Project Manager - Vehicle Trials - Telford site / hybrid working

Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL); Telford; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence contractor in Telford is seeking a Project Manager for vehicle trials to oversee planning, coordination, and delivery of trials within the Challenger 3 programme. The successful candidate will be responsible for milestone assurance, resource coordination, stakeholder engagement, and reporting. Applicants must possess a degree-level qualification and proven project management experience in engineering. The role offers competitive salary, annual bonus scheme, and hybrid working options.

Benefits

Competitive salaries reviewed annually

Annual bonus incentive

Employer pension contributions up to 10%

Hybrid and flexible working

Health cash plan

Qualifications

• Proven experience in project management within defence or engineering environments.
• Strong knowledge of scheduling and dependency management across complex programmes.
• Ability to resolve complex problems and manage conflicting priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, and delivery of vehicle trials activities.
• Maintain milestone dashboards and escalate variances.
• Produce monthly performance reports for stakeholders.

Skills

Project management in engineering

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Resource planning

Communication skills

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent apprenticeship

Tools

SAP

MS Project

Job description

Project Manager - Vehicle Trials - Telford site / hybrid working

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

RBSL has a unique opportunity to become part of the team developing, integrating and testing the UK’s next Main Battle Tank – Challenger 3. You will become a key part of the Project Management team, leading and executing your own activities to enable the successful delivery of the programme.

The Project Manager – CR3 Vehicle Trials is responsible for leading the planning, coordination, and delivery of all vehicle trials activities within the Challenger 3 programme. This includes integration with SIL, DTR, STA, and engineering teams to ensure trials readiness, execution, and reporting.

The role operates with a high degree of autonomy and provides governance, milestone assurance, and resource planning across a complex trials environment. It is accountable for cost, schedule, and risk performance, ensuring delivery discipline and stakeholder alignment. This position is critical to maintaining programme integrity and meeting contractual obligations during a key phase of delivery

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Milestone Assurance

• Track and report progress against key trials milestones (e.g., site readiness, vehicle availability, test execution, data analysis).
• Maintain milestone dashboards and escalate variances with recovery plans.

Schedule Integration

• Build and manage detailed trial schedules in MS Project, integrating dependencies from engineering, procurement, and logistics.
• Conduct weekly schedule reviews and issue look‑ahead reports.

Resource Coordination

• Validate resource forecasts for trials teams and suppliers; ensure alignment with forward load planning.
• Approve labour bookings and monitor utilisation against baseline.
• Own the trials risk register; lead monthly reviews and implement mitigation actions.
• Support Schedule Risk Analysis and feed outputs into programme‑level risk reporting.
• Monitor trial‑related spend (labour, materials, transport); report variances and forecast updates.
• Approve purchase requisitions and ensure compliance with budget constraints.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Chair weekly trials progress meetings with engineering, logistics, and quality leads.
• Act as primary point of contact for DE&S and Army on trials execution status.

Reporting

• Produce monthly trials performance reports for Programme Manager, including KPIs, milestone status, risk position, and cost performance.
• Prepare input for senior governance boards and customer reviews.

Site & Logistics Readiness

• Coordinate facility readiness checks, transport planning, and equipment availability for trials execution.
• Liaise with external suppliers for specialist support and ensure contractual compliance.

Change Control

• Assess impact of scope changes on trials schedule and cost; update baselines in coordination with Project Controls.

Leadership

• Define work packages for Senior Project Professionals and monitor delivery.
• Mentor junior PM staff and support their development.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS YOU SHOULD HAVE

Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate must have, or be able to attain, full Security Clearance. Therefore, you must have a minimum of 5 years UK residency. Any applications not meeting this requirement will be rejected.

• Proven experience in project management within engineering, defence, or trials environments.
• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent apprenticeship.
• Strong knowledge of project management tools and techniques, including:
  • Scheduling and dependency management across complex programmes.
  • Risk and issue management.
  • Change control, budgeting, forecasting, and project controls.
• Ability to resolve complex problems and manage conflicting priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Familiarity with SAP and project control systems.
• Strong understanding of integrated scheduling and resource planning.
• Key Attributes: attention to detail, strong presentation skills, proactive self‑starter.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

RBSL strives to be an employer of choice and to foster a culture in which our employees are supported to build a career they can be proud.

Through our contracts to deliver world‑class products and support services, we offer great opportunities for personal development and career advancement via specialist technical roles, essential support functions, and broader leadership positions.

In addition, RBSL offer:

• Competitive salaries reviewed each year against market rates
• Annual bonus incentive scheme for all employees
• 37 hours over 4.5 days working week
• Employer pension contributions up to 10%
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Life assurance cover
• Health cash plan
• Salary sacrifice benefits including cycle to work and electric vehicles schemes
• Access to high street and gym discounts and cashback
• Long Service rewards with additional holiday
• Enhanced maternity and paternity benefits

RBSL is an Equal Opportunities Employer. The company is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, skin colour, marital status, genetic information or parental status. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.

Please be aware that many roles working for RBSL will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation.