Senior Project Manager

Location: Belfast (hybrid working arrangement – 3 days per week on site)

Are you an experienced Project Management professional looking for your next high-profile Project Management role, working on innovative projects that shape the future of defence technology? Thales Integrated Airspace-protection Systems (IAS) provide Air Defence Systems (ADS) and Surface attack Systems (SAS) for UK and Export Customers. We have a fantastic opportunity for a Senior Project Manager to join our cutting-edge teams as we continue to expand. In this role, you will manage the delivery of the Lightweight Module Missile (LMM) product to the HIRST programme.

What the role has to offer:

• This is an excellent opportunity for someone eager to develop and make a real impact in a supportive environment.
• You will be working in a truly demanding and interesting role where you will gain significant exposure across the programme.
• This is a great opportunity to gain experience and develop a long-term career in Project Management.

Core Benefits:

• Competitive salary and benefits package, which includes:
• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare (grade dependent)
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Key responsibilities:

• Apply leadership and direction to ensure the successful delivery of projects.
• Assume ultimate accountability for the Product Delivery work package / Control Account of the HIRST programme.
• Monitor and control the performance of the control account using effective planning methodologies and appropriate key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Report to the HIRST Programme Manager on the performance of delivery.
• Be the overall point of reference to ensure that key relationships are being effectively managed and that vital customer, industry and business knowledge and networks are being effectively utilised to deliver the projects.
• Work across organisational boundaries to ensure that best practice and consistency in project management is being applied.
• Provide pro-active advice and direction to the project and bid management community within the programme.
• The role will also involve occasional ad-hoc duties that are not listed above but are necessary to respond to the needs of the business.
• Maintain an effective strategic relationship with the relevant product and functional teams.

About you:

• Proven experience working as a Senior/Project Manager, ideally within the Engineering/Defence/Manufacturing sector.
• The ability to adapt leadership style to achieve the desired results from interactions with team members and stakeholders.
• The ability to provide strategic overview and direction to drive the successful delivery of projects across complex multi-faceted organisational and stakeholder boundaries.
• An ability to successfully lead teams during change.
• Excellent professional project management knowledge.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to deal with customers, partners, suppliers and other parts of the business.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills with written presentation and report writing skills.
• Strong organisational and leadership skills.
• Commercial, financial and business acumen.
• The ability to adapt personal style of management and communication to achieve the desired results from interactions with team members and stakeholders.

Security Clearance statement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a sole British National from birth and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held; however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.