Senior Programme Manager

Ricardo, member of WSP, is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading-edge and innovative cross-sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world.

As a Senior Programme Manager at Ricardo, you will lead the delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary defense and engineering projects for global clients across a range of sectors. Acting as the primary customer interface, you will ensure successful execution from programme award through to delivery, managing cross-functional teams, mitigating risk, and achieving operational, technical, and commercial outcomes in line with client expectations and corporate standards.

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  Lead the delivery of high-value, technically complex defense and engineering projects to time, cost and quality targets.

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  Serve as the senior customer contact, building strong client relationships and ensuring high satisfaction.

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  Ensure adherence to Ricardo’s internal project management processes and governance.

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  Define project scope, objectives, and deliverables in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

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  Develop detailed project plans, resource requirements, and risk and opportunity assessments.

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  Monitor project progress, budget, and timelines; resolve issues and escalate as necessary.

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  Coordinate effectively across engineering, commercial, enabling, and delivery functions.

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  Provide clear and regular updates to stakeholders, including reporting on cost, delivery, and quality.

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  Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and knowledge sharing.

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  Support and mentor junior programme management staff.

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  Negotiate project scope changes and manage contractual variations.

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  Ensure strong communication and coordination across all project participants.

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  Occasional travel may be required, depending on project needs.

• Degree-qualified in a relevant engineering or technical discipline.

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in delivering multi-disciplinary, engineering projects at a senior level.

• Professional Project Management background; APM or PMI affiliation beneficial.

• Proven experience managing risk, resources, and commercial exposure in complex projects.

• Skilled in report writing, proposal development, and stakeholder communication.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project; SAP ERP experience advantageous.

• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams without direct line management.

• Customer-focused mindset with sensitivity to commercial and operational priorities.

• Excellent verbal and written communication, including presenting to clients and leadership.

You will be warmly welcomed into our workplace where every voice matters. We are diverse thinkers and doers, coming together to create a culture of inclusion. We will support you to find your place.

We will encourage you to use your passion and expertise to make a positive impact through the projects you work on.  Your knowledge and desire to bring about change will be invaluable in helping deliver innovative solutions that support communities across the globe in becoming safer and more sustainable.

We offer flexible approaches to work, whether that is working from home, being in the office, or as a hybrid worker. We're happy to discuss flexible working arrangements. Wellbeing is at the core to our culture, allowing employees to flourish and to achieve their full potential.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, creed, gender identity. sexual orientation, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, marital or parental status (IL only), height, weight, national origin, citizenship status, age, domestic violence victim status, arrest record  or conviction record (MI only), genetic information, military or veteran status or disability, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or municipal law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Once you have submitted your application, a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.

Ricardo is a Disability confident employer. Please advise the recruitment team via recruit@ricardo.com if you require any adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process.

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