Senior Programme Manager - Quality

Company Description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place. 

Smiths Detection, part of Smiths Group is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.  

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Job Description

To plan, coordinate, and implement Transformation initiatives associated with Quality across functions in Smiths Detection. We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Programme Manager to drive related transformation program activities focused on enhancing quality standards, compliance, and continuous improvement across the organization.

This role will enable the actions and projects required to assist the Global Quality Director to improve quality management systems, process optimization, and embedding best-in-class quality assurance methodologies.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management with experience and understanding of quality systems, extensive experience managing large-scale transformation programs, and the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels to ensure the successful delivery of quality-driven initiatives.

As a senior professional, the Senior Programme Manager will be assigned to Quality Transformation with a focus on implementing quality governance frameworks, process improvements and best practices to elevate improvement and excellence. The role will also encompass program leadership, ensuring that transformation projects align with strategic business goals.

Duties:

Senior Programme Manager Quality:

• Programme Leadership: Oversee and manage large-scale quality transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Process Optimization: Oversee the implementation of Lean, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management (TQM) methodologies to enhance programme execution.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with senior leadership, engineering teams, compliance teams, and external partners to define and execute quality transformation roadmaps.
• Risk & Change Management: Identify risks, dependencies, and challenges within quality transformation initiatives, developing mitigation strategies and effectively managing change.
• Resource & Budget Management: Manage programme budgets, allocate resources effectively, and track progress against key programme milestones and deliverables.
• Project Governance & Delivery Excellence: Implement effective project governance models to sustain high standards across the portfolio.
• Ensure disciplined application of project management across entire remit.
• Effective coordination of assigned team members.
• Map programmes or work and understand the different role profiles, team structures and competencies required to deliver the goals and objectives of the project/programme.
• Create inclusive and coordinated project/programme environments to maximise the effectiveness of teams to achieve project/programme success.

Qualifications

Educational requirements:

• Internationally recognised professional qualification in project management (equivalent to IPMA level B/C or APMQ) desirable.
• Degree qualification (HND minimum) in relevant discipline (Business/Project Management or Technology/Engineering) desirable.

Knowledge and skills:

• Extensive experience in programme management, specifically leading large-scale transformation programmes within embedded systems.
• Experience in industries such as aerospace, defence, automotive, or manufacturing, where complex quality management and processes are critical..
• Familiarity with Quality management tools and concepts including Lean Six Sigma.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver transformation programs within agile, waterfall, or hybrid methodologies.
• Experience in stakeholder management, including engagement with executives, IT teams, and engineering functions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make data-driven decision