Programme Manager

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Closing date - Friday 3rd October 2025

Please attach a cover letter with your application, any applications without a cover letter included will be sifted out.

Salary: In the range of £90,000

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

As a Programme Manager at NATS you will be responsible for managing a group of interdependent, related ‘projects’ in a coordinated way to achieve cumulative beneficial change; providing control of projects within the programme, management of cross-project dependencies, risks, issues, requirements and solutions focused on success of an overall programme outcome.

At this level, you will typically be acting at both a tactical and strategic level, managing programmes, with a level of influence over the design of governance for the delivery life cycle.

You will need to be experienced in programme and project methods and tools, able to navigate delivery uncertainty, lead project managers to achieve specified outcomes, provide advice to decision makers and stakeholders whilst building and maintaining ongoing commitments with several different stakeholder groups.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• The job holder reports to the relevant Senior Programme Manager associated with the delivery of their programme(s) and is responsible for the planning, budgeting, reporting, execution and delivery into service of their programme(s).
• Due to the size and complexity of the programme(s) the jobholder is accountable for liaising with many individuals that are at senior management grades and to communicate effectively, coordinating with:

1. The Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) and relevant Project Sponsors, to ensure that the programme(s) achieve both tactical and strategic objectives, that changes to the business environment are understood and the impacts assessed.
2. Key resource managers, to ensure that the programme(s) and projects are fully staffed and that the appropriate processes and procedures are adopted.
3. MOD, Operations and Technical Services departments to secure their active support and involvement in the delivery and transition of projects.
4. Other Programmes to secure their active support and involvement in the delivery and transition of projects, including dependency management.
5. Suppliers, Contractors and Consultants through the negotiation and management of contracts placed with them.

• They are responsible for ensuring that the projects in their programmes are delivered on time, within budget and to the required specification/quality:

1. Accountable for providing an estimate against projects for all support necessary to produce the business case for their programmes approval.
2. Responsible for liaising with the relevant Senior Programme Manager and other senior stakeholders over the production and acceptance of the Investment Action and the corresponding programme/project plans, financial budgets and resource requirements.
3. Accountable for the development and maintenance of fully resourced programme plans, work breakdown structures, financial budgets management, reporting, project team staff involvement and all other aspects necessary for the successful delivery of their programmes and projects.
4. Accountable to approve and authorise expenditure on the capital, revenue and manpower to the limit of the Programme budget for the projects under their control.
5. Accountable for the oversight and support of the negotiation and managing the contracted deliverables of all suppliers' contracts associated with the projects within their programme.
6. Responsible for the delivery of all programme activities to the customer in accordance with all relevant areas of the NATS Management System, NATS Project and Programme Management processes and meets the requirements of all appropriate regulations, including the applicable Safety Management System, Environmental and Health and Safety legislation including CDM, considering both Operational Safety and Health & Safety across their programme(s).
7. Accountable for supporting the negotiation and managing the contracted deliverables for all suppliers' contracts associated with the Projects within their programme.
8. Accountable for obtaining costings from internal and external suppliers.
9. Accountable for the development and maintenance of fully resourced programme plans, work breakdown structures, financial budgets management, reporting, project team staff involvement and all other aspects necessary for the successful delivery of their Projects.
10. Accountable for preparing and maintaining an overall schedule for resource use in related projects, which avoids bottlenecks and conflicting demands, sequencing outcomes, to enable the efficient realisation of benefits.
11. Accountable for the identifying, defining, evaluating, planning, tracking and realising the business benefits of the programmes they manage.

• Maintain high level of expertise in Programme & Project Management by continuing professional development.
• Responsible for mentoring, empowering and inspiring Project Managers to deliver success programmes/projects.
• Support the strategic development of the project delivery profession and building project delivery capability within the Projects Delivery Division.
• Create a culture of innovation and challenge; to ensure that programme and project delivery approaches and methodologies are optimised.

QUALIFICATIONS, PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• A Programme Management qualification (Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Foundation or equivalent) is essential.
• A Project Management qualification (APM PMQ/APM or equivalent) is essential.
• Good honours degree in a numerate subject (which could be scientific, technical or business oriented) or equivalent of knowledge acquired through experience, other qualifications and training/development is essential.
• Strong leadership with extensive experience in a management role, preferably in the area of Project and Programme Management, is essential.
• Line management experience is essential.
• Experience and knowledge of delivery and integration of complex projects and programmes is essential.
• Experience of building strong commercial relationships with customers and suppliers and an excellent understanding of the commercial aspects of contract management is essential.
• Competently demonstrate knowledge of current and evolving Project Management processes and methodologies is essential.
• Competently demonstrate knowledge of current and evolving Programme Management processes and methodologies is essential.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and judgement required for dealing with both internal and external stakeholders to develop strong working relationships.
• The ability to understand business drivers and manage projects to deliver the business need, flexing the project as appropriate.
• The ability to mentor and support other members of the Project Delivery Practice in their professional development.
• The ability to communicate with and influence up to Executive Director Level.
• Target Competence Ratings as per the APM Competence Framework, as per the Programme Manager Advanced Level.

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible working arrangements.

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS? - NATS'