Project Manager, Program ​/ Project Manager, Operations Manager

Arden White are currently recruiting for a Project Manager with a leading aviation organisation supporting complex helicopter customisation and development programmes.

This is a high-impact role responsible for delivering multi-million pound retrofit and modification projects for government, emergency services, and VIP customers. You will play a key role in ensuring projects are delivered on time, on cost, and on quality within a fast-paced and highly regulated environment.

You will be responsible for managing the full project lifecycle across multiple concurrent programmes, working closely with engineering, production, and customer stakeholders to ensure successful delivery.

This role sits within a specialist customisation and development team delivering complex aviation projects and offers the opportunity to influence both project outcomes and future project management processes.

• Deliver multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring on time, on cost, and on quality (OTOCOQ) performance
• Lead project planning, execution, and delivery in line with established project management methodologies
• Manage project risks and opportunities to optimise delivery outcomes
• Provide strong leadership across multi-disciplinary project teams
• Oversee project financials, schedules, and contractual obligations
• Ensure adherence to key project KPIs including schedule performance (SPI) and cost performance (CPI)
• Represent projects within governance frameworks, providing clear and data-driven progress updates
• Drive continuous improvement of project management processes, tools, and methodologies
• Maintain strong stakeholder engagement across internal teams and external customers

• Proven track record delivering complex projects within aviation, aerospace, defence, or similar environments
• Experience leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong understanding of project controls, planning, and delivery methodologies
• Experience managing project financials, contracts, and performance metrics
• Ability to manage risk proactively and control project variance across time, cost, and quality
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience presenting to senior leadership and governance boards
• Understanding of aviation regulatory frameworks (EASA, UK CAA, UK MAA)

• Background in aviation engineering or aerospace environments
• Experience with Primavera P6 and/or SAP
• Experience in customer-facing roles
• Knowledge of Part 21 (Pt21) environments
• Exposure to bid or capture management

• Formal project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, APM, or equivalent)
• Background in aerospace or aviation
• Full UK driving licence

• Strong leadership and team-building capability
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Highly organised with the ability to manage complex workloads
• Proactive, adaptable, and solutions-focused
• Able to break down complex problems into deliverable actions
• Flexible and responsive to changing project and customer requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance
• Willingness to travel as required
• Right to work in the UK
• This role is site-based in Oxfordshire

• Work on high-profile aviation projects supporting critical operations
• Manage complex, technically challenging programmes
• Join a collaborative and forward-thinking engineering environment
• Opportunity to influence delivery and improve project processes

If you’re an experienced Project Manager looking to take on complex aviation programmes, we want to hear from you.

If you feel you have the skills to succeed in this role, please click to apply.