Overview
Role: Head of Hybrid and Driveline Product Group
Location: Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex / Leamington Spa, Warwickshire - On-Site
Role ID: 2026-3341
Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world.
Ricardo, member of WSP, is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading‑edge and innovative cross‑sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world.
The Role
Hybrid and Drivelines is one of three business portfolios within the Ricardo Engineering Consultancy and includes projects across automotive (on and off‑highway), aerospace, defence and marine sectors. These include development of all hardware and software related to transmissions, driveline and hybrid systems, as well as integration into complete vehicle programmes.
The Hybrid and Driveline Product Group Head reports directly to the Product and Technology Director and has end‑to‑end responsibility for the business portfolio, the success of which depends on the ability to deliver exciting value propositions to our customers, meeting their needs through technical solutions and delivering these as successful projects.
As an active member of the Ricardo Management Team, you will define, lead and communicate the Hybrid and Driveline business across Ricardo and with external stakeholders.
Working collaboratively with the wider Product and Technology team, Business Development, Engineering and Manufacturing, you will develop and execute the Hybrid and Driveline strategy to achieve order intake, revenue, profit and client delivery targets. Central to the strategy will be the definition and communication of coherent and differentiated value propositions, drawing upon the full breadth and depth of Ricardo’s end‑to‑end capabilities. You will own the Product Group marketing, R&D and capital investment plans with accountability for approving and achieving the associated investment business cases.
Key Responsibilities
* Management and development of the Hybrid and Driveline Product Group team.
* Develop the Ricardo‑wide community of stakeholders and experts who together can drive forward our Hybrid and Driveline business to achieve market‑beating growth.
* Achievement of the Hybrid and Driveline order intake, revenue, and profit targets.
* Provide governance and oversight of the Hybrid and Driveline engineering project portfolio delivery. Work with the senior leadership team, project managers and senior client stakeholders to ensure Ricardo’s brand reputation for high quality delivery is upheld and customer satisfaction is achieved to underpin our long‑term client relationships.
* Develop and deliver the Hybrid and Driveline technical and commercial strategy, including working with Business Development, Engineering and operational teams to align related action plans. This will include, for example, alignment of go‑to‑market plans with business development and capability development plans with engineering to support future technology and client needs.
* Communicate our Hybrid and Driveline strategy and value propositions both inside and outside of Ricardo. Provide thought leadership to our staff, partners and external stakeholders on the journey to deliver value for both our customers and Ricardo.
* Own the Hybrid and Driveline investment plan, including business cases for capital investments and sourcing of external funding.
* Work with the marketing team to develop a marketing plan that coherently and compellingly portrays Ricardo’s complete value propositions in hybrids, drivelines and vehicle integration, tailored to meet sector‑specific client needs.
Knowledge
* Proven business development expertise aligned to strategic planning, with a strong track record of defining, executing and delivering effective growth strategies.
* In‑depth knowledge of transmission, driveline and hybrid systems across cross‑sector applications.
* Working knowledge of adjacent technology domains including control systems, electrification, internal combustion engines and vehicle chassis systems (desirable).
* Strong awareness of market drivers, customer trends and industry dynamics, with the ability to translate insight into competitive strategy.
* Well‑developed commercial acumen, including understanding of financial drivers, business performance and shareholder value.
* Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint), with the ability to use tools effectively for analysis, planning and communication.
Skills and Attributes
* Inspirational and credible leader, able to create a compelling vision and lead teams on the journey, including the development and leadership of global, multidisciplinary teams.
* Strong customer focus, able to understand client needs and constraints and develop innovative, targeted solutions.
* Highly effective communicator with excellent presentation skills, able to distil complex technical and commercial issues into clear, concise messages.
* Strategic and agile thinker with a strong ability to identify opportunities, initiate improvements and respond effectively to change.
* Confident influencer, able to operate effectively at all levels and across matrixed organisational structures.
* Commercially astute negotiator, balancing firm advocacy with strong customer awareness.
* Excellent problem‑solving, analytical and listening skills, underpinned by sound judgment.
* Thrives in fast‑paced, dynamic environments, demonstrating resilience, adaptability and focus.
* Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining quality and delivery.
Experience
* Extensive and relevant technical experience, including responsibility for major programme delivery within transmission, driveline and hybrid systems.
* Proven senior leadership experience, with a highly professional presence and approach.
* Recognised for technical credibility and commercial expertise, able to operate confidently with customers, partners and internal stakeholders.
Qualifications
* Degree qualified in a relevant engineering, scientific or business discipline.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Statement
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in each person's potential, and we will help you reach yours. We maintain an ambitious approach to diversity, equality and inclusion and are recognised as a disability‑confident employer.
Working Here
We will welcome you into a workplace where every voice matters. We are diverse thinkers and doers, creating a culture of inclusion. We will support you to find your place. Your knowledge and desire to bring about change will be invaluable in helping deliver innovative solutions that support communities worldwide in becoming safer and more sustainable.
Work Life Balance
We offer flexible work arrangements, including working from home, in‑office or hybrid. Flexibility is discussed on a case‑by‑case basis. Well‑being is central to our culture, enabling employees to flourish and achieve their full potential.
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