Job Description
Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place. Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions for aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security. Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing to over 40 years of advances in safety and security.
In this role you’ll work on a varied portfolio of defence maintenance programmes, ensuring commercial success, operational excellence and customer satisfaction across key global contracts, particularly with the UK Ministry of Defence. Due to the level of UK security clearance required, we cannot consider applicants from outside the UK or those with dual citizenship.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Lead the end‑to‑end management of major service contracts, ensuring delivery on time, within budget and to agreed margins.
* Act as the primary customer interface, building strong relationships with UK MoD stakeholders.
* Drive commercial performance, including revenue, cost control, forecasting and margin improvement.
* Develop and manage programme schedules across maintenance, repairs, upgrades and engineering changes.
* Establish and track KPIs across delivery, financial performance and customer satisfaction.
* Ensure full compliance with UK MoD Single Source Regulations, including audit readiness and cost justification.
* Identify and mitigate risks, managing contract changes, renewals and renegotiations.
* Lead improvements to drive efficiency, reduce costs and enhance contract performance.
* Coordinate cross‑functional teams and subcontractors to deliver against contractual requirements.
* Support growth through the identification and development of new business opportunities within existing contracts.
What We’re Looking For
* Proven experience managing high‑value defence service contracts, ideally within MRO environments.
* Strong commercial and financial acumen with a track record of improving contract performance.
* Hands‑on experience with UK MoD Single Source Regulations (SSRO) and defence contracting practices.
* Experience working directly with UK MoD customers and their governance processes.
* Skilled in contract negotiation, change management and risk mitigation.
* Strong programme and project management capability.
* Ability to operate effectively in a complex, global stakeholder environment.
* Excellent communication, influencing and relationship‑building skills.
Education/Training
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
Experience
* Demonstrable experience working with UK MoD Single Source Regulations (SSRO).
* Commercial management of UK MoD contracts, including processes and accounting practices.
* Management and optimisation of significant £m contracts for service delivery and contract improvements.
* Maintenance, repair and overhaul experience in a Defence market setting.
* Drafting business proposals and contract amendments, costing.
Benefits
Join us and we’ll help build your career with excellent training and opportunities for growth across the business, locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. We offer flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, supporting you and your family from health, financial and lifestyle perspectives.
We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age or any other legally protected characteristic. We are proud to be an inclusive company grounded in equality and ethics, celebrating, supporting and embracing diversity.
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