Programme Manager in Reading

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. 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 matter to us, and that’s why 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. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Do you have a proven track record of successful delivery of major programmes in the defence/heavy engineering/manufacturing sector? Are you looking for an opportunity to use these skills in a critical role, delivering one of Thales’ largest Critical Projects? We have a fantastic opportunity for a Programme Manager to join our Optronics and Missile Electronics (OME) UK team in Reading, Berkshire.

Core Benefits:

• On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes:
• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare (grade dependent)
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Key responsibilities:

The purpose of this position is to support the Programme Director in ensuring the successful delivery of a Programme to achieve programme objectives/requirements to the satisfaction of both the customer and Thales. The programme demands a senior programme leader owing to the complexities presented by delivering one of Thales’ largest Critical Projects, responsibilities to include (but not limited to):

• Leading a team to ensure the efficient delivery of the programme
• Managing customer and supplier relationships
• Leading the process of structuring and planning complex projects and the tailored deployment of best practice project controls
• Managing project activities with reference to the baseline and critical path, with a focus on proactive risk and opportunity management and controlling variance to time/cost/quality
• Project financial and contractual management
• Working across functional boundaries to achieve alignment and support for project objectives
• Demand/business planning principles in a project context with a focus on the reliable forecasting of resource requirements (including critical skills) and working with adjacent functions to schedule those appropriately
• Representing projects through established governance, giving an evidence-based account of progress and distilling key risks/opportunities/support needed for Senior Management

About you:

A proven track record of successful delivery of major programmes in a context relevant to Thales (defence/engineering/manufacturing), in a complex, multi-site organisation. Strong Leadership skills including leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams. The role requires strong leadership, professional project management expertise (that is founded on significant experience of managing complex projects), excellent stakeholder management, team building skills, a proactive approach to identifying and managing risks and opportunities, rigour to change control and commercial awareness. This role requires highly capable stakeholder management of both internal and external key UK customers, the use of highly developed networking and influencing skills to ensure that Thales delivers the appropriate programme outcomes on time, to the budgeted cost and quality. Experience with coaching early careers Project Managers.

Security Clearance statement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held; however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a Non-ITAR country may be considered. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries, our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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