Global Defence Programme Lead

Safran; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Safran Gloucester is seeking a Programme Manager to lead the development and delivery of UK and international defence programmes, guiding opportunities from concept to award and execution.

You will drive bid activities, coordinate Integrated Programme Teams, and oversee QCD, risk and compliance across UK military and international programmes, ensuring customer alignment and successful milestone delivery.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in Engineering, Business or related discipline.
• Experience working within defence or aerospace, ideally involving military contracts and complex partnerships or consortiums.
• Proven cross-functional programme/project management experience, including developing new programmes from concept onwards.
• Strong customer-facing, leadership and stakeholder management skills, with experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Good commercial and business acumen, including contractual and financial understanding.

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape new defence programme opportunities, using market and customer insights to develop strong business and programme strategies.
• Drive bid and pre-contract activities, including RFIs and RFPs, defining programme scope, feasibility, planning and Quality, Cost and Delivery (QCD) commitments.
• Act as a senior customer-facing representative, working with Business Development and Commercial teams to support negotiations and align customer requirements with business objectives.
• Establish and lead Integrated Programme Teams (IPTs) following contract award, coordinating cross-functional teams to successfully deliver milestones and customer commitments.
• Manage overall programme performance, including QCD, profitability, customer satisfaction, risk, governance and compliance.
• Lead programme security across UK military programmes, embedding effective processes, supporting audits and ensuring evolving security requirements are understood and implemented.
• Oversee Export Control governance across UK Military and Commuter programmes, working with key stakeholders to maintain compliant international programme delivery.
• Champion programme management best practice and continuous improvement, driving effective planning, reporting, governance and risk management while engaging multidisciplinary teams around shared objectives.

Skills

Programme management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Education

Degree-level qualification in Engineering, Business or related discipline

Job description

Safran Gloucester is seeking a Programme Manager to lead the development and delivery of UK and international defence programmes, guiding opportunities from concept to award and execution.

You will drive bid activities, coordinate Integrated Programme Teams, and oversee QCD, risk and compliance across UK military and international programmes, ensuring customer alignment and successful milestone delivery.