Programme Manager in Saffron Walden

Artifex Interior Systems is pleased to confirm the below opportunity within our business. We are open to applicants looking for permanent, FTC or contract models of employment. This is a fantastic opportunity to join our Business Development and R&D team at a key moment, as we drive new business, growth, and diversification under Tata AutoComp's strategic direction. As we enter an exciting expansion phase, you will gain hands-on exposure to commercial activities within a fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment. Guided by our commitment to build tomorrow's interior solutions today, we pride ourselves on living our values of Unity, Integrity, Responsibility, Pioneering and Excellence – and we are looking for motivated individuals ready to help shape our future.

Main purpose of the job

• Manage assigned pre-RFQ and pre-nomination programme scopes, ensuring requirements, assumptions, and constraints are clearly defined and controlled.
• Support the Sales and Business Management teams by contributing structured technical, quality, and feasibility inputs to RFQ and programme-related bid packages.
• Coordinate cross-functional inputs (Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Purchasing, and Finance) to ensure concepts are feasible, aligned, and supported by evidence.
• Support the identification, development, and assessment of VA/VE opportunities during concept and bid phases to meet commercial and technical objectives.
• Apply and promote disciplined change control within pre-nomination activities, ensuring scope, assumptions, and customer requirements are clearly captured and communicated.
• Develop and maintain a customer-focused mindset, ensuring technical proposals are aligned with customer expectations, standards, and programme objectives at bid stage.
• Ensure a structured and quality-driven handover of pre-nomination outputs into Programme Launch teams, in line with defined Advanced Engineering governance.

Main missions and results

• Define and manage the scope, requirements, and assumptions of assigned pre-RFQ and pre-nomination programme(s) / project(s).
• Develop timing plans, coordinating cross-functional inputs to support key milestone objectives defined within GDLS / ProLink.
• Support the development, tracking, and reporting of programme commercial inputs, including sales pricing assumptions, tooling concepts, capital investment estimates, and engineering development costs for RFQ and business case purposes.
• Ensure programme concepts, assumptions, and deliverables are developed to meet minimum quality, feasibility, and compliance expectations defined for the pre-nomination phase.
• Establish and coordinate Cross-Functional Team (CFT) activities for assigned programmes, ensuring effective engagement of Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Purchasing, Launch and Finance as required.
• Monitor and coordinate CFT responsibilities related to GDLS / ProLink deliverables, including RASIC alignment and timely completion of assigned pre-nomination outputs.
• Maintain a structured and up-to-date library of programme evidence and deliverables within ProLink, ensuring traceability and decision-grade quality.
• Act as the primary programme-level cross-functional interface between the customer and Artifex teams during pre-RFQ and pre-nomination activities.
• Develop and maintain Customer / Artifex Statements of Work, Requirements, and Assumptions documentation, ensuring cross-functional alignment prior to submission or nomination.
• Coordinate updates to programme timing and budget assumptions in response to scope changes, customer feedback, or risk evolution, supporting informed decision-making and controlled change.
• Support definition and tracking of key milestones, including customer timing expectations, internal engineering development phases, and technical review points.
• Contribute to the development, approval preparation, and monitoring of pre-nomination financial models, including tool investment forecasts (TAR), capital assumptions (CAR), and engineering development (PDP) estimates, aligned to business case requirements.
• Prepare and communicate programme status reporting (timing, cost, risk, concept maturity, and assumptions) to support management reviews, RFQ decisions, and nomination readiness.
• Support a structured and evidence-based handover into Programme Launch teams, ensuring assumptions, risks, open actions, and pre-nomination learning are clearly documented and understood.

Preferred skills and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in project and/or Programme Management (preferred), and/or Engineering and/or Business Administration or substantial experience in automotive industry as Programme Manager.
• Attained a Professional Project / Programme Management accreditation level (IMPA Level C as a minimum, or equivalent) with a recognised National / International Project Management organisation.
• Experience in the automotive industry in programme management within a substantially sized regional or global organisation or extensive experience in automotive industry in project management.
• Good working knowledge/understanding of industry standards & related procedures.
• APQP / PPAP / IATF16949 training or significant experience in automotive industry in project management.
• Sufficient verbal and written language skills associated to Artifex and the programme/project and operational locations.
• English language skills required.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the customer and within Artifex. Adaptability in the location of work including business travel.
• Flexibility to change priorities in response to changing programme/project demands.
• Excel: Intermediate level user, essentially able to create; manipulate & problem solve graphs and pivot tables.

Note: this is not an exhaustive list. All employees are expected to show flexibility and continued self-development to meet the ever-changing needs of the business. All job descriptions/vacancy notices will be subject to continual development.

Internal closing date: Friday, 30th January 2026. Please note if you apply after this date that you may still be progressed, but depending on the volume of applications we are unable to guarantee the ability to accommodate.

Artifex Interior Systems Limited is an equal opportunities employer and committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity amongst our workforce. Our aim is that our workforce will be truly representative of all sections of society and each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to creating an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all our staff are recognised.

Interested? If you are interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV with your contact details. If this job isn't quite what you are looking for but you are looking for a new position within Automotive, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.