Head of Project Management - Weever

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Location: Crawley – Hyrid role with 3 days a week in the office (with occasional travel to Prime (Glasgow)/BL (France) & Customer/Supplier facilities)

Do you have experience of managing the effective delivery of complex projects/programme and would like to join ISR to lead their most exciting and critical programme? Do you have a passion for driving innovative solutions within electronic warfare?

What the role has to offer:

• Opportunity to work within a growing business line particularly within electronic warfare

• Exposure to an extensive network of key stakeholders and the opportunity for professional development/career progression

• Opportunity to help to get involved in continuous improvement and looking at new ways of working

• This role is a key succession position and an excellent development opportunity for future senior programme leadership.

What we offer you?

We offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes;

• Performance Related Bonus

• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm

• Pension Scheme

• 28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays) 

• Life Cover

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers

• Gym membership discounts

• Career Development

Our Opportunity

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Head of Projects to join our Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) team in Crawley, who provide world leading capabilities for Un-Crewed Air Systems (UAS), Radar Product Support (RPS) and Electronic Warfare (EW) for UK, France and Export markets.

You will be responsible for the successful delivery of a large, complex programme. The role requires a hands-on leader with experience in managing multi-disciplinary, high profile, design and development, programmes with an ability to oversee the Programme Managers (PMs) and Engineering Delivery Managers (EDMs) that manage the key phases on the programme.

You will champion delivery performance, project controls, the importance of financial predictability, align stakeholder engagement, and is a key successor for future programme leadership roles.

Some of the Key Areas of Responsibilities

• Programme Leadership:

• Project Controls & Metrics:

• Financial Management:

• Stakeholder Management:

• Team Development & Motivation:

• Risk & Issue Management:

About You

You will have significant recent experience delivering large-scale, complex, defence or engineering programmes, preferably with a naval or electronic warfare focus together with the following:-

• Demonstrable leadership in programme/project environments, with practical oversight of project controls, scheduling, and financial management.

• Proven success motivating, inspiring, and developing high-performing teams.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills; able to engage credibly at senior management, partner, and customer levels, both UK and international.

• Skilled in stakeholder management and building effective working relationships.

• Highly analytical, ability to absorb and analyse detail, with a pragmatic approach to problem solving.

• Ability to balance strategic priorities with operational/tactical programme needs

Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR)

From smart sensors (Electronic Warfare & Surveillance radars), to integrated collaborative mission systems for manned, unmanned and digital platforms, we enable the gathering, processing and interpretation of a vast range of critical information – sovereign, structured and open-source – the information which is trusted and used at the highest levels to help nations make the right decisions at the right time, and achieve the right outcomes.

Security Clearance statement   - Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions.  This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.  Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years.  In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

#LI-ST1

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!