Programme Lead Advanced Manufacturing Engineering in Nottingham

Role Purpose

To lead and integrate multiple fast-moving technology, product and facility development programmes within the Technology & Innovation function, providing clear, execution-focused leadership during a critical phase of growth and delivery.

The environment is FOAK, high-ambiguity and schedule-driven, similar to automotive plant launches, aerospace industrialisation or major automation roll-outs.

The department lead:

Concept and prototyping of construction components & products, through to launch in facilities, commissioning and handover.

This creates a delivery tension between:

Clients, Product Engineering & innovation teams

Commercial, construction and operations

This role addresses the tension

1. Programme Integration

You will own the single integrated delivery plan covering:

Product & system development

Factory / facility build-out

Equipment procurement & installation

Supplier readiness

Commissioning, validation and ramp-up

You will continually re-plan to reflect technical learning, commercial constraints and delivery risk.

2. Executive Reporting

You will produce clear, decision-grade weekly reporting for senior leadership, including:

Schedule vs baseline

Key risks & mitigations

Cost and forecast position

Critical decisions required

Your job is to give leadership a true picture of delivery reality.

3. Cost & Commercial Control

You will manage:

Programme budgets

Forecasts and cashflow

Change control and commercial exposure

This is not a pure planning role you are accountable for financial discipline as well as delivery.

4. Supplier & Partner Integration

You will coordinate equipment suppliers, integrators, designers and contractors into a single execution system, ensuring that:

Lead times

FAT / SAT

Installation

Commissioning

Operational readiness

are all aligned to programme milestones.

5. Cross-functional Leadership

You will act as the delivery spine between:

Engineering

Manufacturing

Digital

Facilities

Commercial

External partners

Resolving conflicts between what people want to build and what can actually be delivered.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking someone from environments such as:

Automotive (EV plants, automation, industrialisation)

Aerospace (new platform or production line launches)

Advanced manufacturing, robotics or industrial systems

You will likely have led:

New factory launches

Automation or production system roll-outs

Complex supplier-led capital programmes

You are comfortable operating where:

Design is still evolving

Schedules are aggressive

Leadership wants answers, not excuses