Programme Manager

Programme Manager - Training Support
Location: Bristol On Site
Contract Type: 12-Month
Start Date: October 2026
Working Pattern: Standard hours Mon-Fri
Security Clearance: BPSS required to start; must be UK Citizen to be eligible to obtain Security Clearance (SC)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Programme Manager to take full accountability for the delivery of a critical Air Defence Training Support contract across time, cost, requirement, and quality parameters.

In this role, you will act as the primary interface to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and lead a cross-functional team responsible for complex defence training delivery, maintenance support, and service transition from mobilization to execution.

We are looking for people that have delivered projects or programmes to the UK MOD previously.

Key Responsibilities

• Contract Execution: Lead and manage the cross-functional team delivering defence training support, ensuring all contract KPIs, milestones, and deliverables are met.
• Customer & Stakeholder Interface: Act as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including the UK MOD, defence authority representatives, and key delivery partners.
• Service & Asset Management: Oversee the provision of qualified instructors, console operators, course design support, and operational personnel while ensuring the availability of specified assets, maintenance support, spares, and configuration control.
• Capability Integration: Support training capability growth initiatives, potential international scope expansion, and ongoing equipment/device upgrades.
• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor assigned Project Managers, providing coaching, performance management, and day-to-day guidance.
• Subcontract Oversight: Maintain robust supplier/subcontractor management and strict financial control over multi-year sustainment operations.

Essential Requirements

• Core Skills: Proven expertise in Programme / Project Management, Stakeholder Management, and Financial Management.
• Qualifications: Accredited PM qualification (e.g., APMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMI-PMP, or corporate equivalent).
• Leadership: Demonstrable experience leading cross-functional teams, ideally within a matrix organization, with a strong track record of operational delivery.
• Interface Capabilities: Strong background acting as a primary interface to high-level customers and influencing senior stakeholders.

Desirable Experience

• 10+ years of programme or project management experience within the aerospace or defence sectors, with direct budget ownership.
• Hands-on experience managing UK MOD service contracts, KPI frameworks, and mobilization-to-execution transitions.
• Proven ability to control contract finances and manage change across multi-year production or sustainment contracts.
• Engineering or Business Management degree.
• Pragmatic problem-solver with a collaborative leadership style.

Key Success Measures

• On-schedule, on-budget execution of the Training contract with high client satisfaction.
• Guaranteed availability of specified training assets and qualified personnel to meet operational demand.
• On-time completion of required deliverables and effective change board governance.
• Successful standing up and execution of expanded training service scopes.