Project Manager
2 days ago
Colchester
Project Manager Department: DefenceLocation: Colchester A leading UK-based engineering and manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Project Manager to join its division. The business designs, tests, certifies, and manufactures advanced manufacturing solutions for a wide range of industrial and life-critical applications. The Role This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and results-driven Project Manager to play a key role in delivering complex, strategically important UK Defence contracts. The role sits within a dedicated and high-performing team focused on ensuring on-time, right-first-time project delivery. You will be accountable for the end-to-end execution of projects, including supporting bids for new opportunities. Success in this role will require close collaboration with a multifunctional organisation, strong customer and supplier engagement, and a proven ability to manage delivery against cost, quality, and schedule. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic self-starter, a strong team player, and a confident communicator with the drive to deliver positive change. Regular travel within the UK will be required. Key Responsibilities • Act as the primary point of contact for key customers, building and maintaining strong, effective working relationships, • Lead commercial and technical discussions with customers and internal stakeholders, • Review, interpret, and manage complex contracts, statements of work, and commercial agreements, • Ensure projects comply with contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, and internal governance, • Align project execution with contract requirements and business objectives, • Define project scope, goals, deliverables, and success criteria in collaboration with senior stakeholders, • Develop and maintain detailed project plans, budgets, resource schedules, risk registers, and change logs, • Apply appropriate project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid) based on project context, • Lead cross-functional teams, manage dependencies, and resolve issues and conflicts, • Proactively manage risks, escalations, and strategic challenges, • Provide clear, accurate project status reporting to senior management and executive stakeholders, • Drive project reviews, post-implementation assessments, and lessons-learned activities, • Mentor and support junior Project Managers Essential Experience & Qualifications • Proven experience working within the Defence industry, • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline (Master’s degree preferred), • Minimum of 7 years’ project management experience, including at least 3 years in a senior role, • Demonstrable experience managing large, complex, multi-million-pound projects, • Strong track record of managing external customers, suppliers, and vendor contracts, • Experience working closely with legal and procurement teams on commercial agreements, • Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent), • Willingness to travel regularly across the UK