Ricardo
Senior Programme Manager
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Overview
Role: Senior Programme Manager
Locations: Leamington Spa, Warwickshire - On-site
Role ID: 2026-3389
Pushing Boundaries: a World leader in propulsion engineering from concept to production
Ricardo is a trusted engineering partner specialising in complex propulsion, driveline, and energy systems. We work with customers globally to deliver end-to-end solutions from initial design through to full production. For over 110 years, we have been at the forefront of world changing engineering innovation, partnering with many of the world’s most ambitious organisations to improve performance, push boundaries, and accelerate progress.
Headquartered in Shoreham by Sea (UK), Ricardo brings together more than 1,000 experts and delivers in excess of 200 major programmes globally at any given time. For more information, visit www.ricardo.com.
The Role
As a Senior Programme Manager at Ricardo, you will lead the delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary 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.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of high-value, technically complex engineering projects to time, cost, and quality targets.
- Serve as the senior customer contact, building strong client relationships and ensuring high satisfaction.
- Ensure adherence to Ricardo’s internal project management processes and governance.
- Define project scope, objectives, and deliverables in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
- Develop detailed project plans, resource requirements, and risk and opportunity assessments.
- Monitor project progress, budget, and timelines; resolve issues and escalate as necessary.
- Coordinate effectively across engineering, commercial, enabling, and delivery functions.
- Provide clear and regular updates to stakeholders, including reporting on cost, delivery, and quality.
- Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and knowledge sharing.
- Support and mentor junior programme management staff.
- Negotiate project scope changes and manage contractual variations.
- Ensure strong communication and coordination across all project participants.
- Occasional travel may be required, depending on project needs.
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Key Competencies And Experience
- 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.
- 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.
Working here
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.
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Work life balance
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 of our culture, allowing employees to flourish and to achieve their full potential.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion statement
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and proactively with all our employees to ensure an inclusive culture, we are recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.
Benefits
We want you to know how much you are valued. Your remuneration and benefits package will reflect that. You will receive a range of benefits which include support for your physical and mental health.
Next steps
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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