VP Programmes UK

Job Description:

The VP of Programmes is an executive leadership role with overall responsibility for the successful delivery, performance and strategic development of the organisation’s programme across the Leonardo Helicopters product portfolio. This role combines full programme lifecycle accountability with commercial, financial, and customer leadership.

Your Impact

As the VP of Programmes you will be accountable for the portfolio, P&L between £0.5bn - £1bn annually, and for ensuring that programmes are delivered in line with agreed business, customer, technical and financial objectives.

Working across a geographically dispersed matrix organisation, the VP provides executive leadership and integration across functions, sites and countries, ensuring effective engagement, alignment, decision-making and delivery.

This role is a senior point of contact for key customers across the UK and international markets and plays a leading role in business growth through the transition of successful bids into execution.

Alongside responsibility for programme delivery, as the VP of Programmes, you will shape product investment priorities and programme strategy, ensuring that investment decisions support customer needs, business growth, technology development and long-term portfolio profitability.

For the awareness of internal applicants, this role is a JFF level 10.

In this position, you will be predominantly based on site with regular International travel.

What you will do as the VP of Programmes:

• Own the overall delivery and performance across the Leonardo Helicopters UK Portfolio, accountable on behalf of the company for the successful delivery of allocated programmes and associated scope across technical, schedule, cost, quality and business performance.

• Provide strategic leadership to Programme Management, directing the Programme Management organisation and, where applicable, Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) to deliver contractual commitments, programme objectives and wider business requirements.

• Lead and influence across the enterprise, building effective relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, suppliers and partners to ensure alignment, resolve issues and drive successful programme outcomes – across geographies.

• Maintain the overall integrity, coherence and strategic direction, establishing and sustaining the environment, governance and management framework required to enable the successful delivery of individual programmes and projects, supported by the Programme Management Office (PMO).

• Ensure compliance with company policies, processes and governance, while promoting a culture of accountability, operational excellence, continuous improvement and high performance.

• Own programme authorisations and financial performance within the delegated level of accountability, ensuring effective control of expenditure, costs, commitments and benefits throughout the programme lifecycle.

• Drive programme profitability and business performance, taking appropriate action to optimise financial outcomes and ensure programmes deliver their expected value.

• Establish strong stakeholder alignment and integrated ways of working, ensuring effective collaboration across functions, business units, IPTs, customers and suppliers to achieve consistent quality and seamless programme integration.

• Ensure successful delivery of products, services and capabilities, meeting agreed requirements for quality, schedule, cost and performance in accordance with programme plans and governance arrangements.

• Lead effective executive-level communication, ensuring clear, timely and consistent communication with key stakeholders and maintaining confidence in programme performance and direction.

• Provide transparent performance reporting and executive oversight, reporting programme status, progress, risks, opportunities, financial performance and key decisions to appropriate internal management and customer forums.

• Own the management of programme risks and opportunities, ensuring robust mitigation, contingency and exploitation strategies are in place to protect programme outcomes and maximise value.

• Proactively intervene where performance, delivery or business objectives are at risk, initiating appropriate corrective actions, additional activities and management interventions to address gaps and maintain programme momentum.

• Define and maintain effective programme governance, establishing appropriate decision-making, accountability, assurance and escalation mechanisms in conjunction with the PMO.

• Build and develop high-performing Programme and Project teams, facilitating the appointment and deployment of the right leadership, expertise and capability to deliver programme objectives.

                                                    

What you’ll bring

• A pro-active proven executive leader with extensive experience leading complex programmes and portfolios in a technical, industrial or engineering-led environment.
• Demonstrable senior programme management experience with full P&L accountability and the management of large, complex programme financial performance.
• Strong commercial judgement, with experience supporting or leading major bids, feasibility assessments and customer negotiations.
• The ability to operate confidently at executive level with both UK MoD and export customers, partners and internal leadership teams.
• A strategic mindset combined with a strong focus on operational execution and delivery.
• Experience of leading across complex matrix and international organisations.
• The ability to make complex decisions, prioritise competing demands and manage trade-offs across a portfolio.
• Strong leadership and people development capabilities, with the ability to build high-performing programme teams across geographies and cultures.
• Excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive and pragmatic approach to identifying issues early and driving effective resolution.
• The ability to communicate complex technical, commercial and programme issues clearly to a range of audiences.
• High levels of personal accountability, resilience and sound judgement.

The successful VP of Programmes will combine the discipline of an experienced programme leader with the commercial judgement of a business executive and the strategic perspective required to lead the future development of the portfolio.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location:

GB - Yeovil - Lysander Rd

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Onsite