Senior Project Manager - Defence
Woods Air Movement
Date: 7 hours ago
City: Colchester, England
Contract type: Full time
Job Title: Senior Project Manager
Department: Defence
Location: Colchester
Woods Air Movement specialises in the design, test, certification and manufacture of axial fans for a wide range of industrial and life applications.
Woods Air Movement has one of the largest certified axial ranges in the world. Our approach is based on offering high levels of customisation across our range of products and services to create maximum value for our customers and end users.
Main Purpose of Role
Woods Air Movement have an exciting new opportunity to recruit a motivated and experienced and results-driven Senior Project Manager to ensure on-time, right-first-time deliveries. This role is part of a key pillar of the business in a dedicated and motivated team to deliver into strategic UK contracts.
The Senior Project Manager will be accountable for the execution of the project lifecycle and will include bidding new opportunities. The candidate will need to be able to demonstrate an ability to work with our multifunctional organisation, on critical projects and to drive improvement and efficiency throughout the business.
The candidate should show requires a high level of commercial experience in dealing with customer and suppliers and managing on time delivery to the highest quality, while championing the skills required to deliver on project commitments and adherence to the cost, time and quality.
The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, a team player, a confident self-starter with drive to deliver change. Will need to show willingness to travel around the UK regularly. They will need excellent communication, leadership and influencing skills.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
The Senior Project Manager would be expected to align projects with long-term business goals. Lead contract negotiations and supplier engagement. Leading complex high-value projects with cross-functional teams. Manages C-suite and key customer relationships. Proactively manages strategic risks and escalations. Mentors junior PMs, leads cross-functional teams. Oversees business-wide multifaceted projects. Able to make decisions with financial, legal, and strategic impact.
Department: Defence
Location: Colchester
Woods Air Movement specialises in the design, test, certification and manufacture of axial fans for a wide range of industrial and life applications.
Woods Air Movement has one of the largest certified axial ranges in the world. Our approach is based on offering high levels of customisation across our range of products and services to create maximum value for our customers and end users.
Main Purpose of Role
Woods Air Movement have an exciting new opportunity to recruit a motivated and experienced and results-driven Senior Project Manager to ensure on-time, right-first-time deliveries. This role is part of a key pillar of the business in a dedicated and motivated team to deliver into strategic UK contracts.
The Senior Project Manager will be accountable for the execution of the project lifecycle and will include bidding new opportunities. The candidate will need to be able to demonstrate an ability to work with our multifunctional organisation, on critical projects and to drive improvement and efficiency throughout the business.
The candidate should show requires a high level of commercial experience in dealing with customer and suppliers and managing on time delivery to the highest quality, while championing the skills required to deliver on project commitments and adherence to the cost, time and quality.
The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, a team player, a confident self-starter with drive to deliver change. Will need to show willingness to travel around the UK regularly. They will need excellent communication, leadership and influencing skills.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
The Senior Project Manager would be expected to align projects with long-term business goals. Lead contract negotiations and supplier engagement. Leading complex high-value projects with cross-functional teams. Manages C-suite and key customer relationships. Proactively manages strategic risks and escalations. Mentors junior PMs, leads cross-functional teams. Oversees business-wide multifaceted projects. Able to make decisions with financial, legal, and strategic impact.
- Act as the primary point of contact for key customers. Establish and maintain strong working relationships and communications to ensure alignment of expectations and issue resolution.
- Lead commercial and technical discussions with customer and stakeholders.
- Review and interpret complex contracts, statements of work and agreements.
- Ensure project activities and deliverables adhere to contractual obligations and regulatory requirements.
- Oversee requirements capture, change control processes, and ensure traceability throughout the project lifecycle.
- Define project scopes, goals, and deliverables that support business objectives in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain detailed project plans, resource schedules, budgets, and risk logs.
- Apply appropriate project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid) depending on project context.
- Lead project teams, facilitating collaboration across disciplines, managing dependencies, and resolving conflicts.
- Provide regular project status reports to senior stakeholders and executive leadership.
- Maintain governance standards through accurate documentation and performance tracking.
- Drive project reviews, post-implementation reviews, and lessons-learned exercises.
- This job description is not regarded to be totally exhaustive of all duties and activities required by the post. The post is subject to the needs of the business and will develop and change in line with prevailing market conditions, competition, and development of the territory.
- Experience in Defence industry.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- 7+ years of project management experience, with at least 3 years in a senior-level capacity.
- Demonstrated experience managing large, complex projects with multi-million-pound budgets.
- Proven ability to manage external customer relationships and vendor contracts.
- Strong track record of working with legal teams and procurement departments on commercial agreements.
- Project Management Certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent).
- Willingness to travel around the UK regularly
- Competitive salary
- 25 days Holiday (+ bank holidays)
- Christmas Shutdown
- 4% Pension Scheme
- Life Assurance Scheme
- Company Sick Pay Scheme
- Free Tea & Coffee
- Early finish on Fridays
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Woods Sports & Social Club (voluntary option to take part in events/activities for an additional small charge)
- Long Service Awards
- Free Car Parking
- Employee Assistance Programme & Access to Mental Health Support
- Learning and Development Opportunities
- Equal Opportunities: We are an equal opportunities employer, recruiting individuals on their suitability for the role, qualifications and experience. We welcome applications from all communities and backgrounds. Due to limits on sponsorship allocations, we are not currently in a position to offer sponsorship for this position. Therefore, applicants who do not have the right to work in the UK, and/or require visa sponsorship in order to continue working in the UK, cannot be considered for this role.
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