Programme Manager

Rubicon Recruitment; Lower Blandford St Mary; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Rubicon Recruitment is seeking a Programme Manager for a Bournemouth-based role in the aviation sector. The position involves owning complex, high-value programmes from sales handover to closure with full budgetary accountability.

You will act as the primary customer contact for all communications and milestones, develop and maintain detailed plans, and lead the IPT while coordinating resources and managing critical path dependencies.

Qualifications

• Experience in programme or project management, preferably in aerospace, aviation, or defence manufacturing.
• Degree educated in Engineering, Science, Business, or a related discipline.
• Formal PM qualification desired: APM PMQ, PRINCE2 Practitioner, or AGILE Practitioner.
• Experience managing programme P&L and working to contractual cost and delivery targets.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills with OEM and customer relationships.

Responsibilities

• Managing the full programme lifecycle from sales handover to closure with complete budgetary accountability.
• Acting as primary customer contact for communications and milestones including ITCM, PDR, CDR and FAI.
• Developing, maintaining and communicating the programme plan, schedule and change log to stakeholders.
• Leading the Integrated Project Team (IPT), coordinating resources and managing critical path dependencies.
• Managing scope change through MCP/CCP process, with Change Board presentations and OEM approvals.
• Monitoring and reporting programme financial performance, OEM ratings and delivery status against contract obligations.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

P&L experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Business, or related discipline

Tools

MS Project

Microsoft Office

Job description

Programme Manager | Bournemouth

Aviation is one of the most demanding environments in which to manage a programme. Every deliverable carries weight, every schedule change has a ripple effect, and every customer relationship is hard-won. This is a business that has spent decades building its reputation, winning the confidence of major OEMs and customers through precision, accountability, and the ability to deliver where others struggle. They are now looking for a Programme Manager who can take the reins on complex, high-value programmes and drive them from sales handover through to closure, with full ownership of the outcomes.

As a Programme Manager, you will benefit from:

• A technically rich environment with genuine complexity, including complex engineering development, certification testing, and third-party integrations
• Autonomous ownership of programme delivery, cost, quality, and weight performance
• Direct customer-facing responsibility with leading OEMs and airline operators
• Formal project management development supported by an established PM function
• Exposure to international travel and multi-site programme activity
• A stable, well-regarded business with a long-standing position in the aviation sector

As a Programme Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Managing the full programme lifecycle from sales handover to closure, with complete budgetary accountability for delivery, cost, quality, and weight
• Acting as primary customer contact for all communications, queries, and key programme milestones including ITCM, PDR, CDR, and FAI
• Developing, maintaining, and communicating the programme plan, schedule, and change log to internal and external stakeholders
• Leading the Integrated Project Team (IPT), coordinating resources, resolving conflicts, and managing critical path dependencies
• Managing scope change through the MCP/CCP process, including Change Board presentations and OEM approval coordination
• Monitoring and reporting programme financial performance, OEM ratings, and delivery status against contract obligations

As a Programme Manager, your experience will include:

• Experience programme or project management role, ideally within aerospace, aviation, or defence manufacturing
• Degree educated in Engineering, Science, Business, or a related discipline
• Formal PM qualification desirable: APM PMQ, PRINCE2 Practitioner, or AGILE Practitioner
• Experience managing programme P&L and working to contractual cost and delivery targets
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills, with a track record of maintaining OEM and customer relationships under pressure
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including MS Project