Senior Project Manager

Saab UK; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense company in the UK is seeking a Senior Project Manager to oversee the delivery of mission-critical IT solutions. This role involves managing project teams for public safety organizations, ensuring timely and quality delivery. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in IT project management, particularly in Agile environments, and possesses strong stakeholder management skills. A degree and Prince 2 certification are preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience managing projects of 12-24 months in public sector.
• Understanding of the software development lifecycle.
• Prince 2 certified is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of software solutions.
• Manage internal delivery teams and resources.
• Handle project planning, monitoring, and reporting.
• Manage risks, issues, and finances within budget.

Skills

Experience of delivering IT/Software solution projects

Experience in an Agile environment

Excellent written and verbal communication

Strong customer-facing skills

Projects management under pressure

Education

Degree level or similar

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

Confluence

Jira

Job description

Introduction

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia's largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

What you will be part of

Explore a wealth of possibilities. Take on challenges, create smart inventions, and grow beyond. This is a place for curious minds, brave pioneers, and everyone in between. Together, we achieve the extraordinary, each bringing our unique perspectives. Your part matters.

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 26,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world.

Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

The Role

You will be part of the Public Safety and Security unit that develops, deploys and supports advanced software applications for mission‑critical control room solutions within police forces, fire services, airports, public transport, prisons and other civil security organisations. The business unit you will join primary operations from bases in Sweden, UK, US and Australia. You will be part of the UK team, reporting to the Head of Operations, Public Safety Solutions, UK.

The Senior Project Manager will lead the end‑to‑end delivery of complex software solutions for public sector organisations, specifically within policing, emergency services, and other public safety domains. This role ensures that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to the quality expectations required for mission‑critical environments. The post‑holder will work collaboratively with internal technical teams, external partners, and senior stakeholders across public safety domains, to ensure successful outcomes in line with regulatory, operational, and security requirements. Through working wider on the delivery Programme the Senior Project Manager should also be seeking out continuous improvements, improved collaboration opportunities and any Programme level Risks and Issues.

Key Responsibilities

• Project manage the delivery of Saab's mission‑critical IT solutions to our customers
• Manage internal delivery teams and resources assigned to the project
• Manage the Project delivery on time, within scope, budget and quality
• Project planning, monitoring and reporting
• Risk, issue and change management
• Finance management and tracking within agreed project budgets
• Project administration
• The Senior Project manager may work on multiple projects at once, stepping in to assist teams to keep projects on track for delivery
• The Senior Project manager will keep up with the wider delivery programme identifying any project Risks and Issues that need escalation
• The Senior Project manager will assist and provide technical management support to project teams
• The Senior Project Manager will interview and hire job candidates

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience of delivering IT/Software solution projects (Client, Server, SQL oriented solutions)
• Experience of working in an Agile environment with iterative development
• Experience in managing the full project delivery cycle of 12-24 month(s) duration ideally involving the configuration and installation of critical software solutions to the public sector.
• A good understanding of the software development lifecycle
• A good understanding of project finances and reporting
• Competent in the use of MS Project, MS Office, Confluence and Jira.
• Comfortable with management of senior stakeholder relationships and engagements
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong customer‑facing skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to work on multiple projects with minimal supervision
• Ideally candidates should be Prince 2 certified
• Senior Project Managers ideally should have awareness of Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) and processes that support Project Portfolio Management (PPM)
• Ideally educated to degree level or similar
• Candidates must hold a UK driving licence

As a National Security Vetting clearance is required for this role, applicants will be required to hold National Security Vetting clearance to SC level or have the ability to gain it.

By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview.