Senior Programmes Manager - MSO

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

25 days holiday

Pension scheme

Bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical option

Discounts

Parental leave

Wellbeing program

Job summary

McLaren Automotive seeks a Senior Programmes Manager to lead the Programme Management Office within McLaren Special Operations (MSO). You will ensure delivery of complex, low-volume projects with a quality-first approach across MSO and broader McLaren vehicle development programmes.

You’ll drive cross-functional collaboration, develop robust processes, manage risks, and mentor a high-performance team to achieve on-time delivery in a dynamic, high-precision environment.

Qualifications

• Experience managing niche vehicle (low-volume) projects.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong track record in delivering complex development programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Programme Management team to deliver MSO projects on time and to high standards.
• Implement and maintain robust programme management processes, tools and frameworks.
• Oversee planning, coordination and execution of multiple bespoke MSO projects.
• Manage programme risks, issues and mitigation strategies.
• Act as central liaison between MSO and other McLaren departments and stakeholders.

Skills

Automotive program management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality-focused delivery

Risk management

Job description

What to Expect

As Senior Programmes Manager, you will lead and manage the Programme Management Office within McLaren Special Operations (MSO). You will ensure the successful delivery of projects through a consistent, robust, and controlled approach.

This role is highly dynamic, requiring close interaction with every department within MSO and broader collaboration across McLaren Automotive. You will play a pivotal role in embedding MSO into McLaren’s vehicle development projects, operating at both strategic and tactical levels. With a strong focus on quality, you will champion a culture of excellence, driving a quality-first approach across all aspects of MSO’s operations and deliverables.

What You'll Do

Programme Management Leadership

• Lead and develop the Programme Management team to ensure the delivery of MSO projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.
• Implement and maintain robust programme management processes, tools, and frameworks.
• Ensure McLaren’s MDP-42 development process is used where appropriate, ensuring it is tailored and scaled for MSO projects.
• Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of multiple, concurrent bespoke projects.
• Manage programme risks, resolve issues, and implement mitigation strategies effectively.

Quality Assurance and Leadership

• Drive a culture of excellence across all MSO operations and deliverables.
• Conduct regular reviews and audits, ensuring compliance with internal and external standards..
• Act as the key advocate for quality across MSO and McLaren Automotive, influencing stakeholders to adopt quality-focused practices.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as a central point of coordination between MSO and other departments within McLaren Automotive.
• Ensure seamless integration of MSO deliverables into broader McLaren vehicle development programmes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and support.

Strategic Leadership

• Contribute to the strategic direction of MSO by identifying opportunities for continuous improvement in programme management and quality.
• Provide input into long-term planning, aligning MSO objectives with McLaren’s overall business goals.
• Work with the Product team to develop long term product road maps for MSO, focusing on growth and exceeding customer expectation
• Drive innovation in processes, tools, and methodologies to enhance MSO’s operational effectiveness.

Team Development

• Foster a high-performance culture within the Programme Management team.
• Mentor and develop team members, ensuring they have the skills, knowledge, and support to succeed.
• Promote a collaborative and inclusive working environment, empowering teams to excel.

Budgetary and Resource Management

• Set out the MSO Investment budget, working closely with the function groups and finance teams.
• Oversee the allocation and management of resources across MSO programmes
• Monitor programme budgets and ensure efficient use of resources to achieve objectives.
• Support the MSO Director in producing the annual business plan, identifying financial opportunities and risks.

Risk and Issue Management

• Identify, monitor, and mitigate risks across all MSO programmes and activities.
• Proactively address challenges, ensuring minimal disruption to project delivery.
• Foster a Lessons Learned approach across all MSO Programmes and teams.

What You'll Bring

• Experience of niche vehicle (low volume) projects
• Programme management within a product development function
• Leader of high performance cross functional teams
• Extensive experience of automotive design and development
• Sound business and commercial acumen
• Well organised and delivery focused – with demonstrable track record of on-time delivery in a high-pressure environment
• Proven problem solving and change management capability
• Knowledge of vehicle systems and design is highly desirable
• Excellent communicator with the ability to lead and motivate a small focused team and work cross functionally
• Adopts a creative & thoughtful approach to concept design and solving engineering problems with good attention to detail and an engaging mind, open to new problems outside their normal comfort zone
• Natural leader, able to take responsibility for delivery
• Able to build and maintain relationships at all levels, internally and externally
• Resilient, able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

What We'll Do for You

We offer a wide – ranging benefits package, which includes:

• Structured career development framework
• 25 days’ holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five days
• Enhanced company pension scheme
• Discretionary annual bonus award
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan
• Life assurance benefit
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• Generous parental leave policies
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice

Who Are We?

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.

It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks.

McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.