Programme Manager Software Delivery Lead

Head of Programmes for S2076 IBP (In Board Process) Location: Cheadle, United Kingdom. Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.

At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well‑being matters to us and we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you – whether that’s part‑time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. We support working patterns that suit your lifestyle and help you reach your ambitions. Based in Cheadle – Hybrid working 3 days in the office weekly.

What the role has to offer:

• Drive continuous improvement in ways of working to increase growth.
• Opportunity to see innovative world‑leading solutions from inception to delivery.
• To be involved in a department with significant business growth plans.
• Great opportunity for career development.

Our Opportunity:

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Head of S2076 IBP (In Board Process) to join Thales (UWS) Under Water Systems, Anti‑Submarine Warfare (ASW) business area. The S2076 IBP Portfolio aims to optimise the Inboard Product Building Blocks to deliver effectively to multiple programmes and ensure any customer‑specific bespoke changes are aligned within evolving product roadmaps. This role provides strategic direction and leadership within UWS for all aspects of the S2076 IBP, ensuring effective delivery of capability to support a range of customer‑facing project endeavours including Dreadnought, Astute, Vanguard and emerging requirements for PACE, SSN‑A and any future export prospects.

Primary Purpose of this Role:

• Delivery of S2076 IBP capability releases into a number of programmes within a PCT envelope.
• Provide strategic direction across all campaigns and bids, so that these are aligned to the Sonar 2076 Product Roadmaps and maximise synergies.
• Establish the S2076 IBP Portfolio vision/strategy.
• Ensure the health, safety and general wellbeing of all team members is given the highest priority.

Security Clearance Statement:

Due to the nature of the work at Thales, this role requires Security Clearance (SC). It is advantageous to hold SC currently; otherwise, the successful applicant must obtain and maintain SC prior to commencing employment.

About You:

• Proven track record of delivering successful projects and/or a portfolio of projects in a complex, multi‑site environment.
• Leading teams (directly up to 5 people, matrix up to 50) with responsibility for discipline, objectives and development, including coaching.
• Managing customer and supplier relationships.
• Structuring and planning complex projects and deploying best‑practice project controls.
• Directing project activities with focus on proactive risk and opportunity management.
• Project financial and contractual management.
• Working across functional boundaries to align and support project objectives.
• Demand/business planning principles with reliable forecasting of resource requirements.
• Representing projects through established governance and communicating risks/opportunities to senior management.
• Experience coaching junior project managers.
• Working in a complex, multi‑site organisation.

What We Can Offer:

Market‑leading training, development, and experiences, mentorship and coaching by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority and provide numerous opportunities within our diverse global organisation.

Flexibility:

Your health and well‑being matters to us – we offer flexible working arrangements: part‑time hours, job sharing, home working, and flexibly scheduled start and finish times to suit your lifestyle and career ambitions. Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.