Thales
UWS UK Head of Training
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Location: Cheadle, United Kingdom
Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
At Thales, we know technology has the ability to make our world safer, more secure and more inclusive. We are seeking an experienced and visionary UWS UK Head of Training to provide strategic leadership across our training portfolio, shaping the future of training services within our Underwater Systems (UWS) business.
This is a unique opportunity to define strategy, drive business growth and lead the successful delivery of complex maritime training programmes supporting Mine Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare and wider Defence Services sectors.
Location: Templecombe or Cheadle
As UWS UK Head of Training, you will provide overall strategic direction, leadership and accountability for a growing portfolio of Training Services and related projects. Initially, you will focus on defining the UK training strategy, aligning existing training offers and delivery teams, and consolidating these into a cohesive portfolio.
As the function matures, you will lead an expanding portfolio of work, overseeing bid and project teams and working closely with sales and marketing functions to drive growth and customer success.
You will play a critical role in ensuring programmes are delivered on time, to budget and to the highest quality standards while developing strong customer relationships and fostering a collaborative One Thales culture.
What You'll Be Doing
You will:
- Provide leadership and strategic direction across Training projects and work packages within Mine Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Services domains.
- Hold ultimate accountability for programme delivery, management reporting and financial performance.
- Shape and communicate strategic organisational, market and business direction to achieve successful project outcomes.
- Build and nurture a highly engaged, high-performing team focused on excellence and collaboration.
- Act as the senior point of reference for customer, partner and stakeholder engagement, ensuring key relationships are effectively managed.
- Drive the application of Thales project management governance and best practices across the portfolio.
- Support business growth through the development of future training opportunities and capabilities.
- Manage an expanding portfolio with financial responsibility growing to approximately £120m, ensuring delivery remains on schedule and within budget.
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About You
We're looking for a strategic leader with extensive programme management and maritime sector experience who can inspire teams and deliver results in complex environments.
You'll bring:
- Significant leadership experience managing large, complex, international programmes within the maritime naval domain.
- Degree-level education in a discipline relevant to project management and the delivery of technically complex maritime programmes.
- Professional accreditation with the Association for Project Management (APM), or equivalent experience.
- Strong leadership capability with the flexibility to adapt your style to different stakeholders and situations.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across complex organisational structures.
- Outstanding project and programme management expertise, including governance and delivery frameworks.
- Exceptional stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills.
- Strong communication, presentation and report-writing abilities.
- Commercial awareness with excellent financial and business acumen.
- A positive, motivational leadership style with proven ability to inspire high-performing teams.
- Knowledge of naval systems integration, combat systems and wider warship technical domains, including engagement with shipbuilding organisations.
- The ability to provide strategic oversight and direction across multiple programmes and stakeholder groups.
Why Join Thales
We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including:
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- Performance-related bonus
- Half day every Friday, typically finishing around 1:00pm
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Opportunity to purchase up to 40 additional hours of annual leave per year (pro rata)
- 24 hours paid volunteering leave
- Private healthcare
- Competitive pension scheme
- Life assurance
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and mental wellbeing support app
- Employee discount schemes with major retailers and brands
- Discounted gym memberships
Security Clearance
This position requires Security Clearance (SC).
Holding current SC clearance would be advantageous; however, applicants who do not currently hold clearance will be required to undergo and successfully maintain SC clearance as part of their employment.
To be eligible for full SC clearance, applicants will generally need to have resided in the UK for the last five years. In certain circumstances, a minimum of three years' UK residency within the last five years may be accepted, subject to additional overseas checks.
For further information, please visit the UK Security Vetting website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/united-kingdom-security-vetting
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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.
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