Programme Manager

Destinus, a prime contractor leading a four‑nation European consortium that is building an exo‑atmospheric interceptor for an anti‑ballistic missile system, is looking for a Programme Manager. The company also develops advanced unmanned aerial vehicles for defence customers worldwide, aiming to deliver speed, precision and cost‑effective solutions. In this role you will be responsible for the overall programme timetable, aligning Destinus’ work packages with those of partner organisations and monitoring critical paths, dependencies and key milestones. You will drive the regular programme rhythm, organising technical boards, work‑package reviews and partner meetings while ensuring that decisions are recorded and actions are completed. Budget oversight, risk and issue management, and escalation to senior leadership are also part of the remit, as is handling export‑control, security classification, document control and the flow of sensitive information across the consortium. You will coordinate partner deliverables, manage data exchanges, prepare reviews and provide clear status reports for governmental and customer milestones. The position requires more than ten years of programme or project management experience in defence, aerospace or another highly regulated technical field, with a proven track record of steering complex, multi‑party or international programmes that involve both industry and government participants. Hands‑on familiarity with export‑controlled or classified projects, including security and releasability procedures, is essential, as is strong competence in integrated scheduling, budgeting, milestone tracking, risk management and document control. You must be technically literate enough to follow engineering reviews and translate outcomes into actionable tasks, and you need fluent professional English; additional language skills in French, German or Dutch are advantageous. Desirable background includes work on missile, aerospace, weapons or other government defence programmes, and experience setting up programme structures and processes for early‑phase development initiatives.