Programme Manager
Bournemouth
Programme Manager salary: £49,500 - £56,250
Please note: only applicants with the full-time, permanent right to work in the UK will be considered.
Programme Manager Overview:
Own customer programmes end-to-end from sales handover through to closure
Lead an IPT and protect contract performance across delivery, quality, cost and weight
Run the programme plan, milestones and gate reviews with tight control of actions and dates
Manage scope change, budget control and risk management without slippage
Be the main customer interface and keep stakeholders aligned and accountable
This Programme Manager role reports to the Head of Programmes and takes full ownership of assigned customer programmes from the point sales hands over through to programme closure. The Programme Manager will lead an Integrated Project Team (IPT) structure and maintain programme performance against contractual obligations, covering delivery, quality, cost and weight. This is a fast-paced Programme Manager position with complex engineering development, certification testing, external interfaces and high-level customer interaction, requiring strong planning, negotiation and programme governance.
Day-to-day responsibilities of a Programme Manager
Manage programmes through the full lifecycle from sales handover to closure, with budget responsibility and delivery ownership
Act as the first point of contact for customer communications and manage customer queries through to resolution
Lead customer and internal meetings, ensuring the right people attend and actions are closed to date
Build and maintain the programme plan, keeping milestones and deliverables controlled and visible
Negotiate and agree due date changes with customers and internal stakeholders when required
Ensure internal gate reviews happen to plan and that checklist discipline is followed across departments
Control scope changes using a clear change log, managing MCP/CCP activity and approvals
Coordinate budget changes with the finance partner and keep financial performance tracked and visible
Maintain programme documentation: actions, minutes, gateway checklists, milestone packs and audit files
Own the risk register and review it weekly, ensuring mitigations remain valid and actively progressed
Run an effective IPT rhythm: priorities, dependencies, critical path, escalation and accountability
Supervise BFE activity to ensure timely placement and receipt to support development, test and production
Ensure IFE test equipment is on the correct software level and functional to meet contract specs
Be the focal point for key milestones and technical reviews (PDR, CDR, FAI and others)
Provide regular progress reporting and ensure visibility of programme status and customer feedback
What they’re looking for - Programme Manager
Around 5+ years’ experience in a Programme Manager / Project Manager role delivering complex engineering programmes
Strong customer-facing communication, able to influence, negotiate and protect relationships under pressure
Proven ownership of programme plan, milestones, actions and delivery commitments
Experience managing change control, risks, and budget performance (P&L awareness welcomed)
Confident leading cross-functional IPTs and holding people to dates and deliverables
Comfortable working in a high-pressure environment with multiple workstreams running in parallel
Strong working knowledge of MS Office, with MS Project capability preferred
Degree-level education in Engineering, Science, Business or similar (or equivalent experience)
Formal PM qualification is useful (APM PMQ, PRINCE2 Practitioner, Agile Practitioner)
Compliance and security notes - Programme Manager
Some roles are governed by security and export control rules which can affect eligibility
Baseline personnel security standard is required, with higher levels of vetting for certain programmes
Travel between sites will be required, with occasional international travel depending on programme needs
What’s on offer - Programme Manager
Programme Manager salary: £49,500 - £56,250
A Programme Manager role with high customer visibility and genuine ownership from sales handover to closure.
Exposure to complex engineering development, certification activity and major programme milestones.
A structured IPT environment where planning discipline and performance delivery are taken seriously.
How to apply for the Programme Manager position
If you’re interested in this Programme Manager role, get in touch to run through the role and the programme scope.
Call or message Hayden at Holt Engineering on (phone number removed)