Lead Project Manager

Location: Bristol, Gloucestershire

Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Lead the delivery of mission‑critical projects that shape the future of defence. At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Lead Project Manager at Ashton House, near Bristol, South Gloucestershire.

The role:

• As a Lead Project Manager, you’ll play a central role in delivering some of the UK’s most strategically important defence programmes.
• This is an opportunity to guide complex production activity within our Mission Systems business, a trusted provider of advanced intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, communication and weapons‑handling solutions across all defence domains.
• Day-to-day, you’ll be contributing directly to national security by leading the production delivery of critical equipment for the Dreadnought programme.
• Lead project management delivery activity for weapon launch systems, ensuring predictable, data‑driven programme performance.
• Drive forward cultural change by embedding modern project controls and improved reporting and planning processes.
• Represent Production within the management team and lead regular internal collaboration to resolve challenges and maintain delivery excellence.
• Engage with customers through weekly reviews, fostering strong, transparent relationships and ensuring shared understanding of progress and risk.
• Lead, motivate and develop your team, setting high standards in planning, performance, safety, communication and continuous improvement.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week based on site at Ashton House.

Essential experience of the Lead Project Manager:

• Demonstrable experience in project delivery with strong project controls awareness.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with confidence engaging stakeholders at all levels.
• Commercially and financially astute with a proactive, challenging mindset.
• Ability to influence, negotiate and drive collaborative working across complex programmes.

Qualifications for the Lead Project Manager:

We value difference and don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and/or willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

Security Clearance:

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) / Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role. Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held.

What we offer:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days’ special paid leave
• Holiday Trading – buy or sell up to one working week of annual leave
• ‘Be Kind Day’ – one paid day each year to volunteer with a charity of your choice
• Flexible working options to help balance life and work, while meeting business needs
• A dynamic, supportive and mission‑driven working environment

Babcock is a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date: 26/05/2026