As Senior Programmes Manager, you will lead and manage the Programme Management Office within McLaren Special Operations (MSO). You will ensure the successful delivery of projects through a consistent, robust, and controlled approach.
This role is highly dynamic, requiring close interaction with every department within MSO and broader collaboration across McLaren Automotive. You will play a pivotal role in embedding MSO into McLaren’s vehicle development projects, operating at both strategic and tactical levels. With a strong focus on quality, you will champion a culture of excellence, driving a quality-first approach across all aspects of MSO’s operations and deliverables.
Programme Management Leadership:
- Lead and develop the Programme Management team to ensure the delivery of MSO projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.
- Implement and maintain robust programme management processes, tools, and frameworks.
- Ensure McLaren’s MDP-42 development process is used where appropriate, ensuring it is tailored and scaled for MSO projects.
- Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of multiple, concurrent bespoke projects.
- Manage programme risks, resolve issues, and implement mitigation strategies effectively.
Quality Assurance and Leadership:
- Drive a culture of excellence across all MSO operations and deliverables.
- Conduct regular reviews and audits, ensuring compliance with internal and external standards..
- Act as the key advocate for quality across MSO and McLaren Automotive, influencing stakeholders to adopt quality-focused practices.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Act as a central point of coordination between MSO and other departments within McLaren Automotive.
- Ensure seamless integration of MSO deliverables into broader McLaren vehicle development programmes.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and support.
Strategic Leadership:
- Contribute to the strategic direction of MSO by identifying opportunities for continuous improvement in programme management and quality.
- Provide input into long-term planning, aligning MSO objectives with McLaren’s overall business goals.
- Work with the Product team to develop long term product road maps for MSO, focusing on growth and exceeding customer expectation
- Drive innovation in processes, tools, and methodologies to enhance MSO’s operational effectiveness.
Team Development:
- Foster a high-performance culture within the Programme Management team.
- Mentor and develop team members, ensuring they have the skills, knowledge, and support to succeed.
- Promote a collaborative and inclusive working environment, empowering teams to excel.
Budgetary and Resource Management:
- Set out the MSO Investment budget, working closely with the function groups and finance teams.
- Oversee the allocation and management of resources across MSO programmes
- Monitor programme budgets and ensure efficient use of resources to achieve objectives.
- Support the MSO Director in producing the annual business plan, identifying financial opportunities and risks.
Risk and Issue Management:
- Identify, monitor, and mitigate risks across all MSO programmes and activities.
- Proactively address challenges, ensuring minimal disruption to project delivery.
- Foster a Lessons Learned approach across all MSO Programmes and teams.
- Experience of niche vehicle (low volume) projects
- Programme management within a product development function
- Leader of high performance cross functional teams
- Extensive experience of automotive design and development
- Sound business and commercial acumen
- Well organised and delivery focused – with demonstrable track record of on-time delivery in a high-pressure environment
- Proven problem solving and change management capability
- Knowledge of vehicle systems and design is highly desirable
- Excellent communicator with the ability to lead and motivate a small focused team and work cross functionally
- Adopts a creative & thoughtful approach to concept design and solving engineering problems with good attention to detail and an engaging mind, open to new problems outside their normal comfort zone
- Natural leader, able to take responsibility for delivery
- Able to build and maintain relationships at all levels, internally and externally
- Resilient, able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- 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