Head of Programmes - Motorsport & Advanced Engineering

Fortescue; Kidlington; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Aviva Pension

Group Life Assurance

Group Income Protection

Electric Car Scheme

Health Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Private Medical Insurance

26 days holiday plus holidays + 5 days

Childcare Benefits

On-site gym access

Job summary

Fortescue is seeking a Head of Programmes to lead the Motorsport & Advanced Engineering programmes. You will drive direction, planning and delivery across functions, ensuring milestones are met within budget and quality targets.

The role requires extensive leadership experience, strong stakeholder engagement, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, strategic environment with international travel.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of programme or project management experience in engineering/tech consultancy, automotive or Motorsport preferred.
• Experience leading large-scale programmes from concept to launch.
• Ability to manage complex cross-functional projects with competing priorities and changing requirements.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and executive-level presentation skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall direction for global programme delivery, ensuring on-time, on-budget milestones.
• Oversee all programme phases from concept to launch with scope, cost, risk, and resources.
• Report KPI's and maintain detailed programme strategies and timing.
• Coordinate engineering, manufacturing, procurement, finance, and logistics across regions.
• Ensure governance, risk, and quality frameworks are applied and maintained.
• Develop and mentor programme teams, promoting diversity and inclusion.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Scheduling

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business

MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification desirable

Tools

MSP

PMP

PgMP

Job description

The Power of Now

Be part of something big. Fortescue is leading the world with our plan to decarbonise our iron ore operations, projects that harness renewable energy and the development of technology that will change our planet forever.

An opportunity has arisen for a Head of Programmes to join the Motorsport & Advanced Engineering department.

About The Role

Lead the planning & delivery of all Motorsport and Advanced Engineering programmes, ensuring they meet strategic objectives and are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards. This role provides for overall programme direction, drives cross-functional collaboration, manages risk, and fosters innovation.

What you will do

Programme Direction and Strategy

• Provide overall direction for global programme delivery, ensuring on-time, on-budget achievement of all milestones.
• Oversee all programme phases - from concept development, design, engineering, validation, industrialisation, through to launch - managing scope, cost, risk, resources, and change.
• Report clear KPI's across the Portfolio of projects to the business leadership and central function teams.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive programme strategies and detailed timing.
• Define a clear and strategic point of view for the programme, influencing both corporate and operational strategies.
• Anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and guide the programme toward optimal outcomes.

Cross-Functional Liaison

• Coordinate diverse, multidisciplinary teams across Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, Finance, and Logistics, spanning multiple global regions.
• Foster a high-performance culture that promotes collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and personal accountability.
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, ensuring clear, consistent communication and alignment across all business functions.
• Represent the programme in senior forums, effectively communicating complex information to senior management stakeholders and decision-makers.

Governance, Quality, And Delivery

• Ensure programme delivery adheres to the appropriate governance standards and quality frameworks.
• Monitor performance using key metrics and reporting mechanisms to ensure visibility, control, and accountability at all levels.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks (technical, financial, timing, and quality) while developing contingency plans to maintain momentum and delivery assurance.
• Drive issue resolution through decisive leadership and structured problem-solving.
• Ensure the programme operates within approved budgets, maintaining transparency in financial performance and cost control.

People And Organisational Development

• Deliver annual Performance Management and Review Meetings and agree annual objectives and Personal Development Plans with all line reports.
• Act as a mentor and role model, developing and empowering programme team members to achieve their full potential.
• Promote diversity of thought, inclusion, and respect within teams and partnerships.

Essential

About you

• Minimum 15 years of experience in programme or project management roles within an engineering or technology consultancy setting, ideally within the automotive and/or Motorsport sectors, with
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale programmes from concept through to launch.
• Proven experience in managing complex cross-functional projects with competing priorities and dynamic requirements.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline; MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification desirable.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and align diverse teams.
• Proven capability to lead in ambiguous, rapidly changing environments with strategic foresight and operational rigour.
• Skilled in programme governance, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and resource planning.
• High proficiency in programme management software and reporting tools.
• Strong presentation and interpersonal skills, with experience communicating at executive level.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required.

Preferred

• Experience with electrification programmes.
• Professional certifications such as MSP, PMP, or PgMP.
• Demonstrated knowledge and practical application of Fortescue's New Product Creation System (NPCS) or similar structured development frameworks.

What is in it for you?

Our UK Benefits Include

• Bonus scheme
• Aviva Pension
• Group Life Assurance
• Group Income Protection
• Electric Car Scheme
• Health Cash Plan
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Private Medical Insurance
• 26 days holiday plus public holidays and the opportunity to purchase an additional 5 days per year
• Childcare Benefits
• Free on-site gym access and discounted national memberships

Fortescue celebrates individual strengths and team members are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. Our global workforce drives and promotes an inclusive culture, both within our organisation and throughout the communities we interact with. Diverse backgrounds include First Nations Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ community, gender, neurodiverse, cultural diversity, all age groups, and those with an intersectional or multiple diverse characteristics. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

https://fortescue.com/careers