Manufacturing Programme Manager

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Enhanced company pension

Private medical insurance

Discretionary annual bonus

Life assurance

Sabbatical after 2 years

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

McLaren Automotive seeks a Manufacturing Programme Launch Manager to lead and coordinate the Pre-Series phase, acting as the Manufacturing voice in programme governance forums. The role bridges Manufacturing and Vehicle Programme management, ensuring readiness across milestones and seamless transition from product definition to full Series Production.

The candidate will drive cross-functional collaboration, maintain prioritized targets, and report status to senior leadership, with a focus on

Qualifications

• Experience in planning and delivering programmes from concept through launch.
• Introduction to governance structures and milestone tracking.
• Ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams and manage risk.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage current project within function from concept through launch, ensuring readiness at milestones.
• Coordinate cross-functional core team including manufacturing engineering, logistics, quality, and launch.
• Track and steer all function targets in line with Manufacturing.
• Represent manufacturing in vehicle programme forums and escalate critical issues to senior leadership.
• Prepare and evaluate function content and ensure centralized reporting for the vehicle line director.
• Manage readiness and progression of launch activities with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain.
• Ensure quality standards are met throughout the Launch phase.

Skills

Programme management

Project scheduling

Stakeholder communication

Risk management

Tools

MS Project

Power BI

SAP

PLM systems

AI tools

Job description

What to Expect

The Manufacturing Programme Launch Manager plays a central role in leading, coordinating, and integrating the efforts of all Manufacturing functions to ensure successful deliverables during the Pre-Series phase. This role acts as the Manufacturing voice in programme governance forums, bridging the gap between Manufacturing and Vehicle Programme management.

What You'll Do

• Responsible for planning and managing current project within function from concept through launch, ensuring robust readiness at each programme milestone.
• Coordinate cross-functional core team including manufacturing engineering, logistics, quality, and launch to ensure successful manufacturing operations.
• Track and steer all function targets and requirements in alignment with Manufacturing Functions.
• Represent manufacturing in vehicle programme forums, report weekly status, and escalated critical issues to senior leadership.
• Prepare and evaluate function related content and ensures centralized reporting for vehicle line director.
• Manage readiness / progression of launch activities alongside Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain teams to ensure a seamless transition from Product Definition to full Series Production.
• Quality achievement - Ensuring that all new Projects meet McLaren's high standards of quality and performance throughout the Launch phase

What You'll Bring

Business Knowledge:

• 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.

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

Who Are We?

No restraints. No limitations. We don't simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. 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.