial requirements (non-technical) have been adequately captured and delivery / compliance are assured through an auditable step (sales order line, project schedule, RACI etc) and projects are being delivered and documented in accordance with internal processes.
• Manage senior-level direction and communications as part of a project board-level organisation for projects within assigned programme. This will include providing ad-hoc direction and leadership within agreed tolerance for projects as well as timely critical communications with customers and strategic sub-contract partners where required.
• Liaise with project team engineering leads and department heads to ensure technical processes are followed, critical success-factors for the project are identified and managed and accurate demand for resources/skills requirements is identified.
• Work with the Programme Director, Engineering Management and support functions to produce and maintain a robust and regularly updated forecast of current and future labour demand through the use of the company resource planning tools. Support the wider business in identifying operational and facilities requirements arising from future projects and drive the business to establish them in good time.
• Support the consolidated weekly reporting function through gathering and summarising weekly reports from projects within the assigned programme and raising escalation issues for Programme Director to resolve with the senior leadership team.
• Support sound risk analysis and management within project teams and consolidation and drive-down of exposure for the assigned programme.
• Retain an oversight of Project Management labour being consumed within Programme and staffing level necessary to deliver it, including recruitment and training new staff as required. Leadership and line management and development responsibility for Project Managers assigned to the Programme.
• Work with Finance Management, Project Finance Analysts and Project Managers on the quality and timeliness of monthly project reports and revenue trading plans including early timely communication of impacts to revenue, cash-flow, EAC, ETC and forecast margin. Provide direction and leadership on recovery actions when applicable if projects fall outside of planned tolerance. Provide support to the Programme Director in assessing Programme performance measures and trends including overall profit and loss, risk exposure, reserves etc.
  
  

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Recognised project management qualification.
• Experience of leading and guiding high performing teams to operate within an agile, fast-paced and collaborative working culture.
• Experience of working and delivering within a continuous improvement environment coupled with a personal drive for continuous improvement.
• Background in engineering development, particularly of complex systems and projects ideally within a defence or aerospace industry.
• Strong commercial acumen .
• Experience of creating and maintaining project plans using Microsoft Project.
• Experience in working with working and managing international stakeholders
• Maintain personal ability travel within UK and abroad as required (driving licence, passport etc).
  
  

Desirable

• A bachelor’s degree in business, project management or a related field.
  
  

Personal Attributes

• Strong presentation skills
• Active listening skills and analytical skills
• Ability to develop strategies and organise tasks
• Leadership and interpersonal skills
• Working in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates our company values of Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence and Courage
• A flexible, conscientious, and diligent attitude
• A resilient and adaptable approach
  
  

Work Life Balance

• 37.5 hour working week
• Lunchtime finishes on a Friday
• Hybrid / flexible working arrangements
• 28 days annual leave
• Christmas closure
• Holiday purchasing scheme
  
  

Benefits

• Group pension plan – matched contributions up to 6%
• Income protection scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme gives you and your family access to 4 key services including remote GP service, second opinion, mental health pathway service and physiotherapy consultations
• Life assurance policy, including bereavement counselling and probate helpline
• Company shares incentive plan and save as you earn scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Wellbeing initiatives, including access to wellbeing app and the addition of mental health support for all employees. Plus, regular activities across our sites to support and promote wellbeing
• Regular sports and social activities
• Gym membership discounts
• Reward platform (high street discounts, employee benefits, health, and wellbeing offerings).
• Recruitment referral bonus scheme
• Excellent learning & development opportunities
• Great working environment with free, onsite car parking across all our locations
  
  

Security Clearance Requirements

Due to the nature of our business, our staff need to be able to obtain UK Security Clearance as a mandated requirement. Therefore, if successful, you will need to provide proof of identity, employment history and right to work in the UK, along with proof of UK residency for at least five years.