Senior Project Manager – National Security & Defence

Forward Role; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

DV bonus

Excellent benefits

Job summary

Forward Role is helping a leading consultancy recruit a Senior Project Manager to drive a high-profile national security and defence programme. Location options include London, Cheltenham or Manchester with hybrid working; active eDV clearance is required.

The role oversees end-to-end delivery of complex technical projects, leading delivery teams, stakeholders, and governance with a focus on outcomes for Central Government and Defence.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering technical projects in government or similar agencies.
• Projects managed up to £5m in value.
• Strong agile principles understanding.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution skills.
• Security clearance at high level (eDV preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery with alignment to client objectives, timelines and budgets.
• Collaborate with clients to translate requirements into delivery plans.
• Support on bids and proposals and provide governance oversight.
• Manage governance, risk and reporting for timely issue resolution.
• Engage with customers and partners as the primary delivery contact.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Delivery leadership

Agile delivery

Risk management

Budget & forecasting

Team leadership

Education

PRINCE2 / PMP / Agile PM certification

Job description

Senior Project Manager – National Security & Defence

We are working with a leading consultancy who are looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager to join their team on a high-profile government programme. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of large, complex technical projects and play a key role in driving outcomes across Central Government and Defence.

Location: London, Cheltenham or Manchester (Hybrid Working)
Clearance Required: eDV clearance

Salary – £75,000 -£90,000 + DV bonus + excellent benefits

The Role

As a Senior Project Manager, you’ll be responsible for ensuring successful project delivery from end to end. You’ll lead teams, manage stakeholders, and adapt delivery methods to fit the needs of fast-moving and high-impact technology projects.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead end-to-end project delivery, ensuring alignment with client objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Work directly with clients to understand their requirements and turn them into delivery plans.
• Provide project planning and support on activities including bids and proposals
• Manage project governance, reporting, and risk management activities, ensuring robust decision-making and timely issue resolution
• Managing customer and partner relationships, acting as a key point of engagement.
• Applying agile and scaled agile practices, alongside traditional project management methods.
• Providing strong leadership and direction to delivery teams.

Essential experience:

• Background in delivering technical projects within government agencies or similar organisations.
• Extensive experience in managing projects that range from conceptual research through to sub-system development, delivery, and support of programmes up to £5m.
• Strong understanding of agile principles.
• Previous experience of working within multi-disciplined projects
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution skills.
• Commercial awareness across budgets, risk management, and forecasting.
• Ability to build, lead, and motivate high-performing delivery teams.
• You will ideally hold a recognised project management qualification such as PRINCE2, PMP, or Agile PM.

Due to the nature of the client’s work, you are required to hold a high level of security clearance