CMF & MSO Design Project Manager

McLaren Racing; Bicester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

McLaren Automotive is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead Colour, Materials and Finish (CMF) development across core vehicle programmes and MSO content. You will connect design, engineering, purchasing, quality, manufacturing and commercial teams to deliver distinctive luxury material and finish solutions from concept to production.

The role requires strong programme management, clear communication, and the ability to translate creative intent into actionable delivery plans within a

Qualifications

• Degree in Design, Material Design, Product Design, Automotive Design, Engineering, Programme Management or equivalent experience.
• Project or programme management experience in automotive design, CMF, bespoke, luxury products, trim, materials or vehicle development.
• Able to manage complex design projects, stakeholders, suppliers, timing plans, risks and governance reporting.
• Working knowledge of CMF deliverables including colour and trim strategies, development and sampling process, material boards, specification packs and production sign-off.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and presentation skills, with the ability to translate creative intent into clear delivery plans.

Responsibilities

• Manage CMF and MSO design projects from concept selection to production release and launch.
• Define scope, timings, risks, resources and approval routes for CMF, trim, paint, finish and bespoke content, including physical sampling.
• Coordinate design, engineering, quality, manufacturing, product and commercial stakeholders.
• Support design to deliver intent that aligns with brand direction, feasibility, craftsmanship, cost, quality and production requirements.
• Manage CMF documentation, samples, master references, and digital imagery.
• Present status, risks, decisions and recommendations clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Manage MSO work request process by triaging requests, scheduling and planning, coordinating project startups, creative reviews, sourcing, timing and approvals.

Skills

Design degree

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Studio tools knowledge

Education

Design/Engineering degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

KeyShot

VRED

CAD viewers

PLM

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to manage the Colour, Materials and Finish (CMF) development and delivery process and MSO content across core vehicle programmes, and MSO special projects. The role connects design, engineering, purchasing, quality, manufacturing and commercial teams to deliver distinctive performance luxury material, colour, trim and finish solutions from concept to production.

What You'll Do

• Manage CMF and MSO design projects from concept selection to production release and launch.
• Define scope, timings, risks, resources and approval routes for CMF, trim, paint, finish and bespoke content, including physical sampling.
• Coordinate design, engineering, quality, manufacturing, product and commercial stakeholders.
• Support design to deliver intent that aligns with brand direction, feasibility, craftsmanship, cost, quality and production requirements.
• Manage CMF documentation, samples, master references, and digital imagery.
• Present status, risks, decisions and recommendations clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Manage MSO work request process by triaging requests, scheduling and planning, coordinating project startups, creative reviews, sourcing, timing and approvals.
  Experience in automotive OEM, luxury, low-volume, specialist vehicle, bespoke or premium product environments.
• Strong understanding of design gateways, studio processes, prototype phases, release timing and launch requirements.
• Awareness of CMF development, material selection, trim execution, paint, finishes, sustainability and personalisation.

Essential Functional / Technical Skills

• Degree in Design, Material Design, Product Design, Automotive Design, Engineering, Programme Management or equivalent experience.
• Project or programme management experience in automotive design, CMF, bespoke, luxury products, trim, materials or vehicle development.
• Able to manage complex design projects, stakeholders, suppliers, timing plans, risks and governance reporting.
• Working knowledge of CMF deliverables including colour and trim strategies, development and sampling process, material boards, specification packs and production sign-off.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and presentation skills, with the ability to translate creative intent into clear delivery plans.
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, KeyShot, VRED, CAD viewers, PLM or equivalent studio tools is desirable.

Personal Attributes / Competencies

• Calm, structured and proactive in a fast-paced studio environment.
• Balances creative sensitivity with programme, cost and production realities.
• Strong appreciation of luxury materiality, colour, tactility, craftsmanship and customer personalisation.
• Confident managing ambiguity, risk, change and cross-functional dependencies.
• Discreet, flexible and customer-focused when supporting bespoke requests.

No restraints. No limitations. We don't simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.

It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks.

McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.

What We'll Do for You

We offer a wide - ranging benefits package, which includes:

• Structured career development framework
• 25 days' holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five days
• Enhanced company pension scheme
• Discretionary annual bonus award
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan
• Life assurance benefit
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years' service
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• Generous parental leave policies
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice