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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex vehicle design projects and ensure alignment with business goals.
- Company: Join McLaren Automotive, a leader in performance road cars.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that rethinks automotive design and pushes boundaries.
- Qualifications: Experience in automotive design management and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Senior Design Programme Manager role at McLaren Automotive Ltd.
What to Expect
The Senior Design Programme Manager provides project leadership and oversight across complex vehicle design programmes, ensuring that all design deliverables are aligned with programme milestones and wider business objectives. Serving as the key interface between creative and technical teams, this role safeguards design intent while driving disciplined execution against timing, cost, and quality targets. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in automotive design programme management, proven stakeholder management skills, and a strong track record of shaping and controlling processes that bridge design creativity with production feasibility.
What You'll Do
- Project Planning & Execution: Create & maintain achievable timing plans in conjunction with the PMO team and facilitate resource requirements with key stakeholders within design for agreed gateways and deliverables. Present timings and deliverable outputs from the studio to PMO for alignment. Provide Design programme management updates into key design review presentations. Manage design meeting cadence to ensure the Design project team are aware of project timing and deliverables.
- Budget & Project Planning/Forecasting: Support the Head of Design Programme management with project forecasting. Support the Head of Design Programme management with the tracking of Design spend including internal/external headcount, design development spend within programme. Foster a combined and creative work environment to encourage innovation and efficiency. Provide guidance to team members to ensure project goals are achieved. Empower the studio Design Team to enable the delivery of both digital and physical design properties.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain detailed programme plans, schedules, and deliverables for assigned vehicle design projects.
- Work with the Design leaders to develop and maintain the cross functional design processes, procedures standards.
- Support the ongoing development of new design processes and procedures.
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams to align design milestones with engineering, manufacturing, and supplier timelines.
- Monitor programme progress, prepare status updates, and escrow issues or risks when required.
- Support design governance meetings, including preparing reports, dashboards, and gateway readiness documentation.
- Assist in resource planning for design teams, including workload balancing and capacity tracking.
- Support the studio engineering team with the preparation and running of the weekly design convergence meetings, ensuring that design decisions are recorded and cascaded to key stakeholders.
What You'll Bring
- Experience in programme or project management within an automotive design environment.
- Strong understanding of the automotive design process, gateways, and approval stages.
- Excellent coordination and communication skills, with the ability to engage both creative and technical teams.
- Good knowledge in programme management tools (e.g. Excel, MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or equivalent).
- Strong problem-solving and risk management abilities.
- Bachelor’s degree in Design, Engineering, Programme Management, or a related field.
Preferred
- Experience in a premium or luxury automotive design environment.
- Familiarity with design studio operations and digital/physical modelling workflows.
- Knowledge UI/UX development processes, procedures and timelines.
What We'll Do for You
- 25 days’ holiday, plus bank holiday.
- Annual buy & sell up to five days.
- Enhanced company pension scheme.
- Discretionary annual bonus award.
- Private medical insurance and health cash plan.
- Life assurance benefit.
- Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service.
- Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping.
- Generous parental leave policies.
- A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice.
Who Are We?
No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath‑taking performance road cars. It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks. McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.
Seniority Level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type: Full‑time
Job Function: Design and Project Management
Industry: Automotive and Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
Senior Design Programme Manager employer: McLaren Automotive Ltd
Contact Detail:
McLaren Automotive Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Design Programme Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the automotive design industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching McLaren's latest projects and innovations. Show them you’re not just interested in the role, but also passionate about their work. Tailor your responses to highlight how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your background in programme management can bridge the gap between creative and technical teams. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Design Programme Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Design Programme Manager role. Highlight your experience in automotive design programme management and how it aligns with McLaren's goals. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your project management abilities, stakeholder management skills, and problem-solving prowess. We love seeing how you've tackled challenges in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your key points stand out without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the position there!
How to prepare for a job interview at McLaren Automotive Ltd
✨Know Your Design Processes
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the automotive design process, including gateways and approval stages. Being able to discuss these in detail will show that you understand the complexities of the role and can navigate them effectively.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed stakeholders in previous projects. Highlight your communication skills and how you've engaged both creative and technical teams to achieve project goals. This will demonstrate your ability to be the key interface between different groups.
✨Be Ready with Project Management Tools
Familiarise yourself with programme management tools like Excel, MS Project, or Jira. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these tools in past roles to track progress, manage budgets, and forecast project needs. This will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving and risk management abilities. Think of specific challenges you've faced in design programme management and how you overcame them. This will highlight your critical thinking skills and your ability to handle pressure.