Capability Manager

Leonardo UK Ltd; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Private healthcare

4,000+ online courses

Referral programme

Job summary

Leonardo UK Ltd in Basildon is seeking a Capability Manager within the Integrated Sensing and Protection line, focusing on Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems. The role blends market-facing duties with directing investment initiatives aligned to customer needs.

You will generate capability roadmaps, support bids, and liaise with sales, marketing, and other divisions while maintaining relationships with external MoD and international partners.

Qualifications

• Degree-educated with broad technical, programmatic and market experience.
• Strong financial and commercial aptitude.
• Ability to lead campaigns and provide expert technical support to sales initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Define and control strategic R&D investments and business cases to optimise ROI.
• Collaborate with Sales/Marketing to link internal investments to market needs and USPs.
• Lead campaigns and represent the company in MoD, international, and industrial forums.
• Maintain cross-division coherence of investment and exploitation of assets.
• Develop new value propositions from disruptive tech or market demand.
• Create and maintain capability and technology roadmaps for product lines.

Skills

Market knowledge

Technical knowledge

Program management

Financial acumen

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Description: Your Impact At Leonardo, we have a fantastic new opportunity for a Capability Manager within our Integrated Sensing and Protection (ISP) line of business. The ISP line of business main markets are in Defence, primarily Land and Maritime, both in the UK and Internationally. This role sits within Capability Management team as the Capability Manager for Counter Unmanned Air Systems (C-UAS). The Capability Management role is a blend of a market facing role with the requirement to direct and best align our investment initiatives associated with technology, product and capabilities directly to the market and future operational/customer needs.

What you will do

• Definition and control of the Leonardo self-funded research and development activities, ensuring new products are brought to market at the right time. This includes ownership of the associated investment business case, with the aim of optimising our investments, avoiding duplication and maximising re-use of common elements across the Electronics Division.
• Working closely with the Sales and Marketing function to ensure there is a strong linkage between our internal investments and the external market with the aim of improved financial returns to Leonardo and the avoidance of investments into non-strategic or low value add activities.
• Provision of domain expertise and focussed support to strategically orientated business winning campaigns, particularly with respect to the solution to be offered and technical sales/marketing approach & Unique Selling Points (USPs). In specific circumstances, lead particular campaigns on behalf of the business.
• Representing the Company in specific external MoD, International & Industrial forums, as appropriate, for both awareness and market shaping purposes
• Operate in the role of internal Customer for the management of discretionary investment projects, to best ensure delivery of the objective outcomes.
• Liaison with other Divisions & Lines of Business (LoB) to ensure cross Division, cross LoB & Transnational coherence of investment and/or exploitation of other company investments.
• Proactively seek to develop new value propositions, either through emerging disruptive technology or to address emerging market demand.
• Generate and maintain capability and technology roadmaps for each product line.

What you will bring

• You will typically be educated to degree standard.
• Capability Managers are expected to have a broad range of experience encompassing strong technical, programmatic and market knowledge, combined with a good level of financial and commercial aptitude. The individual will be expected to grow to possess a high level of domain specific expertise and will usually be recognised and well respected for this expertise with external customers and partners.
• A breadth and depth of knowledge/expertise to directly support and/or lead specific campaigns and to provide expert technical support to sales lead initiatives; as well as providing expert technical experience in the generation of high assurance safety cases, associated with the command and control (C2) of kinetic and non-kinetic munitions and effectors.
• The ability to interact with customers and partners in a consultative manner, thereby enabling capture of a better understanding of customer and operational needs
• The ability to intelligently shape future customer opportunities, with good communication and team leadership skills.
• You must be able to work effectively in a dynamic environment with dependencies and external influences to deliver successful outcomes.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety. At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Primary Location: GB - Basildon Additional Locations: GB - Southampton Contract Type: Permanent Hybrid Working: Hybrid International, multicultural, innovative, technological: this is Leonardo.

The company’s passionate and talented team is strongly influenced by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) expertise, with a diverse range of experience that enables colleagues to share knowledge and know-how across the generations. Leonardo always wants to expand its talent pool, here you can find the right opportunity for you!