AALTO
Senior Programme Manager
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Location: Farnborough
Department: Programme Management Office (PMO) / Fleet Technologies
Reports To: Senior Director, Programme Management
Position Type: Full-time
About Aalto HAPS
At Aalto, we are redefining the future of global connectivity and earth observation. As the Airbus-backed pioneer of Zephyr - the world’s leading solar-powered High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) - our aircraft fly in the stratosphere for months at a time, bridging the gap between satellites and traditional aircraft.
We are building a clean, sustainable, and revolutionary aerospace ecosystem. To take our technology and commercial operations to the next level, we need a masterful Programme Manager who can turn complex engineering, regulatory, and commercial streams into a synchronized reality.
Role Purpose
As a Programme Manager at Aalto, you will lead and coordinate complex, high-stakes programmes and strategic initiatives across the organisation. Working at the intersection of cutting-edge aerospace engineering and global business scaling, you will ensure successful delivery against business objectives, timelines, budgets, and uncompromised quality standards.
Partnering closely with senior stakeholders, the Senior Director of Programme Management, and cross-functional teams, you will provide the leadership, governance, and oversight needed to drive execution, manage intricate dependencies, and unlock measurable business value in the stratosphere.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Leadership & Delivery
- Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of complex aerospace and strategic corporate initiatives.
- Develop and maintain robust programme roadmaps, delivery plans, and governance frameworks.
- Drive accountability across multiple project workstreams (from software and hardware to flight operations and regulatory approvals) to ensure successful delivery.
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Stakeholder Management & Communication
- Act as a trusted partner to programme sponsors, executive leaders, and external aerospace partners.
- Facilitate seamless communication and collaboration between internal teams, suppliers, and international stakeholders.
- Prepare and present executive-level reporting packs, programme updates, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
Governance, Schedule & Financial Control
- Establish and maintain rigorous programme governance structures and reporting mechanisms.
- Develop integrated plans covering multiple projects, proactively identifying critical dependencies and mitigating risks.
- Oversee programme budgets and forecasts, ensuring effective financial control, cost optimization, and maximum value creation.
Resource, Risk & Quality Assurance
- Work with functional leaders to optimize resource allocation, capacity planning, and identify workforce constraints.
- Lead programme-level risk, issue, and change management (FMEA/RAID), establishing clear escalation paths.
- Ensure all deliverables meet stringent aerospace quality standards and promote continuous improvement methodologies across the PMO.
What We Are Looking For
Essential Experience & Skills
- Proven Track Record: Significant experience leading complex programmes, portfolios, or large-scale business initiatives within fast-paced, evolving environments.
- Stakeholder Mastery: Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to influence and engage executive-level audiences.
- Governance & Finance Expert: Deep understanding of programme governance, risk management, and commercial/financial acumen (budgeting and forecasting).
- Execution Focus: Strong analytical, planning, and prioritization capabilities with the agility to manage multiple overlapping project workstreams simultaneously.
- Tool Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and modern project/programme management tools.
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Desirable Attributes
- Formal programme management qualification (e.g., MSP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMP, Agile, or equivalent).
- Experience working within an aerospace, deep-tech, PMO, or large-scale transformation environment.
- Experience managing international, cross-functional engineering or operational programmes.
Key Competencies for Success
- Strategic Thinking & Delivery Focus: Balancing the big-picture organizational strategy with a relentless drive for execution.
- Commercial Acumen: Managing budgets and resources with an eye toward value creation.
- Collaboration & Relationship Building: Uniting diverse, highly technical engineering teams and commercial entities under a singular mission.
Why Join Aalto?
"Working at Aalto means solving problems that don't have textbook answers yet. We operate where aviation meets space."
- Impact: Shape a technology that provides green, sustainable connectivity to unconnected regions and critical data for climate monitoring.
- Innovation: Work with world-class experts in a highly collaborative, cutting-edge aerospace environment.
- Growth: Career development opportunities in a rapidly expanding business with strong backing from Airbus.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, flexible working hours, and a vibrant international team culture.
How to Apply
Ready to guide the future of stratospheric flight? Click Apply Now to submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your experience leading complex, cross-functional programmes.
Aalto is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees
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