Programme Manager

Purpose

The Programme Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating all activities relating to assigned customer programmes from sales handover through to closure. The role leads the Integrated Project Team (IPT) and is accountable for programme performance, ensuring delivery, quality, cost and weight targets are achieved in accordance with contractual requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Management

• Manage programmes throughout the full product lifecycle, from sales handover to closure.
• Hold full budget responsibility, ensuring delivery, quality, cost and weight targets are met.
• Lead complex projects involving engineering development, certification testing, third-party interfaces, bespoke customer solutions and production delivery.
• Act as the primary customer contact throughout programme execution.

Customer & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as first point of contact for customer enquiries and programme-related communications.
• Lead customer meetings, project reviews and internal programme meetings.
• Coordinate resources required to support customer engagements and workshops.
• Ensure customer issues are reviewed, actioned and resolved in a timely manner.
• Escalate unresolved issues to senior management where necessary.
• Provide regular programme progress updates to customers and OEMs.

Planning & Delivery

• Develop and maintain programme plans to support contractual milestones and delivery dates.
• Define project scope, objectives and deliverables alongside stakeholders.
• Manage schedule changes and negotiate revised dates where required.
• Ensure technical data and programme deliverables are submitted on time.
• Maintain project schedules, milestones and internal gate reviews.
• Communicate programme status effectively across all stakeholders.

Change & Financial Management

• Manage programme scope and assess impact of proposed changes.
• Maintain project change logs and oversee customer and internal change proposals.
• Coordinate programme budgets and financial forecasting with finance partners.
• Ensure programme changes are processed and approved without impacting delivery.
• Support Change Board reviews and service bulletin activities.
• Monitor project financial performance and profitability.

Documentation & Risk Management

• Maintain all programme documentation, including:
  • Meeting minutes and action logs
  • Gateway reviews and checklists
  • Audit records
  • Change documentation
  • Milestone review packs
  • Concessions and commitment letters
• Maintain project risk registers and mitigation plans.
• Track actions, issues, owners and expected completion dates.

IPT Leadership

• Lead and coordinate Integrated Project Team (IPT) activities.
• Ensure project priorities, responsibilities and deadlines are clearly defined.
• Manage project dependencies, critical paths and resource requirements.
• Resolve team issues and conflicts, escalating where appropriate.
• Coordinate buyer-furnished equipment (BFE) activities and testing requirements.
• Ensure programme resources are available to achieve project objectives.

Programme Performance

• Act as programme lead for key reviews and milestones including ITCM, PDR, CDR and FAI activities.
• Drive closure of open actions from reviews and audits.
• Track programme performance against schedule, budget and quality targets.
• Monitor customer and OEM performance ratings and feedback.

Key Performance Measures

• Delivery of contractual milestones on time and in full.
• Cost performance against approved budgets.
• Quality and weight performance against programme targets.
• Achieving internal and external schedule commitments.
• Positive customer and OEM feedback and ratings.

Knowledge, Education & Experience

Experience

• Minimum 5 years' project or programme management experience.
• Experience managing project Profit & Loss (P&L).
• Aircraft interiors or aerospace experience desirable.

Education

• Degree in Engineering, Science, Business or a related discipline.
• Formal project management qualification desirable (APM PMQ, PRINCE2 Practitioner, Agile Practitioner or equivalent).

Skills & Competencies

• Strong customer relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing abilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and MS Project.
• Results-focused with a proven track record of delivering commitments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Able to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation and organisational skills.
• Self-motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision.

Other Requirements

• Travel between company sites and occasional international travel may be required.
• Candidates must meet applicable security, export control and personnel vetting requirements.

ACS (UK) Ltd is an equal opportunities employer.