Head of Programme Planning

McLaren Automotive Limited; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Enhanced pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical opportunity

Wellbeing programme

Job summary

McLaren Automotive Limited is seeking a Head of Programme Planning in Woking to lead the programme management team across vehicle programmes, technology and component projects, ensuring delivery aligns with top level financial targets.

You will define early targets, manage internal resources and external spend, drive cross-functional development of new technologies, standardize processes, and develop a long-term people and skills strategy with the PMO, VLD and People & Culture teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering or equivalent.
• Extensive experience in programme management with a strong industry understanding.
• Experience in commercial management, stakeholder management, change management, and team building across automotive sector.
• Knowledge of McLaren processes, systems and procedures would be beneficial.
• Experience in future programme planning from concept to programme kick off, desirable.
• Leadership / people management experience, desirable.
• Formal Project Management qualifications desirable (PMP, Agile, Six Sigma).

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of early target setting for future programmes including PMXU, internal resource, external spend and timing alongside PMO and VLDs.
• Drive greater carryover content across programmes to optimise CAPEX.
• Ensure the delivery of the approved product plan and associated project data for cross functional budget, resource and spend planning.
• Delivery of product development projects, aligning technical change content, product market position and budget.
• Cross-program component and system sharing through early alignment of function requirements.
• Collaborate with PMO functions to establish size and scale of future vehicle programmes and recommend timing, financial parameters and delivery mechanisms.
• Lead the standardization of methods and ways of working between programmes.
• Develop and deliver a people and skills strategy for Engineering functions aligned with People & Culture team.
• Participate in the financial target setting of future programmes and side product plan studies.

Skills

Programme management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Change management

Team building

Commercial management

Budget planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Engineering or equivalent

Tools

PMP

Agile

Six Sigma

Job description

Head of Programme PlanningRef #59501Date postedFriday, September 25, 2026CountryUnited KingdomLocationWokingBusiness areaPMODepartmentPD - PROJECT MGMTPosition level3 - Head of (L -20)Working timeFull TimeContract typePermanentWorking pattern9am - 6pm Monday to FridaySalary.What to Expect· Coordination of programme management team of vehicle programmes, technology and component projects to meet top level business financial targets. · Business Planning – Definition & creation of consistent data set for all future programmes to facilitate technical function business planning, aligned to the product cycle plan· Cross functional programme leadership of development of new technologies including delivery risk assessment and pre-programme technology maturation· Cross functional leadership of cross-vehicle component and system development, including definition and implementation of new processes· Development of programme delivery (in-source / out-source) strategy prior to kick off, aligned with VLD and other key stakeholders (e.g. Engineering, Design, Finance, Product)· Lead the engineering team input into the supplier category and people (skills) long term strategiesWhat You'll Do· Lead the development of early target setting for future programmes including PMXU, internal resource, external spend and timing alongside PMO and VLDs· Drive greater carryover content across programmes to ensure capital expenditure is fully optimised· Ensure the delivery of the approved product plan and associated project data for use in cross functional budget, resource and spend planning with focus on CAPEX and BoM· Delivery of product development projects, that align technical change content, product market position and budget according to the McLaren Development Process· Cross-program component and system sharing through early alignment of function requirements across products· Working in collaboration with the other PMO functions to establish size and scale of future vehicle programmes, recommending timing, financial parameters and proposed delivery mechanisms (in-source / out-source, mixture)· Lead the standardization of methods and ways of working between programmes· Utilise the outputs of the Horizon process to develop and deliver a people and skills strategy for Engineering functions (aligned with People & Culture team)• Participate in the financial target setting of the future programmes and the side product plan studiesWhat You'll Bring* Minimum of a Bachelors degree (Business, Engineering or equivalent), essential* A lateral thinker with extensive experience in programme management, a strong understanding of the industry and associated macro-economic challenges* Demonstrable experience in commercial management, programme / project management, stakeholder management, change management, and team building across the automotive sector or similarly complex business* In-depth understanding of McLaren processes, systems, and procedures would be beneficial* Experience of high volume and niche vehicle (low volume) manufacturers across operational, commercial and strategic roles* Experience in future programme planning from concept to programme kick off, desirable* Experience in strategic business planning, budget development and target setting, desirable* Leadership / people management experience, desirable* Formal Project Management qualifications are desirable but not essential (e.g. PMP, Agile, Six Sigma)#LI-SS1What We'll Do for YouWe 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