Senior Project Manager - Aerospace & Defence

Akkodis; West of England; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A Senior Project Manager role at Akkodis Consulting’s Aerospace & Defence Business Unit. You will lead complex work packages and programmes, ensuring delivery on time and to budget, while guiding multi-disciplinary teams and reporting clearly to stakeholders.

You will collaborate with Programme Managers, technical leads, and PMO, applying structured PM practices and driving continuous improvement across delivery teams.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership, problem solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong commercial and financial management capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex projects and programmes through the full lifecycle, from initiation to closure.
• Serve as the primary contact for senior client stakeholders, maintaining relationships and reporting on progress and risks.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, schedules, budgets, and financial performance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Problem solving

Decision making

Financial management

Project management tools

Structured methodologies

Education

Prince2 / APM / PMP

Job description

Akkodis is a global leader in engineering, technology, and R&D, harnessing the power of connected data to drive digital transformation and innovation for a smarter, more sustainable future. As part of the Adecco Group, Akkodis combines the expertise of AKKA and Modis, with over 50,000 engineers and digital specialists across 30 countries in North America, EMEA, and APAC. Our teams bring extensive cross-sector knowledge in critical technology areas such as mobility, software services, robotics, simulations, cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics, enabling clients to tackle complex challenges in today’s rapidly evolving markets.

With a comprehensive solution portfolio across four service lines—Consulting, Solutions, Talents, and Academy—Akkodis supports clients from concept through to full-scale deployment and optimisation. Our diverse offerings help organisations rethink product development, accelerate productivity, reduce time-to-market, and prepare for the future. At Akkodis, you’ll join a dynamic environment that values continuous learning and global collaboration, where you can make a meaningful impact through innovative projects that shape the future of technology.

Scope

The Project Management function at Akkodis Consulting provides delivery leadership across IT, Digital, Engineering, and Aerospace & Defence.

Our Project Managers oversee initiatives ranging from discrete work packages to complex, multi-stream programmes, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to the required quality while maintaining strong client and stakeholder relationships.

As a team, we:

• Lead and support projects of varying scale and complexity, coordinating across multiple workstreams to ensure alignment and successful programme outcomes.
• Partner with Programme Managers, Business Managers, and senior stakeholders to manage schedules, resources, risks, and dependencies effectively.
• Apply structured project management practices with a focus on clear communication, proactive problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
• Balance delivery discipline with adaptability, fostering trusted client relationships and ensuring business objectives are met.

With a tiered structure (Junior, Project Manager and Senior), the function provides both delivery execution and programme-level coordination, enabling consistently successful outcomes across all client sectors.

Role

As a Senior Project Manager in Akkodis Consulting’s Aerospace & Defence Business Unit, you will lead the delivery of complex work packages and programmes, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to quality standards. You will work closely with Programme Managers, technical leads, and stakeholders to manage resources, risks, and dependencies while providing clear client reporting on progress and issues. This role combines strong project management discipline with a consulting mindset, acting as a trusted partner to clients and guiding multi-disciplinary teams to successful outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex projects and programmes through the full lifecycle, from initiation to closure, ensuring delivery to time, cost, and quality targets.
• Serve as the primary contact for senior client stakeholders, maintaining strong relationships and providing clear, balanced reporting on progress, risks, and issues.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, schedules, budgets, and financial performance, including resource and timesheet approvals.
• Drive risk management, issue resolution, and scope/change control, using root cause analysis and corrective actions where needed.
• Partner with Programme Managers, technical leads, and PMO teams to align delivery and share best practices.
• Promote continuous improvement in project management processes and support the development of junior team members.

Required Experience

• Typically, 6+ years in project management, with significant experience delivering complex engineering, software, or consulting projects in aerospace and defence.
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple work packages, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong client-facing experience, able to manage both positive and challenging feedback constructively.
• Skilled in both Agile and Waterfall delivery environments.

Required Skills

• Proven leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong commercial and financial management capability.
• Proficiency in project management tools and structured methodologies.

Required Education

• A recognised project management certification (e.g., Prince2, APM, PMP) is preferred.
• Good understanding of structured and adaptive delivery frameworks.