Manufacturing Project Manager in Southampton

Salary: £59,400 - £60,000

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Your Impact

The Manufacturing Project Manager is responsible for the planning, coordinating, and overseeing of operations programmes throughout the lifecycle of project / group of projects or work package relating to a sales contract with a customer or internal stock delivery. This role ensures projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality and safety standards.

Working as a Manufacturing Project Manager you will:

• Ensure the achievement of the project / group of projects or work package goals during the entire life cycle, ensuring budgets are met and maintaining customer satisfaction.
• Ensure through the coordination of the operations team, the correct execution of the project / group of projects or work package (e.g. management of the overall schedule and cost plan in collaboration with the Project Manager).
• Ensure the application of contractual and internal obligations, through the achievement of the financial and deliverable objectives of the project / group of projects or work package.
• Ensure that the definition and any updates of the project / group of projects or work package content are in line with contractual obligations (and any amendments) or with what has been approved in the case of internal requirements.
• Manage relations with the Customer and internal stakeholders (e.g., communication plan, reporting, escalation process, etc).
• Monitor the project / group of projects or work package performance (physical progress and costs) in collaboration with team members.
• Ensure compliance to the "Life Cycle Management" process through each phase of the program.
• Ensure project alignment with the appropriate team, responsible for managing delivery of the relevant processes stage (e.g. Product Life Cycle Management, Design Review, etc.).
• Share the programme vision with the appropriate stakeholders, including analysis of the project, helping to provide decision guidance and the timely definition of any corrective actions required.
• Provide relevant information through the bid process to the commercial team, in support of the contractual negotiation phase of a project.
• Apply consistent risk management methodologies through each project / group of projects or work package.
• Define and launch actions (with owners) aimed at the improvement of project performance.
• Manage project / program closure and Lessons Learned activities.

Key Responsibilities (Manufacturing Project Manager)

• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and regulatory standards.
• Management of agreed operations budget and risk provisions through all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Ownership of Operations input to Bid activities for new business opportunities.
• Solid knowledge of and adherence to Life Cycle Management processes.
• Planning and scheduling of resources required to successfully deliver and support products.
• Leadership of continuous improvement activities in support of business objectives.
• Understanding the mechanics and factors affecting manufacturing supply and demand.
• Monitoring and review of production trends to ensure early warning systems are in place to de-risk delivery and quality.
• Effective management of available resources to achieve desired outcomes.
• Regular review of expenditure on labour and material to ensure most efficient and appropriate usage of both in line with sales forecasts & project performance reviews.
• Championing and facilitation of a culture of continuous improvement initiatives in manufacturing processes.
• Optimisation of WIP and stockholdings to ensure maximum cash flow whilst retaining desired finished products in line with business requirements and strategies.
• Driving Inventory optimisation throughout the life cycle in accordance with lean manufacturing principles, Line of Business requirements and Site targets.
• Empowering teams to find, analyse and solve production and supply chain problems with corrective actions.
• Managing capacity plans in in line with business area expectations.
• Working closely with the IPTs, plus Commercial & Finance functions for optimal demand & supply management.

What you'll bring:

• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and operations.
• Excellent leadership and team coordination abilities.
• Experience of different Project Management techniques and when/how to use them.
• Experience in developing and maintaining Internal / External Customer and Supplier relationships.
• Proactive, dynamic individual with proven stakeholder management, organisational, interpersonal, problem solving, and communication skills.
• Strong experience of using MS Office applications, especially Excel is required.
• Evidence of ability and planning to work both autonomously and within a team environment.
• Familiarity with project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Agile, Lean, Six Sigma).
• Familiarity with SAP (training can be provided).
• Experience within planning, engineering, procurement, and/or finance functions.
• Experience of Military, Security, Government, or Industrial projects would be good.

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website. Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!