Senior Project Manager
Copello are pleased to be partnered with a leading Defence and Technology organisation based near High Wycombe, who are looking to appoint a Senior Project Manager to lead the successful delivery of high-value, technically complex development projects.
You will be working on major programmes involving the design, integration, and delivery of advanced land-based defence systems. The successful candidate will join an established and high-performing project delivery function, playing a key role in ensuring projects are delivered in line with customer expectations, compliance requirements, and business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the successful end-to-end delivery of multi-phase land systems projects, from planning and design through to integration, delivery, and acceptance.
* Act as the main interface for internal stakeholders and external partners, including engineering teams, supply chain, and customers.
* Ensure delivery of projects against defined scope, cost, schedule, and quality parameters.
* Provide leadership across cross-functional project teams, enabling effective collaboration between engineering, operations, and commercial functions.
* Identify and manage project risks, issues, and dependencies, escalating as required to ensure resolution.
* Drive robust project planning including resource allocation, milestone tracking, and work breakdown structures.
* Maintain accurate project documentation including status reports, schedules, budgets, and risk registers.
* Contribute to continuous improvement within the project management function.
* Foster a culture of accountability, communication, and delivery excellence across the team.
Essential Skills & Experience
* Proven experience delivering engineering or integration projects within the defence or land systems domain
* Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
* Commercial awareness with a clear understanding of budgeting, financial control, and project reporting.
* Experience delivering full project lifecycle from proposal/bid phase through to completion.
* Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities and work in a secure, complex environment.
* Familiar with project governance processes including risk, change, and configuration management.
* Working knowledge of project delivery methodologies such as APM, PRINCE2, or PMI.
Desirable
* Background in land-based defence technologies, vehicle systems, or electronic integration projects.
* Degree-qualified in a relevant discipline (e.g. Engineering, Project Management, Defence Studies).
* Experience in matrix organisations with multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
* Familiarity with UK and international defence procurement environments.
If you feel you have the right skills and experience please apply now or send your CV to emmaw@copello.co.uk and we will be in touch for a further conversation.