Portfolio Manager

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to join our Technology Delivery Team (TDT) within a high-profile technology innovation programme. This is a significant growth area within the business, focused on delivering cutting-edge technologies through the scale-up journey from research and development into production readiness.

Reporting directly to the Programme Manager, you will lead the delivery of major work packages, providing the governance, planning and project management discipline required to successfully execute complex and innovative programmes. Working closely with engineering and technical teams, you will drive delivery through a structured, adaptable and customer-focused approach, ensuring successful management of scope, schedule, budget and risk.

This role is ideal for a project management professional who thrives in complex, fast-paced technical environments and enjoys bringing structure and rigour to emerging technologies and scale-up programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the operational bridge between technical delivery teams and programme leadership, ensuring effective project control and governance.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, schedules and delivery milestones.
• Manage programme scope, budget, schedule and change control activities.
• Monitor progress against agreed deliverables and take proactive action to maintain programme momentum.
• Establish and embed robust programme management processes, standards and documentation.
• Drive risk, opportunity, assumption and dependency management activities across the programme.
• Identify and implement mitigation plans to address delivery risks and challenges.
• Produce clear and concise reports, highlighting programme performance, threats, opportunities and key decisions.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement and build trusted relationships across engineering, operations, customers and suppliers.
• Lead action management activities and ensure issues are resolved effectively and in a timely manner.
• Support governance reviews and ensure compliance with organisational and programme requirements.
• Contribute to the successful scale-up of innovative technologies into production-ready capabilities.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience managing complex, multidisciplinary projects or programmes.
• Strong understanding of project controls, including planning, scheduling, budgeting and reporting.
• Experience within regulated, safety-critical, engineering or defence environments.
• Demonstrable experience managing programme risks, opportunities and dependencies.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, evolving or technically complex environments.
• Experience working with cross-functional stakeholders and technical teams.

Desirable

• Understanding of technology development, manufacturing scale-up and production readiness processes.
• Knowledge of defence research and development programmes.
• Experience using SAP or similar enterprise management systems.
• Experience using project planning and risk management tools such as Microsoft Project and Predict!.
• Exposure to energetics, munitions, explosive licensing or related technologies.

Skills

• Excellent project and programme management capability.
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• Highly analytical with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear and effective communication.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making capability.
• Proven ability to drive delivery and maintain focus on programme objectives.
• Strong risk management and mitigation planning skills.