Programme Manager

Role Purpose

The Programme Manager is responsible for the successful leadership, management and delivery of customer programmes from sales handover through to programme closure. The role holds full accountability for programme performance against contractual requirements, including schedule, cost, quality and weight targets.

Leading a cross-functional Integrated Project Team (IPT), the Programme Manager acts as the primary interface with customers, OEMs and integrators. The role requires the effective management of complex aerospace programmes encompassing engineering development, certification, production, third-party interfaces and customer-specific design solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Programme & Project Management

Manage assigned programmes throughout the full product lifecycle, from sales handover to programme closure.

Take ownership of programme delivery against agreed time, cost, quality and weight objectives.

Develop, maintain and manage integrated programme plans, schedules, milestones and deliverables.

Define programme scope, objectives, priorities and deliverables in collaboration with project teams, senior management and key stakeholders.

Identify and manage programme dependencies, critical paths, resource requirements and delivery risks.

Ensure contractual milestones and customer commitments are achieved on time and in full.

Coordinate internal programme gate reviews and ensure all required documentation, actions and approvals are completed.

Monitor overall programme performance and implement corrective actions where required.

Manage complex engineering development, certification activities, testing, third-party interfaces and customer-specific design requirements.

Support programmes through both design and development phases and into production.

Customer, OEM & Stakeholder Management

Act as the primary point of contact for programme-related communications with customers, OEMs and integrators.

Lead customer meetings, programme reviews, workshops and presentations.

Manage customer queries, issues and requests through to timely resolution.

Provide clear and timely responses to customer requirements and escalate issues where appropriate.

Negotiate programme dates, deliverables, priorities and scope changes with customers and internal stakeholders.

Provide regular and accurate programme status reports, maintaining visibility of programme performance.

Build and maintain strong customer relationships while ensuring contractual and commercial obligations are met.

Coordinate customer and OEM requirements, technical submissions and programme deliverables.

Scope, Change & Financial Management

Manage programme scope and assess the impact of proposed changes on cost, schedule, resources, risk and deliverables.

Maintain accurate programme change logs and associated documentation.

Manage Master Change Proposals (MCPs) and Customer Change Proposals (CCPs) through the required approval processes.

Coordinate programme budget changes with Finance and Business Partners.

Monitor and track programme financial performance, costs and budget against approved plans.

Ensure change proposals progress efficiently through internal and customer approval processes.

Present significant changes to Change Boards and communicate approved changes to relevant stakeholders.

Coordinate service bulletins and associated programme activities where required.

Manage programme Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibility where applicable.

Programme Documentation & Risk Management

Maintain accurate programme documentation, records and audit files.

Manage programme action trackers, ensuring actions have clearly defined owners and completion dates.

Prepare and maintain meeting agendas, minutes, milestone documentation and programme gateway checklists.

Maintain MCP and CCP records, including supporting analysis and impact assessments.

Manage concessions and commitment letters through relevant OEM product support processes.

Develop, maintain and regularly review the programme risk register.

Ensure appropriate mitigation and contingency plans are established for key programme risks.

Monitor open issues, risks and actions to ensure timely resolution.

Provide regular programme progress and performance reports to internal and external stakeholders.

Integrated Project Team (IPT) Leadership

Lead and coordinate cross-functional Integrated Project Teams to achieve programme objectives.

Chair programme meetings and ensure actions, responsibilities and priorities are clearly communicated.

Establish accountability and ownership across the programme team.

Identify and resolve programme team issues and conflicts, escalating where necessary.

Estimate programme resource requirements and negotiate support with functional managers.

Manage programme dependencies and maintain focus on critical path activities.

Agree and maintain OEM submission requirements and delivery dates.

Ensure IPT members understand programme priorities, commitments and customer expectations.

Supervise Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) activities, ensuring orders are placed and received in line with CDR, testing and production requirements.

Ensure IFE test equipment is appropriately configured, loaded with the correct software version and fully functional for system testing.

Programme Performance & Milestones

Act as the primary programme focal point for key milestones and technical reviews, including ITCM, PDR, CDR and FAI.

* Coordinate and manage FAI open items through to successful closure.

* Monitor programme performance against contractual and internal targets, including:

* On-time delivery

* Cost and budget performance

* Quality performance

* Weight targets

* Customer and OEM satisfaction

* Monitor OEM performance ratings and customer feedback.

* Establish appropriate programme reporting requirements and analyse performance data.

* Identify areas of concern and coordinate effective corrective actions with IPT members and stakeholders.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

* Minimum of 5 years' experience in programme management, project management or a related discipline.

* Proven experience managing complex projects or programmes from initiation through to completion.

* Demonstrable experience managing programme budgets and financial performance.

* Strong customer, stakeholder and relationship management experience.

* Proven experience leading and coordinating cross-functional project teams.

* Experience managing project schedules, risks, changes, resources and deliverables.

* Strong negotiation, communication and problem-solving skills.

* Excellent organisational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

* Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Microsoft Project.

* A results-oriented approach with a proven track record of delivering commitments.

Desirable Experience & Qualifications

* Experience within the aerospace, aviation or aircraft interiors industry.

* Experience managing engineering development and certification programmes.

* Experience working with OEMs, aircraft integrators and major international customers.

* Degree in Engineering, Science, Business Management or a related discipline.

* Formal project or programme management qualification, such as:

* APM PMQ

* PRINCE2 Practitioner

* Agile Practitioner

* Equivalent recognised project/programme management qualificationt