Job Title: Programme Manager
Location: Ashton Vale, Bristol + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Programme Manager at Ashton House, near Bristol, City of Bristol.
The Role
As a Programme Manager, you’ll lead our high‑profile, technically complex Dreadnought programme — a national endeavour that will replace the Vanguard Class and sustain the Continuous At Sea Deterrent into the s. You’ll provide clear direction across design, build and manufacturing phases, manage risk and delivery through a complex supply chain, and galvanise senior stakeholders around outcomes that matter. It’s a career‑defining opportunity at the heart of defence, aerospace and engineering
Day-to-day, you’ll be required to:
1. Lead a multi‑disciplinary leadership team to deliver systems for the Dreadnought class SSBN, from design into manufacture.
2. Engage senior internal stakeholders (including Group level) to align priorities, unblock challenges and drive programme outcomes.
3. Partner with our customer to coordinate delivery, manage interfaces and maintain accountability for schedule, cost and quality.
4. Direct and mentor a team of Senior Project Managers, each owning major workstreams, ensuring integrated planning and reporting.
5. Oversee governance and risk management across manufacturing phases, supply chain and equipment delivery to Barrow.
This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home.
Essential Experience of the Programme Manager
6. Proven track record delivering complex engineering programmes from design through to manufacture within complex supply chains.
7. Demonstrable leadership of large, multi‑disciplinary teams — setting priorities to meet delivery commitments and financial goals.
8. Senior stakeholder management across customer, supplier and internal executive levels.
9. Experience operating in an engineering or manufacturing environment (submarine or defence sector experience welcome).
10. Ability to drive change and transformation with clear outcomes and disciplined programme control.
Qualifications for the Programme Manager
11. Essential: There are no mandatory formal qualifications for this role; proven programme leadership in complex engineering environments is critical.
12. Preferred: Recognised project management qualifications such as APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) or Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) (or equivalent).
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain 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. Further details are available at