At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead delivery of a major UK defence programme, managing multiple service lines and stakeholders.
- Company: Join 4C Strategies, a leader in defence software solutions with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and the chance to work on impactful projects.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic, long-term programme.
- Why this job: Shape the future of defence delivery while building trusted relationships with key stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management within defence or complex environments; strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About the role
As a Program Manager within 4C Strategies' EMEA Defence team, based in Warminster, UK, you will lead 4C's delivery into a major, newly signed, long-term UK defence programme, delivered as part of a multi-partner consortium. 4C provides a market-leading COTS software product, together with configuration, consultancy and support services, that underpins multiple service lines within the wider programme delivery model.
The shape of the role is distinctive: you will manage the requirements, delivery plans, stakeholders and governance needs of several programme service lines in parallel, while consolidating that demand into a single coherent delivery plan, a single commercial position, and a single product roadmap.
You will own the full delivery lifecycle — from requirement definition and planning through governance, deployment and into support — ensuring commitments are delivered on time, within scope, and to the highest quality standards.
You will act as 4C's primary delivery interface with the prime contractor, consortium partners and customer stakeholders, building trusted relationships through clear communication, disciplined governance and honest expectation management.
You will work in close partnership with 4C solution architects and technical specialists, who author the technical designs and assurance artefacts — your role is to orchestrate, assure and front that work, not to produce it.
This is a long-horizon programme: you will be shaping delivery foundations intended to last more than a decade.
Key responsibilities
- Lead 4C's end-to-end delivery into the programme, ensuring successful execution within agreed scope, budget, quality and timelines.
- Manage requirements, delivery, stakeholder engagement and governance support across multiple programme service lines, consolidating demand into a single prioritised delivery plan and product roadmap.
- Work with service leads and customer stakeholders to firm up delivery plans from the contracted proposal baseline, including transition from incumbent systems and processes.
- Act as 4C's primary delivery interface with the prime contractor, consortium partners and customer stakeholders, with clear reporting, communication and expectation management.
- Plan and lead the passage of deliverables through customer technical governance and security assurance processes (design authorities, approval boards, Secure by Design), in partnership with 4C solution architects.
- Coordinate 4C Engineering, Product, Consultancy and Support teams, aligning service-line requirements with the 4C product roadmap and release planning.
- Manage delivery within a software product (COTS licence and support) commercial model, exercising sound judgement over scope, change and product‑investment trade-offs, and supporting forecasting, budget control and margin management.
- Ensure compliance with applicable security, accreditation, contractual and quality requirements throughout delivery.
- Identify, assess and proactively manage risks, issues and dependencies — including cross-service-line and customer-side dependencies.
- Support business development by contributing delivery expertise to bids, proposals and contract change.
- Represent 4C Strategies professionally with customers, partners and at relevant industry events.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of delivery practices, governance and methodologies across the EMEA Defence organisation.
About you
You are an experienced Program Manager with a background in defence, software delivery, or other technically complex and regulated environments.
You are at your best serving multiple demanding stakeholder groups from a single delivery capability — consolidating competing priorities into one coherent plan and making trade‑offs visible rather than promising everything to everyone.
You are comfortable leading multidisciplinary teams, operating within a consortium or prime/subcontractor structure, and fronting technically demanding governance forums without being the deepest technical expert in the room.
You build trust through clear communication, pragmatic problem‑solving and a collaborative approach, while maintaining a strong focus on quality, governance and commercial discipline.
- We believe you bring
- Demonstrated experience delivering complex projects within defence, government, software, or similarly regulated environments.
- Proven experience leading end-to-end delivery across multidisciplinary teams — ideally serving multiple concurrent customer or stakeholder groups from a shared product or platform.
- Strong project planning, scheduling, financial management and resource coordination skills.
- Experience managing customer and partner relationships, and engaging confidently with senior stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of project governance, risk management, security/assurance processes and quality assurance.
- Commercial awareness — comfortable managing scope and change within contractual boundaries and recognising the commercial consequences of delivery decisions.
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a structured and proactive approach.
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain UK Security Check (SC) clearance.
Desirable
- Experience delivering projects for the UK Ministry of Defence, NATO or other defence organisations.
- Experience delivering within a consortium, or as a subcontractor to a prime contractor.
- Experience delivering from within a software product / COTS organisation (licence-and-support commercial models).
- Experience working with software-enabled capabilities or digital transformation programmes.
- Familiarity with Agile delivery at scale (e. g. SAFe) alongside structured methodologies.
- Professional project management certification such as PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMP, MSP or Agile qualifications.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Program Manager employer: 4C Strategies
4c Strategies is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the field of cyber security. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive professional development support and competitive benefits, including a generous OTE package and pension contributions. Located at the heart of the industry, our team thrives on delivering impactful solutions to both public and private sectors, making every day a rewarding experience for our employees.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Program Manager
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Program Manager at 4C Strategies!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like 4C Strategies or be willing to refer you for that Program Manager position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from 4C Strategies who’s on the lookout for their next Program Manager star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Program Manager role at 4C Strategies!
We think you need these skills to ace Program Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at 4C Strategies. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at 4C Strategies
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at 4C Strategies. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
