Manufacturing Programme & Launch Manager

McLaren Racing; Old Woking; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Enhanced pension scheme

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical after 2 years

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

McLaren Automotive seeks a Manufacturing Programme & Launch Manager to lead manufacturing delivery from concept to Series Production for a major vehicle programme. You will own governance, readiness milestones and ensure risk- and cost-aware decisions across PMO, Engineering, Product and Design.

The role requires senior leadership, robust evidence-based decision making and a focus on launch excellence, with proximity to McLaren Offices in Bicester and Woking.

Qualifications

• Strong programme/project management with Gantt, critical path and RAID logs.
• Excellent reporting, presentation and stakeholder communication skills.
• Structured governance for risk and issue management.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing activities and launch readiness across a major vehicle programme.
• Set strategy, priorities and delivery plan for the manufacturing programme.
• Oversee governance, decisions, escalation, and recovery plans for the programme.
• Chair Launch Readiness and OK to Load reviews with evidence-based decisions.
• Ensure Manufacturing Gateway and OK to Load criteria are achieved and risks escalated when needed.
• Provide leadership to Programme Leads and cross-functional teams to protect programme objectives.

Skills

Programme management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Digital project tools

Tools

MS Project

Power BI

SAP

PLM systems

AI tools

Job description

The Manufacturing Programme & Launch Manager leads and is accountable for Manufacturing delivery across a major vehicle programme or portfolio of significant launch activity, from concept through full Series Production. The role owns programme direction, governance and readiness outcomes for Manufacturing, makes consequential decisions within delegated authority, balances cost, timing, quality and resource priorities, and provides senior cross-functional leadership to protect programme and business objectives.

• Lead and be accountable for delivery of Manufacturing activities, critical Gateways and launch readiness across a major vehicle programme.
• Set the Manufacturing programme strategy, priorities and integrated delivery plan, translating business and vehicle programme objectives into clear functional commitments.
• Own the Manufacturing programme status, decision and escalation process, ensuring red or amber items have an agreed owner, recovery plan and appropriate approval before submission.
• Make significant decisions within delegated authority on priorities, recovery plans, timing and delivery, making business recommendations.
• Act as the senior Manufacturing voice in vehicle programme and governance forums, influencing PMO, Engineering, Product, Design, and key partners.
• Chair Launch Readiness Review and OK to Load review, and ensure decisions are based on robust evidence covering cost, timing, quality, resource, risk and operational readiness.
• Oversee Manufacturing change control and assess the cumulative impact of product, process and timing changes on launch readiness.
• Ensure Manufacturing Gateway and OK to Load criteria are achieved, with unresolved risks transparently escalated and formally accepted at the appropriate authority level.
• Be accountable for the effectiveness of launch planning and execution through the transition from Product Definition to stable Series Production.
• Develop programme capability, governance standards and repeatable ways of working across Manufacturing, applying lessons learned across programmes and launch activity.
• Provide leadership, coaching and direction to Programme Leads and senior functional representatives, strengthening accountability and cross-functional delivery.
• Understanding of how manufacturing decisions impact vehicle cost, timing, and business case viability.
• Understanding of programme financial structures (e.g. CapEx , Opex, cost per unit models, ROI).
• Knowledge of automotive programme governance, stage-gate systems, and cross-functional interdependencies.

Essential Functional / Technical Skills:

• Strong Programme/project management (Gantt, critical path, RAID logs, milestone tracking)
• Strong reporting, presentation, and stakeholder communication skills
• Risk and issue management with structured governance
• Proficient with digital project tools (e.g. MS Project, Power BI, SAP, PLM systems, AI tools.)

Personal Attributes / Competencies:

• Highly organised, structured, and delivery-focused
• Strong influencing skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Resilient under pressure; thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
• Proactive, solutions-driven, and decisive
• Excellent communicator with the ability to simplify complexity
• Collaborative team player who brings people together to resolve challenges
• Customer- and quality-focused mindset with a passion for launch excellence
• Ability to commute to McLaren Offices in Bicester and Woking.
• No restraints. No limitations. We don't simply push boundaries. 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