Senior Project Manager / Lead

Senior Project Manager / Lead
Location: Chelmsford

Please note:-Due to the nature of certain projects, applicants must be UK Nationals and eligible for, or already holding, security clearance.

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Senior Project Manager / Lead to take ownership of delivering strategic R&D and customer-funded projects. This role combines hands-on programme leadership with strategic oversight, ensuring successful outcomes that align with customer expectations, commercial goals, and organisational priorities.

You will lead a team of Project Managers, working across a matrixed environment with senior stakeholders, engineering teams, and commercial functions to enable high-quality delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and guide a team of Project Managers, fostering a high-performance, delivery-focused culture.

• Manage complex, cross-functional R&D and product-based projects, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

• Collaborate with engineering leadership to align project plans, resources, and milestones.

• Build and maintain strong customer and stakeholder relationships, ensuring clear communication of goals, risks, and progress.

• Champion project management best practices, governance, and tools across the portfolio.

• Develop and maintain project schedules using Microsoft Project, with reporting through Project Server and other PM tools.

• Coordinate timely Phase Gate Reviews and manage project scope, risks, and dependencies.

• Monitor budgets and financial performance, working with Finance to analyse forecasts and cost exposure.

• Present dashboards and performance updates to the Senior Leadership Team.

• Support sales and business development by contributing to bids and proposals.

Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience managing engineering projects through the full lifecycle, ideally with a focus on new product development.

• Proven ability to energise teams to meet demanding timescales.

• Strong customer management skills, with the ability to balance expectations and avoid scope creep.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills across all levels.

• Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgement on when to escalate issues.

• Proficiency in project management tools such as MS Project and Project Server (or equivalent).

• Working knowledge of SAP is an advantage.

• Knowledge and qualification in recognised methodologies (APM Body of Knowledge, PRINCE2, PMP, or similar).