Project Manager

Thales; Harwell; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace organization in the UK is seeking a Project Manager to ensure the successful development of space propulsion projects. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in managing complex projects and teams, strong interpersonal skills, and proficiency in project management processes. This role requires the ability to foster stakeholder relationships and drive performance metrics effectively.

Qualifications

• Extensive track record of delivering complex projects.
• Experience in managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of project management processes.

Responsibilities

• Ensure successful delivery of space propulsion projects.
• Lead project teams and provide coaching.
• Manage stakeholder relationships and communication.

Skills

Project management skills

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Commercial acumen

Job description

Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), delivering high‑tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, and space infrastructure for more than 40 years. We specialise in orbital systems and propulsion, and offer employees opportunities to learn, develop and advance their careers.

What The Role Has To Offer

• An influential position leading a team to deliver on project commitments to time, quality and budget.
• Challenging and diverse work.
• Impact on financial results through team performance.
• Designing and executing strategy for two key propulsion product lines.

Primary Purpose of the Role

The purpose of this job is to ensure the successful development and delivery of one or more space propulsion projects. It requires excellent management of relationships with internal and external customers, advanced networking and influencing skills, and professional project management capabilities founded on significant experience of managing complex projects.

Principal Relationships

• Senior members of the Project Management community (portfolio, programme, project managers)
• Senior members of the Engineering team
• Finance
• Bid Managers
• Capture Lead/Sales
• Product Line Manager
• PCC Director and Industrial Manager
• Programme Management Office
• External stakeholders (customers, suppliers)
• Liaison with other business functions: Quality, Finance, Commercial, Legal, HR, IS/IT, Health & Safety

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• Undertake activities to ensure successful delivery of projects, including:
  • Deliver key results and performance metrics for projects (order intake, sales, gross margin, cash)
  • Lead the project team, provide tools, direct coaching and personal support
  • Create the initial Project Plan during the bid or "Demand" phase, covering requirement capture, work definition, estimating and scheduling with all milestones and resources
  • Apply Project Governance (Gate and Stage Processes) over bid and delivery activities to control risks
  • Publish business planning and reporting in accordance with directives: Monthly Project Reviews, Operational Management Meetings, On Time Delivery (OTD)
  • Drive Quality, Cost & Delivery performance with other functions
  • Balance competing priorities and manage stakeholders for real impact on delivery performance, ensuring strong communication
  • Ensure team members manage Risk and Opportunities and maintain a robust Project Management Plan
  • Maintain data integrity of all project information (financials and schedule) using Oracle and Primavera
  • Ensure compliance with Thales Chorus processes
  • Apply "Lessons Learned Management" to all projects, capturing and implementing lessons
  • Foster a continuous improvement culture, encouraging innovation and best practice implementation
• Travel to TAS/Thales sites, customers and suppliers in the UK and overseas.

Key Performance Indicators

• Achievement of Business Performance objectives, especially OTD, EBIT, Cash and Sales.

Skills

Essential

• Excellent, professional project management skills.
• Ability to manage and coach project teams.
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, written communication and report‑writing skills.
• Strong organisational, managerial and team‑working skills.
• Analytical skills for detailed cost variance investigation and financial reporting.
• Commercial, financial and business acumen.

Experience

Essential

• Extensive track record of delivering complex projects relevant to Thales.
• Experience in a complex, multidisciplinary, multi‑site organisation.
• Full business lifecycle management: capture, qualification, development of capture plans and winning strategies.
• Evidence of coaching and development of less‑experienced project managers.
• Extensive client and stakeholder management.
• Comprehensive understanding of generic scheduling techniques (WBS, OBS, milestones, dependencies, EVM).
• Experience with the Project Management process: Change Control, Risk Management, Information Management.
• Knowledge of the project life cycle for complex projects: Development, Implementation, Closure, Support.
• Experience across boundaries including commercial management, supply chain and finance functions.

Eligibility, Security & Clearance

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance, which may require further evidence. For further details, refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

Career Development & Inclusion

Thales UK is committed to an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment process. We provide reasonable adjustments and support for neuro‑diverse applicants, those with a disability or long‑term condition. To request an adjustment or an alternative format of the advert, contact Resourcing Ops (mid to senior roles) or the Early Careers Team (graduate and apprentice roles).

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