Programme Manager

Gerrell & Hard Ltd.; Royal Leamington Spa; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Gerrell & Hard Ltd. seeks a Programme Manager to deliver commercial vehicle programmes from concept to production. You will balance cost, timing, quality and risk while coordinating internal teams, engineering partners, suppliers and manufacturing stakeholders.

You will translate customer needs into production vehicles, leading governance, planning, risk management and stakeholder reporting across the programme lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Programme Management, Business or related technical discipline (or equivalent).
• 5+ years delivering complex engineered products in automotive, mobility, manufacturing or engineering consultancy.
• Experience leading vehicle or system programmes through development, validation and certification.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day delivery of the vehicle programme from prototype to SOP.
• Maintain programme KPIs: cost, timing, quality, performance, risk and regulatory readiness.
• Lead cross-functional programme reviews, risk reviews and escalation.
• Manage master plan, make/buy decisions and supplier readiness for manufacturing.
• Coordinate certification plans and regulatory activities within programme plans.

Skills

Programme leadership

Cross-functional coordination

Risk and change control

Cost and schedule management

Stakeholder reporting

Education

Engineering degree

Programme Management degree

Business degree

Job description

The relentless consumer shift to online retail and rapid fulfilment, a changing urban landscape prioritising pedestrians and cyclists and the growth of zero emission zones is causing the logistics industry to evolve quickly.
ELM’s small, lightweight and configurable commercial vehicle platform supported by integrated telematics and fleet data analysis right-sizes the logistics solution for the city and delivers a step change in efficiency for urban environments.
The next phase of ELM’s evolution focuses upon developing the production vehicles and supporting technologies to enable certification.

Dynamic startup setting with a flat structure and high ownership and close collaboration across all functions, partners and suppliers.
Lean internal team with close collaboration with technical partners and suppliers.
Office based with hands‑on engagement during builds, testing, and supplier activities.
Travel as required to build and maintain strong relationships with partners and suppliers.

Role Overview:
The Programme Manager is accountable for delivering ELM’s commercial vehicles from advanced concept through certification, industrialisation and start of production.
You will lead integrated programme delivery — balancing cost, timing, quality, performance and risk — while coordinating internal teams, engineering partners, suppliers and manufacturing stakeholders.
Working cross functionally, you will deliver the full delivery cycle translating customer needs into production vehicles.

Key Responsibilities:

Programme Governance & Delivery

• Own day to day delivery of the vehicle programme from prototype to SOP.
• Maintain programme KPIs (cost, timing, quality, performance, risk, regulatory readiness).
• Run structured milestone reviews, decision gates and delivery control.

Planning, Risk & Change Management

• Build, maintain and communicate the master programme plan.
• Lead cross functional programme reviews, risk reviews, issue resolution and structured escalation.
• Manage scope, timing and technical change with clear cost and delivery impact visibility whilst always seeking opportunities to mitigate issues.

Cost, Supply Chain & Industrialisation Alignment

• Create and manage the master bill of materials coordinating the inputs from all stakeholders
• Track BOM and programme cost targets with engineering and commercial teams.
• Support make/buy decisions and supplier readiness for contract manufacturing.

Homologation & Regulatory Delivery

• Coordinate certification plans, test timing and engagement with homologation bodies.
• Integrate regulatory activities into programme plans and risk management.

Stakeholder Reporting & Funding Governance

• Provide clear, data driven status reporting to the CEO and senior stakeholders.
• Manage APC funded project tracking, claims and compliance.
• Support funding applications, grant reporting and investor updates with robust programme evidence.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Degree in Engineering, Programme Management, Business or related technical discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years delivering complex engineered products in automotive, mobility, manufacturing or engineering consultancy.
• Proven experience managing vehicle, technology or system programmes through development, validation, certification or industrialisation.
• Strong capability in programme planning, milestone management, risk, change control and stakeholder reporting.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and suppliers to deliver against cost, timing and quality targets.
• APC or other grant funded programme experience beneficial.