Job Title
Manufacturing Programme Manager
Ref #
58869
Date posted
Friday, March 6, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
Location
Woking
Business area
Manufacturing
Department
Operations Management
Position level
4 - Management / Technical Expert (L-18)
Working time
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Working pattern
9am - 6pm Monday to Friday
What to Expect
The Manufacturing Programme Manager plays a central role in coordinating manufacturing programme activities during the delivery and series production phase. Focused on delivering key financial targets, cross-functional alignment, and project execution, the role ensures that all manufacturing readiness elements — including process development, equipment, facilities, logistics, quality, and launch execution — are delivered on time, to budget, and aligned with the overarching vehicle programme objectives. This role acts as the operations voice in programme governance, bridging the gap between engineering, production, supply chain, and programme management. 
What You'll Do

  • Support the manufacturing programme operations from concept through launch, ensuring robust readiness at each programme milestone. 

  • Manage the manufacturing cost budget (CapEx, OpEx), drive spend efficiency, and track performance against programme financial targets. 

  • Drive alignment between product engineering, and manufacturing feasibility, timing, and investment impact. 

  • Coordinate cross-functional launch teams including process, logistics, quality, and plant operations to ensure successful manufacturing operations. 

  • Identify and mitigate risks across people, processes, materials, and facilities that could impact manufacturing programmes. 

  • Represent manufacturing in programme reviews, report launch status, and escalate critical issues to senior leadership. 

  • Track launch KPIs (build adherence, FPY, labour efficiency, readiness metrics) and lead continuous improvement initiatives. 

  • Champion the use of structured problem-solving and lean tools to improve launch performance and reduce variability. 


What You'll Bring

Business Knowledge: 

  • Strong commercial acumen and understanding of how manufacturing decisions impact vehicle cost, timing, and business case viability. 

  • Understanding of programme financial structures (e.g. CapEx approvals, Opex, cost per unit models, ROI). 

  • Knowledge of automotive programme governance, stage-gate systems, and cross-functional interdependencies. 

Essential Functional / Technical Skills: 

  • Strong Programme/project management (Gantt, critical path, RAID logs, milestone tracking) 

  • Financial tracking and variance analysis (CapEx, OpEx, cost per units, headcount planning) 

  • Risk and issue management with structured governance 

  • Proficient with digital project tools (e.g. MS Project, Power BI, SAP, PLM systems, AI tools.) 

  • Strong reporting, presentation, and stakeholder communication skills 

  • Understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and industrialisation methodologies 

Personal Attributes / Competencies:  

  • Highly organised, structured, and delivery-focused 

  • Strong influencing skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders 

  • Resilient under pressure; thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments 

  • Proactive, solutions-driven, and decisive 

  • Excellent communicator with the ability to simplify complexity 

  • Collaborative team player who brings people together to resolve challenges 

  • Customer- and quality-focused mindset with a passion for launch excellence 

  • Ability to travel to the EU. 


What We'll Do for You

We offer a wide – ranging benefits package, which includes:

  • Structured career development framework
  • 25 days’ holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five days
  • Enhanced company pension scheme
  • Discretionary annual bonus award
  • Private medical insurance and health cash plan
  • Life assurance benefit
  • Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service
  • Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
  • Generous parental leave policies
  • A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice
Who Are We?

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.

It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks. 

McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey. 

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