Programme Manager

EDGE; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 500,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

EDGE, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, is seeking a Programme Manager (SkyKnight/Skynex) to oversee high-scale defence programs from concept to delivery.

You will lead strategy, governance, budgets, and cross-functional teams, coordinating sponsors, project managers, and stakeholders to meet schedules and quality.

The role requires a senior track record in Air Defence program management, strong planning skills, and the ability to drive continuous improvement across the programme.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering field.
• 10+ years in Air Defense program management in defence.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting and governance.
• Strong planning, monitoring and control of programmes.
• Negotiation with third parties and procurement familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Develop and establish best practice programme management for SkyKnight/Skynex.
• Align project outcomes with business requirements and stakeholders.
• Plan scope, milestones, resources, budgets, and timelines.
• Manage dependencies and interfaces across projects.
• Identify resources and external engagements to deliver projects.
• Monitor budgets, costs, and realised benefits.

Skills

Programme management

Planning & monitoring

Budgeting & resources

Procurement knowledge

Governance & QA

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in business or related field

Job description

Job Description:

About Edge

At EDGE bold ideas are engineered into technologies that protect, improve and save lives.

Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, EDGE is a leading advanced technology group working at the forefront of defence and emerging technologies. Spanning more than 35 specialised companies and multiple centres of excellence, we are purpose-built to move fast. Free from heavy legacy processes, we give our people the autonomy, accountability, and agility to bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

Based in Abu Dhabi, a globally connected hub at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, EDGE is home to a truly multicultural community where bold ideas thrive, and the future is shaped.

Together, we are shaping the future.

About The Role

The Programme Manager (SkyKnight /Skynex) at Halcon oversees, manages and supervises several high scale, complex and interconnected projects of the organization to achieve larger, long-term business objectives. The job incumbent leads the overall program with strong attention to strategy, implementation, and delegation from concept to successful completion ensuring program achieves strategic and operational needs of organization in terms of budget, quality and delivery targets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and establish best practice programme management for SkyKnight/Skynex, implement strategies, procedures, processes, systems, tools and standards to support the organization's strategic direction, improve its business performance and enable the company to compete effectively in the market
• Work with business stakeholders to identify, validate and implement concepts, and align project outcomes with overall business and key stakeholder requirements
• Work closely with project sponsor, cross-functional teams, and assigned project managers to plan and develop scope, deliverables, functional milestones, required resources, operating plans, budget, and timelines of the projects.
• Develop and maintain the programme environment to support each individual project within it, overseeing collaboration across multiple project teams and managing both the dependencies and the interfaces between projects
• Identify and deploy the technical skill sets, resource levels and systems to deliver projects, including the engagement of external resources as required
• Manage programme budgets and funding channels for maximum productivity, monitor expenditure and costs against delivered and realised benefits as the programme progresses
• Develop a program communications management plan to address the stakeholders needs and expectations and also provide key information in a timely manner
• Work with other program managers to identify risks and opportunities across multiple projects within the department
• Find innovative ways to resolve problems or issues, systematically and effectively during the course of the program, such as optimizing and sharing resources across the program for obtaining maximum benefits
• Define the programme's governance framework to ensure effective quality assurance and the overall integrity and coherence of the programme
• Develop program assessment protocols for evaluation, auditing and health checks on projects and programs
• Ensure programme and project reviews are regularly and effectively conducted to drive plan, monitor and control the delivery of programmes to schedule, budget and to the agreed quality level
• Ensure adequate resource in all areas of the business are provisioned to deliver programmes including Engineering, and production capacity
• Ensure progress is monitored, risks identified and appropriate mitigation against non-delivery is invoked
• Take ownership of the programme management policy, guidelines and any associated documents
• Implement and manage changes and interventions to ensure project goals are achieved
• Ensure to provide a strategic overview and regular reporting on the progress of all programs to the Senior Management
• Work as part of the Management team to share ideas and improve operation, recommending, supporting and implementing continuous improvement activities and process and procedure improvements to optimise results and improve quality of delivery
• Consistently promote high standards through personal example and roll out through the team so that each member of the team understands the standards and behaviours expected of them
• Provide strategic guidance to teams and project managers, motivating and managing the programme’s team members

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field
• 10+ years of experience in effective Air Defense program management in the defence environment, with a successful track record of successfully managing multiple large-scale projects
• Applied knowledge of techniques for planning, monitoring and controlling programmes
• Proficiency in program and project management methodologies
• Experience with budgeting and resource allocation procedures while establishing program governance and program financial management
• Intermediate understanding of the procurement process including negotiation with third parties

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration or related field
• Project Management qualification

WHY CHOOSE EDGE

Launched in November 2019, the UAE's EDGE is one of the world's leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly skilled talent to thrive.

At EDGE, the real investment goes beyond compensation. Through our dedicated learning academy and digital learning platforms, employees have access to extensive opportunities to develop new skills, deepen their expertise, and advance their careers. Combined with the freedom to innovate, strong career support, and the opportunity to collaborate with world-class talent from across the globe, EDGE is a place where you can continue to grow, keep learning, and turn ambitious ideas into meaningful outcomes.

Working at EDGE also comes with a package that genuinely reflects how much we value our people. Salaries are highly competitive and tax-free and, depending on your role and seniority, benefits can include family visas, annual flight tickets, medical insurance for you and your dependents, and education allowances for your children.

CANDIDATE PRIVACY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

If you feel your skills, experience and potential are a strong match for a role, We are genuinely interested in what you can bring to EDGE.

Any information you share as part of your EDGE candidate profile or job application will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy regulations.

EDGE is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing workforce. We believe every individual deserves to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity, and our employment decisions reflect that. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

As a global organisation, effective collaboration across international teams is central to how we work, so English proficiency is required for all roles unless otherwise stated in the job posting.

Please note that EDGE does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Any resumes in the absence of a formally executed agreement in place will be deemed the property of EDGE, and no placement fees or compensation will be payable in respect of such submissions.