Senior PMO Manager

Location: Farnborough

Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37 – Hybrid

AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace. Based in Farnborough, AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr.

Zephyr’s persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time. Its current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere. From above 60,000+ft, or 20km above ground, AALTO can deliver several applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation.

AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most of air traffic and low-Earth orbit, Stratospace. This is where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners. We can help monitor environments, observe borders, track natural disasters and connect unconnected communities.

Join us as we create a new domain of aerospace: Stratospace. You’ll be part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people – Team AALTO. Together, we can Unlock Stratospace.

About The Role

As Senior PMO Manager, you will lead and develop the PMO function across AALTO’s programme portfolio, owning the operating model, governance framework, standards, methodologies, tools and reporting structures that support successful delivery.

You will provide programme governance and controls leadership across engineering, airworthiness, certification, production, commercial and business development activities, ensuring decisions are supported by integrated planning, reliable reporting, effective risk management and strong business controls.

Responsibilities to include:

Core Responsibilities

· Lead, develop and manage the PMO function and team across AALTO.

· Define and improve PMO standards, governance, processes, methodologies and tools.

· Provide programme assurance, integrated planning, controls and executive reporting.

· Own and lead the Change Control Board governance, ensuring changes are assessed, approved and controlled.

· Support bid and proposal activity through robust planning, governance, risk assessment and resource forecasting.

· Lead portfolio risk and opportunity management, aligning cost, schedule, risk and performance insight.

· Build strong relationships across Engineering, Airworthiness, Production, Commercial, Finance and senior leadership.

Skills and Knowledge Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Programme Management or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.

• Proven experience in programme management, PMO leadership, programme controls or portfolio management, ideally within aerospace or defence.

• Proven experience leading PMO teams, governance frameworks, integrated master schedules and programme controls.

• Experience managing Change Control Boards, bid planning and proposal support.

• Strong understanding of risk, cost, schedule, performance management and executive reporting.

• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Project, Primavera P6 and programme reporting tools, with excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Comfortable operating without established processes and making decisions with incomplete information. Able to create clarity, drive execution, and scale ways of working as the business grows.

In addition to an attractive market-aligned salary, we offer:

Rewarding Excellence: Benefit from our short-term incentive plan that rewards your hard work and dedication.

Enjoy Your Time Off: Benefit from 25 days of holiday to relax and recharge.

Stay Healthy: We’ve got your health covered with private medical insurance, along with dental and optical cash back.

Secure Your Future: Take advantage of our personal pension plan to ensure a comfortable retirement.

Peace of Mind: Our income protection and life assurance schemes are there to support you when you need it most.

Getting around: Drive the latest vehicles with our discounted salary sacrifice scheme.

We Care About You: Our employee assistance programme is always available to provide the support you need.

Perks Galore: Enjoy a range of employee discounts via Perkbox, from household goods to travel!

Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?

If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at AALTO, you can register your details here: https://careers.aaltohaps.com/connect