Title: Engineering Outsourcing Work Package Manager
Base location : Templecombe / Cheadle, UK
We can offer a hybrid approach to office and remote working. We would expect 3 days per week as the standard days on Cheadle / Templecombe / any Thales sites.
Travel percentage: Up 50% in the UK and on all Thales locations. There may be a little amount of overseas travel anticipated.
Primary Purpose of Role:
We are seeking an experienced Engineering Outsourcing Work Package Manager to join our Under Water Systems Engineering team. The growth of the UWS business has resulted in an increase in utilization of suppliers (external to Thales) to deliver projects.
This role will be responsible for the management of work packages that are being delivered by external vendors or contractors, from inception to work package closure. This role will ensure these work packages meet project goals & required technical specifications, adhere to defined quality standards, and are delivered within the agreed budget and timeline. This role involves managing relationships with internal and external teams, monitoring progress, and resolving issues to ensure successful completion of the outsourced work.
The ideal candidate will have significant experience in technical engineering supplier management, and will act as the principle liaison between internal teams and external suppliers.
This role demands professional engineering management capabilities, strong leadership and team management skills. It involves shaping solutions from complexity, and the ability to understand and thrive in complex situations whilst providing clarity to others. It also necessitates accomplished stakeholder management skills to maintain a strong cross-departmental network, both within Thales and externally with our strategic and niche suppliers.
Key Responsibilities and Tasks:
As an Engineering Outsourcing Work Package Manager, you are responsible for coordinating and managing the external teams to execute both managed service activities and work packages, ensuring all activities are completed to meet the project's technical and financial goals while satisfying both the Project Manager's and customers' needs. Your primary responsibilities include managing our supplier(s) to ensure that work is delivered on time, within the agreed budget, and at the defined quality. Key tasks involve planning, coordinating, and implementing projects within the approved scope, budget, and timeline; effectively monitoring progress and presenting updates to stakeholders; supporting suppliers with their assigned tasks; and implementing improvements.
Bids:
Work with MoB&F Team, Heads of Engineering Delivery and Bid & Project Managers to ensure opportunities for outsourcing non-core work are identified, translated and delivered in accordance with the MoB&F strategy.
Work with internal Thales teams to ensure that Product Breakdown Structures, Work Breakdown Structures and Organizational Breakdown Structures are set up to facilitate ease of outsourcing.
Write and own the engineering infeed into the technical specifications and statements of work for outsourced work packages, engaging the wider engineering team as required.
Work Package Management:
Develop, manage, track and deliver detailed engineering work packages (EWPs) to ensure successful execution of outsourced work packages.
Ensure that outsourced work packages align with project timelines, scope, and budget, taking steps to ensure the project stays within the allocated resources.
Coordinate cross-functional external teams, including design, procurement, and quality assurance, to ensure the timely delivery of outsourced work packages.
Ensure that the interfaces between the outsourced work packages and work delivered by internal Thales teams are understood, tracked and managed, and that any changes are communicated, managed and controlled.
Supplier Management:
Act as the primary point of contact for external technical suppliers and subcontractors, ensuring project requirements and expectations are understood, and managing relationships and communication.
For managed services, manage the internal Thales team communications with the supplier, prioritizing work and ensuring that the backlog is addressed and outsourced work completed in accordance with the service level agreement(s).
For work packages, manage and deliver outsourced work packages to schedule, quality and cost.
Oversee the technical and performance aspects of supplier agreements, ensuring suppliers meet contractual obligations and quality standards.
Evaluate and monitor supplier performance to ensure compliance with specifications, delivery schedules, and cost constraints.
Collaborate with procurement and legal teams to negotiate contract terms with suppliers.
Technical Oversight:
In collaboration with engineering and supplier teams:
Provide technical oversight and guidance on the execution of work packages, ensuring they meet technical requirements and industry standards.
Review and approve engineering documentation, drawings, and other deliverables from suppliers to ensure they meet quality and specification requirements.
Assist with the resolution of technical issues that arise during the delivery of work packages.
Risk and Issue Management:
Proactively identify potential risks, issues & opportunities associated with outsourced managed services and work packages, and implement and manage mitigation plans.
Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to address any delays or technical problems that could affect the overall project timeline or quality.
Reporting and Documentation:
Prepare and present regular progress reports and updates for internal stakeholders, including project managers and senior leadership.
Maintain comprehensive documentation of work package execution, including technical and contractual details, milestones, and deliverables.
Collaboration:
Work closely with project management, engineering, and procurement teams to ensure alignment and smooth delivery of work packages and managed service activities.
Facilitate meetings with internal teams and suppliers to ensure ongoing communication and coordination.
Maintain clear and effective communication with internal project teams, external suppliers and stakeholders, ensuring everyone is informed about progress and any issues that arise.
Transformation:
Promote and champion the use of outsource suppliers as a solution to enable project delivery, sharing supplier capabilities, good news stories and best practice to increase uptake.
Grow the UWS managed services with our suppliers, both through boosting headcount with our existing managed services and increasing the portfolio of services offered.
Work with the MoB&F team to establish & embed new strategic and niche suppliers to meet the UWS needs.
Experience and Skills:
Experience:
Significant experience in an engineering / project management / subcontract management role, with at least 5 years of experience in managing work packages in a technical supplier management capacity.
Proven experience in managing and coordinating relationships with external technical suppliers, contractors and subcontractors.
Knowledge and experience in subcontract and work package management.
Proven experience in managing engineering projects, including overseeing the delivery of technical work packages and ensuring alignment with project goals.
Strong leadership skills, recognized as a self-motivated leader who engages and develops teams through collaborative and innovative approaches.
Expertise in planning, organizing teams, and ensuring the successful execution of engineering projects, adhering to deadlines, budgets, and quality standards, while managing risks and identifying opportunities.
Ability to produce clear, concise, and high-quality reports.
Competence in financial management, workload planning, and risk management.
Familiarity with bidding processes is an advantage.
Analytical, dynamic, and capable of working autonomously.
Skills & Competencies:
Strong technical understanding of engineering principles, systems, and processes.
Experience using project management tools and software (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, etc.).
Ability to manage multiple work streams and suppliers simultaneously.
Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
Analytical mindset with the ability to identify and mitigate risks in project delivery.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with both internal and external stakeholders.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
Education and Qualifications
Desirable, but not essential:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
PMP (Project Management Professional) or similar project / work package management certification (e.g. IPMA-C or D certification).
Certifications in supplier management or procurement.
Behaviours and Values
A self-motivated individual who has a genuine desire to deliver value to the business. Demonstrates leadership behaviours:
Think Big - Imagine the future: Deals well with complexity - Makes sense of and simplifies multiple concepts. Manages ambiguity effectively. Listens, and moves towards the best solutions and implementation.
Make it Happen - Act with Agility: Fosters continuous improvement - Is flexible, tries things out, checks results and adapts consequently. Sees mistakes as a way to learn.
Together - Grow others and self: Demonstrates self-awareness - Respectful and humble. Invests time in own development. Eager to learn and be challenged to develop new skills and experiences.
All members of the team are expected to:
Embrace the Thales Safety Culture to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all.
Be exemplary in their ethical conduct and social responsibility.
Perform in line with the Thales Code of Practice, Policies and Procedures.
We are looking for a candidate with the following values:
Ability to communicate clearly and freely
Dynamic
Innovative
Reliable
Strong team player
Knowledge sharing
Applicants must be eligible to obtain UK SC Level Security Clearance without caveat and be UK national.
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In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
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