About the Role
The Head of Projects is a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), responsible for the overall delivery and performance of the company’s project portfolio, including customer-facing driving simulator projects and internal R&D projects.
The role combines hands-on leadership of key projects with management and development of a small team Project Engineers, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
Working closely with Business Development, Technical, Operations & Finance, the Head of Projects will ensure effective resource planning, strong customer relationships and alignment with wider business priorities. They will also lead the continuous improvement of project processes, systems and ways of working to ensure the business can scale effectively as it grows.
Key Responsibilities
Project Delivery
- Take overall accountability for the successful delivery of the project portfolio
- Personally lead key projects where appropriate
- Monitor project progress, budgets, forecasts, risks, resources and customer satisfaction, providing clear management reporting.
- Ensure projects are effectively planned, controlled and delivered to agreed scope, timescales, cost and quality.
Team Leadership
- Lead, manage and develop a team of Project Engineers, setting clear priorities and expectations.
- Allocate resources effectively, monitor performance and coach team members to build capability and accountability.
- Balance hands-on project delivery with effective delegation and oversight of the wider portfolio.
Stakeholder and Customer Management
- Build strong working relationships across the business and maintain excellent customer relationships.
- Work closely with Business Development, Operations, Finance and Technical to align priorities, resources, commercial expectations and delivery plans.
- Influence stakeholders, resolve competing priorities and proactively manage project issues.
- Manage the project delivery relationship with our customers regarding scope control, delivery schedule, customer dependencies, and customer satisfaction.
Process and Systems Improvement
- Review and improve project management processes, systems and reporting to increase efficiency, consistency and visibility.
- Identify opportunities to simplify ways of working, strengthen governance and improve cross-functional collaboration.
- Ensure processes and systems evolve to support business growth, increasing project complexity and future requirements.
Strategic Leadership
- Contribute actively to the SMT, taking a company-wide perspective on priorities, performance and resource planning.
- Provide clear insight into project performance, risks, capacity and opportunities.
- Work collaboratively with other SMT members to improve business performance and support sustainable growth.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Essential
- Significant project or portfolio management experience in a technical or engineering environment.
- Experience delivering multiple projects with responsibility for budgets, forecasts, risks and deadlines.
- Experience leading, developing and managing a team.
- Experience managing customer relationships and working across business functions.
- Experience improving project processes, systems or reporting.
- Experience of using and implementing project management methodologies and tools.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and project management tools.
Desirable
- Recognised project management qualification, such as APM, PMP or PRINCE2.
- Automotive, simulator or driving simulation industry experience.
- Experience using Wrike and/or IFS.
Person Specification
- Leadership and accountability: Provides clear direction, leads by example, takes ownership of outcomes and empowers others to perform at their best. Balances delivery with developing the team and building long-term capability.
- Strategic thinking and business leadership: Takes a company-wide perspective, understands the wider commercial impact of decisions and contributes constructively to SMT discussions and business priorities.
- Influence and collaboration: Builds credibility and trust across the business, constructively challenges and influences others, and works collaboratively to achieve shared objectives, even where priorities differ.
- Communication and relationships: Communicates clearly, confidently and transparently with customers, colleagues and senior stakeholders, building strong relationships and addressing issues proactively.
- Customer focus: Understands customer needs, manages expectations effectively and takes personal responsibility for maintaining strong customer relationships and positive outcomes.
- Judgement and decision-making: Makes considered, timely decisions, balances competing priorities and takes a proactive approach to managing risks and resolving challenges.
- Continuous improvement and adaptability: Challenges existing ways of working, embraces change and drives practical improvements to processes, systems and team effectiveness to support business growth.
- Integrity and professionalism: Acts with honesty, fairness and consistency, follows through on commitments and demonstrates self-awareness, sound judgement and openness to feedback.