Head of Bids and Programmes

Thales
Location: Belfast, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Job title: Head of Bid and Project Management – IAS

Location: – Belfast (hybrid working arrangement)

An excellent opportunity for an individual to join as Head of Bid & Project Management in the Thales UK Integrated Airspace Protection Systems (IAS) organisation, contributing to the on-going development of the Land, Naval and Air products and services business line. Belfast based, as Head of the Bid and Project Management function, you will operate in a dynamic position, providing the over-arching functional leadership to the Bid and Project Management team across this diverse, multi-site, business unit within Thales UK. The role is required to ensure the best practice is applied to Bid and Project Management with regard to the use and development of people, processes and tools.

The role will have a number of direct reports covering the Heads of Project Management and Bid Management, as well as hold overarching People Management responsibility for the entire Avionics Bid and Programme Management Community. The post holder will operate in a key position to drive change and improve overall capability within the team to successfully bid and delivery to projects today as well as in the future.

Core Benefits:

On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes;

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare (grade dependent)
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Key responsibilities:

• Ensure the Business has robust Project governance, in the Bid and Delivery phases including Commitment Control and Project Reviews, in order to ensure clear visibility of the status of each Project (cost, schedule, risk).
• Be accountable on a functional basis for the delivery of successful Bids and Projects to the CBU business and operations management teams.
• Drive the Strategic Capability Planning for Bid and Programme Management, ensuring that we are ready for today and fit for tomorrow, with a particular focus on leadership capability and anticipation of future needs.
• Providing robust leadership, coaching and mentoring to build team confidence, competence and talent across the project management community.
• Ensure that effective networks and frameworks are established to drive development, improvement and learning for the advancement the CBU’s B&PM capability.
• Evaluate project delivery strategies and play a leading role in assessing and mitigating risk and maximising opportunity.
• Ensuring bid and project teams work within processes, policies and standards as defined by the UK Function and Group. Tailor and drive continuous improvement of local processes in line with Group policies and ‘Best Practice’.

About you:

• Proven experience leading significant/critical bids and programmes in excess of £30m+ in value.
• A background of working in the defence or Aerospace sector on single source (SSRO) contracts.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to drive continuous improvement in a complex matrix environment (function vs. business).
• Extensive stakeholder management capability, internally (cross-functional collaboration) and externally.
• Evidence of ability to provide coaching and development for managers and future leaders

In line with Thales’ Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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