Senior Project Manager
Defence & Advanced Technology Programmes
The Opportunity
Our client, a leading organisation within the defence and advanced engineering sector, is seeking a Senior Project Manager to join a strategically important programme team with a focus on business winning, bid leadership and future capability development.
This role sits within a high-profile international programme environment and offers the opportunity to influence the future direction of next-generation defence technologies. Working across complex and evolving customer requirements, you will play a pivotal role in developing compelling, innovative and deliverable business proposals that support long-term programme growth and strategic objectives.
The position requires close collaboration with stakeholders across business development, programme delivery, engineering, commercial and finance functions, ensuring that bidding strategies are aligned with investment priorities, capability roadmaps and wider business goals.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced project professional who enjoys operating in a fast-paced environment, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on bid leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and delivery of complex bid and proposal activities from initial opportunity assessment through to submission and approval.
- Manage multiple concurrent bidding campaigns, ensuring resources, priorities and timelines are effectively coordinated.
- Collaborate with engineering, programme, commercial, finance and business development teams to develop competitive customer propositions.
- Support the development of long-term business cases, product investment strategies and capability roadmaps.
- Identify opportunities to maximise customer value and improve the competitiveness of bid submissions.
- Influence stakeholders across multiple disciplines to achieve alignment on strategic objectives and bid delivery plans.
- Drive best practice in business winning, bid management and programme planning activities.
- Assess evolving customer requirements and ensure proposals remain aligned with changing priorities.
- Support governance reviews, executive-level reporting and decision-making activities.
- Contribute to wider business strategy through market, programme and investment planning activities.
Candidate Profile
We are seeking a commercially minded project leader with strong business-winning experience and the ability to operate successfully within complex, technically driven environments.
Essential Experience
- Proven experience in Project Management, Bid Management or Programme Management environments.
- Experience leading complex bid, proposal or contract acquisition activities.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence decision-makers across multiple levels of an organisation.
- Experience managing competing priorities and delivering against demanding timescales.
- Strong commercial awareness and business judgement.
- Ability to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges in fast-moving environments.
- Experience supporting business cases, investment decisions or strategic planning activities.
- Excellent communication, presentation and relationship-building skills.
- Strong problem-solving capability and confidence working in situations where information may be incomplete or evolving.
Desirable Experience
- Experience within defence, aerospace, engineering, technology or other highly regulated sectors.
- Direct experience writing, managing or leading technical bids relating to engineering development programmes.
- Knowledge of business winning processes, product strategy development and capability roadmaps.
- Understanding of government or international procurement environments.
- Professional Project Management qualifications such as APM, PRINCE2 or PMP.
What's on Offer
- Competitive salary package.
- Annual performance-related bonus opportunity.
- Generous pension contribution scheme.
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
- Additional annual leave options through a flexi-leave scheme.
- Enhanced family-friendly policies.
- Paid overtime opportunities where applicable.
- Ongoing professional development and support towards recognised project management qualifications.
- Excellent onsite facilities and employee wellbeing support.
- Clear opportunities for progression into senior programme leadership and strategic business roles.
Security Requirements
Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of UK security clearance. Eligibility will typically require British citizenship or an alternative status permitting security clearance consideration under current UK Government regulations.
Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to combine strategic business winning with project leadership on some of the most ambitious and technically complex programmes in the sector. You will work with senior stakeholders, influence major investment decisions, shape future capability development, and play a critical role in securing long-term programme success within a highly respected organisation.
For a confidential discussion and further details, please contact our recruitment team today.
