Sector Lead - Defence - CK3445715 in Leeds

1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

This range is provided by Kingsley. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Direct message the job poster from Kingsley

Executive Search Expert I Delivering talent across the Built Environment

Location: Manchester or Leeds (Hybrid Working, UK-Wide Travel Required)

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a senior leader from the consultancy sector to take on the role of Sector Lead – Defence within a respected, high-performing organisation delivering some of the UK’s most complex and strategically significant defence and infrastructure programmes.

This position is suited to a seasoned professional with extensive experience delivering construction and infrastructure projects within the defence sector, ideally gained at a leading consultancy. You will play a pivotal role in shaping, growing, and leading the consultancy’s defence portfolio, working across high-value, mission‑critical programmes ranging from multi‑million‑pound infrastructure upgrades to major programmes exceeding £200m.

The Opportunity

As Sector Lead – Defence, you will provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of complex defence programmes, ensuring excellence in delivery, governance, and client engagement. This is a highly influential, client‑facing role with responsibility for setting strategic direction, strengthening client relationships, and driving best practice across multiple workstreams.

You will act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders across the MoD, major defence primes, and the wider defence estate, representing the consultancy at executive level and ensuring the consistent delivery of high‑quality outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the Defence sector offering across the business, setting strategic direction and ensuring consistent delivery excellence
• Oversee large‑scale, multi‑disciplinary defence infrastructure programmes from inception to completion
• Provide leadership across programme governance, risk management, scheduling, and commercial management
• Build and maintain senior‑level relationships with defence clients, representing the business at board and programme leadership meetings
• Manage and mentor multi‑disciplinary project teams, promoting a collaborative, high‑performance culture
• Ensure alignment between programme delivery, contractual obligations, commercial targets, and business strategy
• Drive innovation, continuous improvement, and best practice across all aspects of programme delivery
• Work closely with technical, commercial and operational leaders to ensure effective integration and seamless programme execution
• Engage with stakeholders, regulators, and MoD representatives to ensure compliance within highly regulated environments

About You

You will be an experienced senior leader with a background in consultancy and a significant portfolio of construction or infrastructure projects delivered within the UK defence sector.

• Proven track record delivering complex, high‑value defence, nuclear or regulated infrastructure programmes
• Experience working within a consultancy environment delivering construction and infrastructure projects for defence clients
• Strong leadership capability, with experience managing multi‑disciplinary teams and leading at senior/executive level
• Excellent client engagement and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
• In‑depth understanding of NEC4 contracts, commercial management, and programme governance
• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline (engineering, project management or related field)
• Chartered status (RICS, ICE, APM, CIOB or equivalent)
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing large budgets and complex programme portfolios
• Eligible for UK MoD Security Clearance (sole UK nationals only, due to project sensitivity)

Why Apply?

This is a defining career opportunity for an experienced consultancy professional looking to lead and shape a thriving defence sector offering within a respected, forward‑thinking organisation.

You will benefit from:

• A high‑impact leadership role with genuine strategic influence
• A strong, well‑established project pipeline across the defence estate
• A flexible, people‑first working culture and hybrid working
• Executive package with excellent progression prospects
• The opportunity to deliver programmes that directly enhance national capability and critical infrastructure

The role can be based in Yorkshire or the North West, with UK‑wide travel as required.

Contact

Caroline Kingsley – Kingsley Recruitment

Email: caroline@kingsleyrecruitment.co.uk

Calendly: https://calendly.com/caroline-200/15min