Project Manager

Project Manager

Department: Defence
Location: Colchester

A leading UK-based engineering and manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Project Manager to join its division.

The business designs, tests, certifies, and manufactures advanced manufacturing solutions for a wide range of industrial and life-critical applications.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and results-driven Project Manager to play a key role in delivering complex, strategically important UK Defence contracts. The role sits within a dedicated and high-performing team focused on ensuring on-time, right-first-time project delivery.

You will be accountable for the end-to-end execution of projects, including supporting bids for new opportunities. Success in this role will require close collaboration with a multifunctional organisation, strong customer and supplier engagement, and a proven ability to manage delivery against cost, quality, and schedule.

The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic self-starter, a strong team player, and a confident communicator with the drive to deliver positive change. Regular travel within the UK will be required.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary point of contact for key customers, building and maintaining strong, effective working relationships
• Lead commercial and technical discussions with customers and internal stakeholders
• Review, interpret, and manage complex contracts, statements of work, and commercial agreements
• Ensure projects comply with contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, and internal governance
• Align project execution with contract requirements and business objectives
• Define project scope, goals, deliverables, and success criteria in collaboration with senior stakeholders
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, budgets, resource schedules, risk registers, and change logs
• Apply appropriate project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid) based on project context
• Lead cross-functional teams, manage dependencies, and resolve issues and conflicts
• Proactively manage risks, escalations, and strategic challenges
• Provide clear, accurate project status reporting to senior management and executive stakeholders
• Drive project reviews, post-implementation assessments, and lessons-learned activities
• Mentor and support junior Project Managers
• Make decisions with financial, legal, and strategic impact

This role may evolve in line with business needs, market conditions, and project requirements.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Proven experience working within the Defence industry
• Bachelor''s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline (Master''s degree preferred)
• Minimum of 7 years'' project management experience, including at least 3 years in a senior role
• Demonstrable experience managing large, complex, multi-million-pound projects
• Strong track record of managing external customers, suppliers, and vendor contracts
• Experience working closely with legal and procurement teams on commercial agreements
• Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent)
• Willingness to travel regularly across the UK