Senior Project Manager - National Security

Sanderson Government & Defence; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government & Defence in Central Manchester seeks a Senior Project Manager to deliver national security programmes. The role involves coordinating cross-functional teams, managing complex schedules, and ensuring safety, cost and quality commitments.

SAP usage and robust reporting are central to daily activities. You will experience a structured project lifecycle with rotation across the portfolio, excellent exposure to programme controls, and potential for career development.

Qualifications

• Experience in national security, defence or a highly regulated industry.
• Experience coordinating multiple projects to meet schedules, budgets and quality.
• Understanding of project lifecycle management and structured delivery frameworks.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, and SAP.
• Working towards or holding a recognised project management qualification such as PRINCE2, APM, IMA, or a relevant degree.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate activities through the full project lifecycle to meet safety, cost, quality and schedule requirements.
• Process orders via SAP and oversee end-to-end supply chain activities to meet targets.
• Plan and monitor contractual deliverables with stakeholders for timely execution.
• Identify schedule risks and implement corrective actions to maintain delivery.
• Produce performance reports and support review meetings with clear actions.

Skills

National security

Multiple projects coordination

Project lifecycle

Microsoft Office

PM qualification pursuit

Education

PRINCE2/APM/IMA qualification

Tools

SAP

Excel

Job description

Senior Project Manager (National Security)Location: Central Manchester - some travel to customer sites requiredSalary: c.£75,000 (DOE)

Who we're recruiting for:

Join a mission-aligned prime working on some of the UK's most important National Security programmes. You'll be part of a large, established organisation delivering technology-led solutions that keep the country safe. The business offers huge variety of work, with regular project rotation so you're never doing the same thing for long. Based in a central Manchester office, close to transport links.

Job description:

This is an opportunity to develop your project management knowledge while supporting delivery of complex national security programmes. Working within a structured project lifecycle, you'll coordinate activities across multiple teams, supply chain partners and stakeholders, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in line with quality, cost and schedule commitments. Using tools such as SAP and project performance reporting systems, you'll gain exposure to programme controls, contract delivery and business operations.Collaborating with project teams and senior stakeholders, you'll contribute to planning, risk mitigation, performance monitoring and continuous improvement. Whether managing a small project, coordinating a work package, or supporting larger programmes, this role offers strong development opportunities and regular exposure to new projects as you rotate across the portfolio.

Core duties:

• Coordinating project activities through the full lifecycle, ensuring delivery to safety, cost, quality and schedule requirements
• Processing orders through SAP and overseeing end-to-end supply chain activities to achieve contractual performance targets
• Planning and monitoring contractual deliverables, collaborating with stakeholders to ensure timely and cost-effective execution
• Identifying schedule risks, evaluating impacts and implementing corrective actions to maintain delivery performance
• Producing performance reports, coordinating stock requirements and facilitating customer and cross-functional review meetings with clear action tracking

Essential skills:

• Experience working within national security, defence or another highly regulated industry, operating within structured governance and compliance frameworks
• Experience coordinating multiple projects or work packages, delivering against agreed schedules, budgets and quality requirements
• Understanding of project lifecycle management and structured delivery frameworks within a project or programme environment
• Practical experience using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, alongside enterprise systems such as SAP
• Holds, or is working towards, a recognised project management qualification such as PRINCE2, APM, IMA, or a relevant degree

Clearance:

This role requires Enhanced Developed Vetting (eDV). Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain eDV clearance, which typically requires extended continuous UK residency (longer than standard DV) to allow for the depth of checks involved. Nationality and place of birth may also affect eligibility.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.