Senior Programme Manager - Sc Cleared, Defence

Experis (Austria); Farnborough; On-site; GBP 138,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

Experis (Austria) is recruiting a Senior Programme Manager for a Defence project in Farnborough. The role requires leading complex programmes, ensuring delivery on time, within scope and budget, while embedding health and safety practices and security requirements.

You will manage budgets, risks and stakeholder engagement across multi-disciplinary teams, driving governance and successful outcomes for the customer. This is a 3-month contract with a day rate of £750–£800 via umbrella agency.

Qualifications

• APM PMQ, ChPP, PMI PgMP or AIPM CPPD or equivalent certification.
• Senior programme management experience with enterprise-scale delivery.
• Expert knowledge of programme management lifecycles and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-value programmes, ensuring delivery against scope, timelines, budget and benefits.
• Coordinate interdependencies and resources; drive delivery milestones and reviews.
• Manage budgets, costs, revenue and cash; oversee contractual obligations and changes.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation; lead recovery planning where needed.
• Engage stakeholders and customers with clear communication and alignment on outcomes.

Skills

Programme leadership

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

MSP/PMQ/CPPD certifications

Project management tools

Tools

Microsoft Project

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Location: Farnborough Job Type: Contract Industry: Business Transformation

The location of the role is Farnborough.
The duration of the contract is 3 months.
The pay rate is £750 - £800 per day (via Umbrella agency).

Role Summary

Fully responsible and accountable to understand and deliver the project/programme vision, objectives and benefits. Lead and motivate Project Managers within the programme to ensure they are embedding health and safety and providing safe practices of work. Ensuring teams are collaborating effectively and working towards the same goal to deliver the outputs and/or outcomes delivering on time, within scope and budget, also adhering to all security requirements. Accountable for overall project/programme performance throughout the lifecycle, including baseline management and delivering within budget ensuring the relevant governance and assurance is undertaken (in line with the BMS and PLF) to deliver successfully to our customers.

Key accountabilities of the role

• Programme Leadership & Delivery: Lead complex, high-value programmes, taking accountability for delivery against agreed scope, quality, timelines, budget and benefits. Develop and maintain programme management plans, resource strategies and integrated delivery schedules.
• Planning & Performance Management: Coordinate project interdependencies, resource capacity and delivery milestones. Monitor programme performance through reporting and reviews, challenge and support Project Managers, and drive continuous improvement.
• Financial & Commercial Management: Manage budgets, costs, revenue, profit and cash collection. Work closely with Finance and Commercial teams to manage contractual obligations, control scope changes, mitigate financial risks and identify opportunities for growth.
• Risk, Issue & Recovery Management: Identify and manage programme-level risks, issues, threats and opportunities. Implement appropriate mitigation strategies, elevate concerns where necessary and lead recovery planning for programmes requiring intervention.
• Stakeholder & Customer Engagement: Build strong relationships with customers, partners and internal stakeholders, ensuring effective communication, alignment on expectations and delivery of agreed outcomes and benefits.
• Governance, Assurance & Quality: Ensure programmes comply with contractual requirements, internal processes, quality standards and relevant regulations. Lead programme reviews, provide delivery assurance and support governance and decision-making processes.
• Requirements & Change Management: Translate stakeholder needs into clear programme requirements and benefits, managing changes to scope and ensuring continued alignment with customer and business objectives.
• Business Development: Strengthen customer relationships to identify opportunities for additional work, contract growth and new business, ensuring opportunities are aligned with wider strategic objectives.
• Leadership & Continuous Improvement: Provide visible, accountable leadership, setting high standards for delivery, collaboration and team performance. Drive change, promote a high-performance culture and take ownership of programme outcomes.

Key skills and experience

• APM PMQ, ChPP, PMI PgMP or AIPM CPPD, Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Foundation & Practitioner or demonstrate working towards equivalent certification from accredited body.
• Recognised expert in job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience. Called on by senior leaders for advice and guidance across the business.
• Applies detailed/in-depth knowledge of programme management, understanding the full project lifecycle.
• Plans and manages programmes and/or processes, working independently with no supervision. Providing guidance and advice to others.
• Problems faced are difficult and complex. Strong analytical and problem-solving attributes.
• Has detailed/in-depth knowledge of lifecycles and recognised as an expert.
• Has typical +10 years' experience of working within project teams and leading programmes.
• Implementing and refining strategies and plans within their area of focus independently whilst collaborating with other relevant stakeholders.
• Actively engages with development of new processes, standards or plans that will impact on the achievement of functional results.
• Coaching, reviewing and delegating work to lower-level professionals. Mentors' community, supervises and functionally manages lower-level professionals.
• Has extensive experience of using project management tools such as Microsoft Project, SAP and/or Oracle.
• Very strong time management and organisational skills.
• Thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced and goal driven environment.

Senior Programme Manager - SC cleared, Defence Farnborough