Project Manager

Draken; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Draken is seeking an experienced Project Manager to deliver complex defence and technology projects from our Bournemouth site, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and working within governance frameworks. You will manage scope, schedule, and budget while maintaining strong customer relationships and reporting on progress.

The role emphasizes proactive planning, risk management, and collaboration with stakeholders across engineering and operations, with opportunities to influence transformation

Qualifications

• Experience in defence, aerospace, aviation, engineering, or technology environments.
• Experience managing multiple projects or work packages simultaneously.
• Strong project planning, scheduling, and organisational skills.
• Experience managing project risks, issues, budgets, and change controls.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical teams, senior stakeholders, and customers.
• Strong leadership and team engagement skills.
• Experience producing project reports, metrics, and performance updates.
• Comfortable working within structured project management frameworks and governance processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage projects and work packages to deliver agreed scope, quality, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, forecasts, and resource requirements.
• Lead, motivate, and coordinate project teams and stakeholders.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate project risks, issues, opportunities, and changes.
• Maintain effective communication with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Build and sustain strong customer relationships throughout the project lifecycle.
• Track, monitor, and report project performance, progress, and variances.
• Ensure all project deliverables are completed to the required standard and within agreed timescales.
• Support PMO reporting, governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to wider business transformation, change programmes, and operational improvements.

Skills

Project management

Multi-project delivery

Planning & scheduling

Risk & change management

Stakeholder communication

Leadership

Reporting & metrics

Governance frameworks

Microsoft Project

Power BI

Microsoft 365

Education

Engineering/Physical Sciences degree or equivalent

APM/PRINCE2/Agile qualification

Tools

Microsoft Project / Project Web App

Power BI reporting & administration

Microsoft 365 apps

Job description

Hours: Full-time 37 hours | Permanent Draken believes in fair reward and recognition for our employees. As such, we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including up to 12% matching pension contributions, bonus incentives, discounted PMI, electric car scheme, tech vouchers, wellbeing programmes and much more.

Location: Hurn

About The Role

Draken is a world-leading provider of operational readiness training for defence organisations. We combine advanced aviation, mission systems, and threat-representation capabilities to support military customers across the globe. As we continue to invest in Electronic Warfare technologies and Uncrewed Air Systems, we're looking for an experienced Project Manager to join our Programmes team at our Bournemouth site.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering innovative Electronic Warfare Technology and Uncrewed Air Systems projects that enhance Draken's operational capabilities. Working within a complex stakeholder environment, you will manage the delivery of multiple projects and work packages, ensuring agreed objectives are achieved safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards.

Many projects involve airborne mission systems, offering the opportunity to work at the forefront of defence technology while developing an understanding of both the technical and regulatory environments that support these capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage projects and work packages to deliver agreed scope, quality, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, forecasts, and resource requirements.
• Lead, motivate, and coordinate project teams and stakeholders.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate project risks, issues, opportunities, and changes.
• Maintain effective communication with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Build and sustain strong customer relationships throughout the project lifecycle.
• Track, monitor, and report project performance, progress, and variances.
• Ensure all project deliverables are completed to the required standard and within agreed timescales.
• Support PMO reporting, governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to wider business transformation, change programmes, and operational improvements.

About You

You will be a proactive and organised Project Manager with experience delivering complex technical projects in a collaborative, stakeholder-focused environment.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience in defence, aerospace, aviation, engineering, or technology environments.
• Proven experience managing multiple projects or work packages simultaneously.
• Strong project planning, scheduling, and organisational skills.
• Experience managing project risks, issues, budgets, and change controls.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical teams, senior stakeholders, and customers.
• Strong leadership and team engagement skills.
• Experience producing project reports, metrics, and performance updates.
• Comfortable working within structured project management frameworks and governance processes.
• Proficient in:
• Microsoft Project / Project Web App
• Power BI reporting and administration
• Microsoft 365 applications

Desirable

• Knowledge of Electronic Warfare systems, airborne mission systems, or Uncrewed Air Systems.
• Apprenticeship, HNC/HND, degree, or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Physical Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Formal project management qualification (APM, PRINCE2, Agile, or equivalent).

Our employee values

Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.
At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.
We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who met the criteria in our job specifications.
In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.