Project Manager; Transfers

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary
• Company performance bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - up to 10% employer contribution
• Private medical insurance
• Comprehensive health cash plan
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Flexible benefits programme (buy & sell holiday allowance, discounted gym memberships, Maternity/ adoption leave- up to 52 weeks, first 26 weeks at full pay, subsequent 26 at 50% (basic pay) and Paternity/Non-Pregnant Parent/ Co-adopter leave 4 weeks full pay)
• Structured training & opportunities to progress

What does the role look like?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Project Manager within the Transformation Office, leading complex manufacturing footprint and work transfer projects across our global operations.

Reporting into the Transformation leadership team, you will take ownership of end-to-end project delivery, transitioning production lines and machinery between sites while ensuring safety, quality, cost and delivery objectives are achieved. You will oversee all phases of the project lifecycle, from initial planning and layout design through to installation, validation and optimisation.

Alongside leading key projects, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening project governance across the Transformation Office. This includes embedding robust planning and control processes, championing gated reviews, driving risk and change management cadence, and developing KPI dashboards to track performance and ensure alignment to organisational objectives.

This role is ideal for a driven and detail-focused individual who thrives in complex, fast-paced manufacturing environments and is confident influencing stakeholders at all levels.

What will your day-to-day responsibilities look like?

• Lead manufacturing work transfer projects from inception to completion, developing detailed plans covering scope, timelines, budgets, milestones and risk management.
• Provide technical leadership during production line moves, including process assessment, layout design, equipment installation and validation activities.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across Production, Quality, Supply Chain and Facilities to ensure seamless execution.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements, maintaining robust documentation and quality records.
• Apply lean and continuous improvement methodologies to optimise efficiency, reduce cost and enhance quality.
• Manage external vendors and contractors, ensuring contractual, cost and performance expectations are met.
• Oversee project planning and control processes across multiple projects, embedding standardised tools and governance frameworks (e.g. Microsoft Project Server, Tableau).
• Develop and maintain KPI dashboards, risk registers and change control processes to monitor performance and drive accountability.
• Conduct post-transfer reviews, capturing lessons learned to improve future project delivery.

What will you bring to the role?

Essential skills:

• Demonstrable experience leading complex projects within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capability, with the ability to influence across multifunctional and international teams.
• Proven expertise in project planning, risk management and control across the full project lifecycle.

Desirable skills:

• Experience delivering manufacturing work transfer or footprint transformation projects.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g. Six Sigma).
• Aerospace industry experience.
• Professional project management certification (e.g. PMP or equivalent).
• Experience using project management and reporting tools such as Microsoft Project Server, ERP/MRP systems and Tableau.
• International project experience across multiple geographies.