Senior Programme Manager Aircraft Modifications

Draken; England; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension match

Bonus incentives

Electric car scheme

Tech vouchers

Wellbeing programmes

Discounted PMI

Job summary

Draken is seeking a Senior Programme Manager Aircraft Modification to lead a major modification programme, reporting to the VP Programmes, and guiding a multi-disciplinary team to deliver on time, budget and quality.

You will apply deep aviation engineering knowledge, including Part 21J, CAMO and Part 145, with strong commercial sense, stakeholder engagement and contract management across the programme.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience delivering complex programmes.
• Strong commercial acumen and programme governance.
• Experience with cross-functional IPTs and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the programme to agreed time, cost and quality.
• Direct planning and estimation of milestones.
• Manage cross-functional IPT and supplier resources.
• Establish transparent programme management processes.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Programme management

Aviation engineering

Contract management

Tools

MS Project

Project Web App

Microsoft 365

Job description

The Role

Location: To be confirmed

Hours and contract type: To be confirmed

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.

The Role

As Senior Programme Manager Aircraft Modification, you’ll be accountable for the successful delivery of a significant aircraft modification programme. Reporting to the VP Programmes, you’ll provide leadership, management and direction to a multi-disciplinary delivery team, ensuring the programme is completed within agreed time, budget and quality parameters.

This senior leadership role requires a strongly results-focused approach, well-developed commercial acumen and extensive experience of leading complex programmes. You’ll draw on a deep understanding of aviation engineering, including Part 21J, CAMO and Part 145 processes, alongside contract management, supplier relationships and finance, to influence decisions and align stakeholders across the programme.

The role has no direct reports or dotted-line manager; the dotted-line reporting arrangement is with the VP Engineering.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Delivery & Planning

• Deliver the programme to agreed time, cost and quality parameters
• Direct the organisation, planning and estimating of short, medium and long-term milestones using Draken frameworks and ways of working
• Maintain a coherent, integrated programme plan and direct resources to meet delivery priorities
• Adjust plans, priorities and timelines as required, working with sponsors, stakeholders and suppliers to remove barriers to progress
• Manage and motivate the cross-functional Integrated Programme Team (IPT), directing and coaching team members and supplier resources
• Establish open and transparent ways of working, tailoring programme management processes and tools to the needs of the programme and IPT
• Build a collaborative one-team ethos, engaging people across the business and suppliers to achieve programme goals and milestones
• Manage relationships with key supplier personnel and sustain positive working relationships across stakeholder teams
• Lead and role model effective, open communication throughout the IPT and with stakeholders
• Help sponsors and stakeholders understand and fulfil their roles in successful programme delivery
• Manage expectations across all parties and support the wider business to contribute effectively to the programme

Risk, Change & Governance

• Risk assessment, impact analysis and mitigation
• Issues management and resolution
• Change control and management of programme priorities
• Performance management, progress tracking and variance reporting
• Ensure the team can report on and govern its outputs effectively, providing assurance to stakeholders and sponsors
• Drive a high-performance and continuous improvement culture throughout the programme
• Identify, evaluate and implement opportunities that deliver further benefit to the programme
• Continuously assess and improve the effectiveness of programme processes and ways of working
• Share good practice and expertise across teams, encouraging ownership of improvement ideas and beneficial change
• Extensive experience of using programme management techniques to lead and direct complex programmes.
• Deep understanding of aviation engineering, including Part 21J, CAMO and Part 145 processes.
• Well-developed commercial acumen and understanding of contract management, supplier relationship management and finance.
• Ability to direct, lead and coach multi-disciplinary teams, individuals and supplier resources in a complex programme environment.
• Proficiency in MS Project, Project Web App and Microsoft 365.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to present sound, well-reasoned arguments using a variety of methods.
• Collaborative leadership and relationship-building skills, creating an open environment across the business and suppliers.
• Effective planning, organisation and prioritisation, with the ability to adapt plans and resources to changing programme needs.
• A proactive, strongly results-focused approach to risk, issues and opportunities, supported by rigorous assessment and analysis.
• Ability to engage stakeholders, manage expectations and respect differing needs and values across teams.
• A service delivery mindset, with a commitment to knowledge sharing, continuous improvement and supporting the wider business.

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.

About Us

Whether it is adversarial support, electronic attack or customised rotary-wing training, we offer the most accurate and advanced readiness training in the industry. Our vast, differentiated fleet, cutting edge hardware and experienced instructors are engaged to help your mission take off.

Being ready is not only a matter of when. But where. We provide services in the UK, US and across the NATO countries. Making sure that our allies can manoeuvre around defeat and prepare to prevail.