Lead Strategic Customer Project. Drive Operational Excellence. Shape the Future.
Are you a former military leader who has successfully transitioned into industry and now wants to take on a senior role with greater influence, responsibility and strategic impact?
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS RECRUITMENT CONSULTANCY, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EX MILITARY.
Our client is a growing advanced engineering and manufacturing business delivering complex solutions into demanding sectors including defence, aerospace, communications and high-technology industries. With ambitious plans to double the size of the business over the next two years, they are investing heavily in operational excellence, digital transformation and the integration of AI-driven technologies to enhance performance and scalability.
As Senior Project Manager, you will play a critical role in ensuring the successful delivery of key customer projects while acting as the bridge between customers, commercial teams and operational delivery functions.
Reporting directly to the Project Director and leading one direct report, this role offers the opportunity to influence business performance, shape future operating models and become a key member of the leadership team during a significant growth phase.
The Role
This is a highly visible, customer-facing leadership position responsible for managing complex projects from contract award through delivery.
Success in the role will depend upon your ability to build trusted relationships, establish robust governance, manage commercial and contractual commitments, and ensure delivery remains aligned to operational capability.
Working across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial and Sales functions, you will provide the leadership and structure required to deliver customer commitments while driving continuous improvement throughout the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead complex customer projects and contracts from initiation through delivery.
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with customers and key stakeholders.
- Act as the primary customer interface for project performance, delivery and contractual matters.
- Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, governance frameworks and reporting structures.
- Manage project risks, issues, dependencies and change control processes.
- Ensure customer commitments are aligned with manufacturing capacity, supply chain capability and operational priorities.
- Drive performance through effective use of ERP, CRM and project management tools.
- Produce clear management information, dashboards and delivery metrics for senior leadership.
- Support strategic business initiatives, including operational transformation and AI integration projects.
- Lead and develop one direct report while influencing cross-functional teams across the wider organisation.
- Contribute to the development of scalable processes and governance structures to support rapid company growth.
What They are Looking For
You'll bring a combination of operational leadership, stakeholder management and project delivery expertise gained within technically complex environments.
Essential Experience
- Senior Project Manager, Project Manager or Contract Manager experience.
- Strong customer-facing relationship management skills.
- Delivery of complex engineering, manufacturing or supply-chain-dependent project.
- Experience managing commercial and contractual obligations.
- Advanced project planning, governance, risk management and change control expertise.
- Experience working within ERP/MRP-driven organisations and live manufacturing environments.
- Ability to influence and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience producing management reporting, dashboards and performance metrics.
- Strong commercial awareness and decision-making capability.
- Candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).
Desirable Experience
- Defence, aerospace, electronics, RF communications, systems integration or advanced engineering sectors.
- Experience within a growing SME environment.
- Knowledge of finite capacity planning, MRP and supply-chain-driven delivery models.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience.
- Power BI, Power Automate or similar reporting and automation tools.
- Experience leading operational reviews, daily management or Obeya-style governance forums.
- Project Management qualifications such as APM PMQ, APMP, PMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent.
Why Join my client?
- Salary up to £90,000.
- Key leadership role reporting directly to the Project Director.
- Opportunity to influence company strategy during a period of significant growth.
- Direct involvement in AI-enabled transformation initiatives.
- High levels of autonomy, ownership and visibility.
- Work with major customers in technically demanding sectors.
- Join a business that values leadership, accountability, delivery excellence and continuous improvement.
- Excellent opportunity for ambitious leaders seeking a pathway into broader operational or project leadership roles.
Why this role is ideal for Former Military Leaders
This role will particularly suit individuals who have already completed their military-to-civilian transition and are now looking to leverage their leadership, stakeholder management, governance and project delivery experience in a senior commercial environment.
If you thrive on building trusted relationships, delivering complex projects and driving operational performance, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact within a business entering an exciting phase of growth and transformation.
For more information, please contact Jean-Claude Hedouin at Ex-Mil Recruitment Ltd on (phone number removed)
Salary description
£88000.00 - £90000.00 per year