Programme Lead - Defence

Programme Lead – Defence Design Portsmouth | Hybrid Working | Permanent Big projects. Smaller teams. Greater influence. Not every senior opportunity needs to involve managing hundreds of people within a large corporate structure. Sometimes the more interesting challenge is joining an ambitious, established business where your experience, judgement and ideas can genuinely influence what happens next. Blackedge Consulting is working closely with a growing multidisciplinary Design & Build consultancy delivering complex, multimillion-pound programmes within the MOD and UK defence sector. We're looking for someone who can bring together technical understanding, commercial awareness and strong client relationships to take ownership of a strategically important and growing defence design account. The opportunity This is a senior, hands-on appointment with significant responsibility and the freedom to make a real contribution. You'll work alongside experienced professionals across architecture, civil and structural engineering, building services and other design disciplines, providing leadership and coordination across multiple projects. The focus is on design-led delivery, from initial client conversations and defining project requirements through to managing multidisciplinary design programmes, commercial proposals and successful outcomes. Just as importantly, you'll have the opportunity to strengthen existing client relationships, improve delivery processes and help develop a key area of the business as it continues to grow. Who are we interested in? We're deliberately keeping an open mind on professional backgrounds. You might currently be a Programme Manager, Design Manager, Senior Project Manager, Associate or an experienced engineering or construction professional ready for greater ownership. What matters more is your ability to:

• Understand and coordinate multiple technical design disciplines.
• Build credibility and trusted relationships with clients.
• Take responsibility for programme delivery and commercial performance.
• Bring structure, sound judgement and practical solutions to complex projects.
• Recognise opportunities to improve services, relationships and delivery. Experience within defence, MOD or other highly regulated environments would be particularly interesting, although we're equally keen to hear from people with strong transferable experience in multidisciplinary consultancies. Why consider it? You'll be joining a business with established defence relationships, an exciting pipeline of work and genuine ambitions for continued growth. It's an environment where people are encouraged to contribute beyond their immediate job description, with a strong commitment to CPD, professional development and supporting chartership journeys. For someone accustomed to a larger organisation, the attraction could be the opportunity to have a more direct impact, greater involvement in decision-making and a real voice in how things develop. Security clearance eligibility will be required due to the nature of the projects. Interested? You don't necessarily need to be actively looking. If you're curious about what greater ownership, varied technical challenges and a more influential role within a multidisciplinary consultancy could look like, we'd welcome a confidential conversation. Contact Blackedge Consulting to find out more.