Head of ATM Capability Refresh (IPT)

Fortress Recruit is working with a leading defence services organisation to appoint a Head of ATM Capability Refresh (IPT) to be based from their site near Portsmouth.
This is a senior leadership role responsible for leading a portfolio of infrastructure refresh, sustainment and capability improvement programmes supporting critical Air Traffic Management services within a complex defence environment. This role will take ownership of a growing portfolio of programmes, ensuring investment is prioritised effectively, operational risk is managed and capability improvements continue to support customer requirements.
This is not a highly technical engineering role. The focus is on programme leadership, governance, customer engagement and building a mature refresh function capable of delivering long-term value and operational resilience.
Key responsibilities include:
* Leading a portfolio of infrastructure refresh, sustainment and capability enhancement programmes
* Developing and validating long-term refresh and investment plans aligned to operational priorities
* Leading and developing a multidisciplinary Integrated Project Team
* Managing programme governance, risk, planning and delivery performance
* Working closely with engineering, service delivery and technical specialists to prioritise refresh activity
* Building strong relationships with defence stakeholders and customer delivery teams
* Developing business cases and investment proposals to support future capability improvements
* Driving continuous improvement across portfolio delivery, reporting and team performance
* Balancing operational risk, service sustainment and future capability requirements
* Supporting the identification of growth opportunities linked to infrastructure and capability enhancement activities
To be considered for this role, you'll have:
* Significant experience leading complex programmes, portfolios or major infrastructure initiatives
* Proven leadership experience within defence, aerospace, aviation or critical infrastructure environments
* Strong programme governance, stakeholder management and delivery capability
* Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and driving performance across multiple workstreams
* Demonstrable experience developing business cases, investment plans and strategic delivery roadmaps
* Strong customer engagement skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
* A collaborative leadership style capable of building effective cross-functional teams
* Degree qualified or equivalent professional experience
* Programme or portfolio management qualifications such as MSP, APM or similar would be advantageous
This is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of a strategically important function at a pivotal stage of its development. The role offers significant visibility across the organisation and the opportunity to influence long-term capability, investment and operational strategy within a critical defence environment.
On offer is a competitive salary, car allowance, bonus and benefits package. This role is based near Portsmouth with travel to customer sites, MOD bases and occasional international locations as required. Eligibility for Security Clearance is essential (5 years' UK residency without visa or sponsorship requirement).
For a confidential conversation or to request a full job description, please send your full CV or call Becki directly.
Other job titles could include: Head of Infrastructure and Capability Refresh, Head of ATM Capability Delivery, Head of ATM Capability Refresh, Head of Portfolio Delivery, Head of Programme Management, Head of Refresh Delivery, Head of Technical Programmes, Head of Service Refresh