Lead Project Manager

Leonardo UK Ltd; Wickford; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defence company is seeking a Lead PM to manage Force Protection and Special Projects in Wickford. You will oversee multiple projects, ensuring timely delivery while maintaining quality and compliance. The candidate should have proven project delivery skills, excellent communication, and a proactive approach to challenges. This hybrid role requires some travel and offers competitive benefits. Join a team at the forefront of technology and innovation.

Benefits

Generous leave

Pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution

Access to mental health support

Bonus scheme

Free online courses

Flexible benefits allowance

Hybrid working options

Qualifications

• Proven experience in successfully delivering projects across all phases.
• Experience of business winning activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change and adversity.

Responsibilities

• Manage all live and future projects, ensuring deliverables are met.
• Support bids and campaigns across IPTs.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to team members.

Skills

Project delivery

Risk Management

Excellent communication

Problem-solving skills

Strong relationships

Education

APMP, PRINCE-2 or PMI PMP certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description:

Lead PM- Force Protection & Special Projects

Your Impact:

At Leonardo, we have a great opportunity for a Lead PM to lead the Force Protection and Special Projects IPTs. In this role you would be responsible for delivering cutting edge CEMA capabilities to UK and international customers, maintaining operational systems for our Customers, overseeing the development of next generation products, developing low TRL technologies, and supporting business winning activity. This role sits within our CEMA & Integrated Communication Systems (C&ICS) Business Area as part of the Integrated Sensing & Protection (ISP) Line of Business (LoB).

This exciting role will oversee two IPTs, both of which have been developing world-leading specialist capability for the UK MoD for decades, and continues to be at the forefront of industry, enabling our armed forces to have operational advantage over their adversaries.

The Lead PM will be responsible for delivery of all projects in the area and will assume line management of four direct reports that will support project delivery. The Lead PM will also be responsible for applying effective management, leadership and problem‑solving skills to deliver against multiple projects of varying complexity, enabling the IPTs to fulfil their contracted commitments to time, performance and cost, whilst also supporting the CEMA business area to develop new capabilities and win new business in line with Integrated Business Plan (IBP).

Leonardo is a global high‑tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo has over 45,000 employees, of which 7,000 are based in the UK. The ISP Line of Business falls within the wider Electronics UK Business Unit and operates as a product development, manufacturing and sales business. The LoB is a leader in the integration and supply of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) & Force Protection electronic systems and services.

Key responsibilities to include:

• Manage the Force Protection & Special Projects IPTs, with responsibility for all live and future projects supported by Project Leaders and the team, ensuring project deliverables are to time, cost, quality and technical compliance.
• Support bids and campaigns spanning the Force Protection and Special Projects IPTs, increasing their Pwin.
• Be responsible for working with the Project Engineering Managers to manage available resource against future demand based on forecast prospects, ensuring issues are either addressed locally or are escalated to the Head of Programmes & Head of Engineering Projects.
• Support the IPTs’ delivery of Low-TRL tasks and the development of internally funded projects to develop next generation products and system enhancements.
• Support development and delivery of the IPT and CEMA Business Area strategies – aligned to including Customer engagement.
• Be responsible for IPT internal reporting to the business, including Monthly Project Reviews into VP C&ICS and, as required, SVP ISP.
• Manage and demonstrate improved delivery where possible to improve financial performance against the baseline targets.
• Ensure adherence to Company governance and process, including Leonardo’s Lifecycle Management (LCM) as appropriate, including tailoring to suit project requirements.
• Proactively monitor cost and schedule progress and lead the team effectively through planning, allocation and reporting of work in order to ensure successful delivery of projects and their objectives.
• Anticipate, mitigate and manage dependencies, risks and synergies in support of increased business performance.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with all functions in order to influence, support and deliver projects.
• Support the ongoing development and/or improvement of relationships with internal and external customers and suppliers to build on the principals of trust, collaboration and mutual respect.
• Provide coaching and mentoring support to members of the IPT, and particularly those within the Project Management function.

Intrinsic Job Factors:

• Full time role with some out of hours and extended working hours anticipated as required.
• This role will be Basildon based however, regular travel will be required to Southampton. Wider travel to other Leonardo and customer sites may also be required.

What you'll bring:

• Proven experience in successfully delivering projects across all project phases.
• Pro‑active with a "can do" attitude, striving for continuous improvement, effectiveness and efficiency and with a focus on achieving high performance against objectives.
• Working knowledge of Life Cycle Management, Project Execution, Risk Management and Project Controls.
• Experience of business winning activities.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to organise and prioritise workload and to work autonomously.
• Flexible and adaptable to change and adversity.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and initiative with the ability to think laterally.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate and communicate to multiple engineering and non‑engineering functions which span different locations.
• Good computer literacy, including all Microsoft Office applications.

• Ideally APMP, PRINCE-2 or PMI PMP Certified
• Experience of Agile project delivery

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 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.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location: GB - Basildon

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid