Head of Project Management - Engineering/Consultancy

Socode are working with a technology consultancy within a short drive south of Cambridge, whose work spans RF, embedded electronics, software and full product development for a technically varied client base. They're recruiting a Head of Project Management to lead their team of experienced PMs.

It's worth being clear about the shape of the job as roughly half of it is fee-earning, running the larger and more complex programmes yourself, and the other half is leading the team, owning governance and improving how delivery works across the business. You'll be close enough to live projects to know whether the processes you're setting actually hold up in practice. The role reports into engineering leadership, with three days a week on site and some travel to UK and overseas clients.

What will you be doing?

• Leading the project management team day to day including hiring, developing, supporting and getting the best from a group of experienced people
• Running large or complex projects personally, partnered with a technical lead, and carrying the accountability for margin, milestones, change and subcontractors
• Owning how projects are governed, from delivery reviews and escalation routes through to reporting standards and consistent use of tools and templates
• Keeping delivery practice current, simplifying where it's grown unwieldy and strengthening controls where they're thin
• Working with other department heads to balance resourcing across a mixed portfolio of consultancy and product work, while still giving people room to develop
• Supporting the sales team on scoping, estimating and proposal work so bids are both technically credible and commercially viable

What are they looking for?

• Real depth in delivering complex design and development projects across RF and embedded electronics
• Consultancy background, with the commercial awareness that comes from working to client budgets
• Experience managing project managers, not just projects
• High emotional intelligence and a genuine interest in developing the people around you
• Presence and credibility with clients at every level, from engineer to executive
• A continuous improvement instinct, someone who is used to spotting what isn't working and fixing it rather than tolerating it
• SC clearance OR the eligibility to obtain it

Nice to have

• Defence experience
• Formal project management qualification such as APM, PRINCE2 or PMI
• Product development exposure alongside client-funded consultancy delivery