G&H (Gooch & Housego)
Senior Program Manager

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Type
Full-time
Description
ABOUT US
G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing, and manufacturing. As experts in the technology of light, G&H works with customers to provide optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications.
Headquartered in Ilminster, Somerset, UK, with primary operations in the USA and Europe, G&H is recognized for the breadth of their acousto-optic, electro-optic, crystal-optic, fiber optic, and precision optic products. G&H is recognized as the preferred source for OEMs in the life sciences, industrial, and aerospace and defence industries, with a history of quality and excellence that dates back over seventy-five years.
ROLE
Working within the Program management team, the Programme Manager has accountability for programs running in our Innovation Hub and Ilminster, responsible for the delivery of projects on-time and under budget. They are responsible for enabling new programs with costed proposals.
LOCATION
This role can be based at either of our South West sites within our Optical Systems division - Ilminster, Somerset, or Plymouth, Devon.
Responsibilities & Performance Measures
- Responsibility for management and delivery of project portfolio with accountability for programmatic, technical, and financial performance.
- Work closely with the General Manager OS Division, Head of Defence Programs, Program Management team, and Sales & Business Development to create, execute, and maintain project plans and statements of work (SOW), detailing task descriptions, deliverables, project schedules through liaising with specialist areas across a matrix organization in-line with company processes, procedures, and standards.
- Work closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations to deliver programs on time and under budget in all phases, from Design & Development to full-scale Production.
- Deliver programs in line with G&H or customer-driven processes, standards, and project governance requirements.
- Manage and coordinate proposals from concept to contract award, working through the direction of Business Development and Engineering.
- Schedule and lead periodic customer program meetings.
- Take responsibility for identification and realization of Profit Improvement on projects.
- Good understanding of contractual requirements.
- Maintain project action plans and drive internal team meetings.
- Apply change, risk, and resource management.
- Interface and prepare reports for the GM OS Division, Lead Program Manager, and Site Lead.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Mandatory Responsibilities
- Adherence to all Company policies, management systems, and standard operational procedures, including legal responsibilities in relation to Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality.
- Working positively to develop and foster good working relationships with colleagues and contracted personnel in order to maintain a culture of mutual respect and dignity.
- Promote and display the G&H values: Customer focus, Integrity, Action, Unity, Precision.
Qualifications & Skills
- Minimum 5 years (or equivalent experience) of management experience in multi-million programs.
- Educated to degree level in a relevant technical, science, engineering, or business discipline.
- Technical knowledge in at least one of Mechanical Design, Optics, or Electronics.
- Knowledge of commercial aspects of Optics desirable.
- Proven track record in driving and executing on Defence programs.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
G&H Benefits Include
- 26 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- Company pension (6% contribution).
- Company bonus scheme.
- Health Cash Plan.
- £500 referral bonus for successful employee referrals (T&Cs apply).


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Notes
-
This job description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities, and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this job description does not describe any individual role holder. In addition to the contents of this job description, employees are expected to undertake all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by their line manager.
-
The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunity or practices on the grounds of gender, race, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national laws under which the Company operates.
-
Potential candidates should be aware that many of the employment roles at Gooch & Housego are subject to government security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities that you may have previously held, and your place of birth, could restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organization.
-
All UK applicants must, as a minimum, be able to successfully complete security vetting to the UK government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard, which includes a criminal record check being performed. Many roles may also require higher levels of security vetting to be completed, where applicants must typically have been continuously resident within the UK for the past five to ten years.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills