Project Manager - Special Projects and Heritage

Project Manager - Special Projects and Heritage

Location: Woking

Contract: Inside IR35 6-month contract (potential for extensions)

Role Summary

The Project Manager - Special Projects and Heritage is responsible for leading the successful delivery of highly complex, bespoke automotive projects, ensuring alignment with established development processes, business targets, and programme timings. Acting as a central point of coordination, the Project Manager - Special Projects and Heritage drives cross functional collaboration and ensures projects progress effectively through all gateways.

In addition to delivery ownership, the Project Manager - Special Projects and Heritage operates as a key ambassador across internal teams, maintaining strong stakeholder relationships and ensuring best practice project governance is applied at all times.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of Special Projects and Heritage projects in line with defined development and project management processes
• Act as the primary point of contact for Special Projects and Heritage activities
• Line manage junior PMO team members where appropriate
• Build and lead high performing, cross functional project teams
• Manage project budgets, spend profiles, and financial targets
• Chair project meetings and control cross functional timing plans
• Act as escalation point for project risks, issues, and mitigations
• Maintain detailed project timing plans and highlight delivery risks
• Liaise at Director and senior stakeholder level
• Prepare and present internal and external project status reviews
• Ensure full adherence to development gateways and governance
• Support design, development, validation, and release activities
• Manage change requests with full risk, cost, and documentation assessment
• Maintain a lessons learned approach and support root cause analysis

Requirements of the Role

• Degree level education in Management Engineering or Automotive Engineering desirable
• Strong knowledge of project and programme management methodologies
• Experience delivering complex, multidisciplinary engineering projects
• Automotive industry experience preferred; aerospace, defence, or rail considered
• Strong understanding of product development processes
• Data driven mindset with strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Experience managing multiple timing plans and concurrent projects
• Advanced MS Excel capability and strong presentation/reporting skills
• Good understanding of quality and financial performance metrics
• Strong leadership, organisational, and communication skills

Apply Now

If you are an experienced Project Manager - Special Projects and Heritage looking to lead unique and technically challenging automotive programmes, apply now to be considered for this opportunity.

Please note, this role is deemed inside of IR35. The Umbrella Pay Rate offered is inclusive of the Assignment pay rate, holiday pay and Apex Recruitment's contribution towards Employer Costs.