Job Description

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

The Vacancy

We are seeking an experienced Global Program Manager to lead the NH90 program from our Papendrecht site.

In this role, you will oversee program activities across multiple locations and ensure a coordinated, consistent “single voice to the customer” on behalf of GKN Aerospace. You will collaborate closely with internal teams, the NHI consortium, and our NH90 customers globally.

The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen, the ability to grasp complex technical topics, and a proven track record in driving change. You will serve as a key partner to the VP NH90 and must be comfortable working with financial data. We are looking for someone energetic, assertive, eager to take initiative, and self-aware in recognizing their strengths and limits.

What You'll Do

  • Lead Programme level PMRs and coordinate input and preparation activities.
  • Ensure that GKN activities are aligned with the customer and in step with the customer expectations, ambition and timescales for achievement.
  • Ensure that multiple site activities are planned and controlled with ownership of overall budget and resource allocation to sites.
  • Provide a focal point and alignment for site leadership to govern deployment of key activities and hence collective GKN outcomes.
  • Support the Programme director in driving activities to understand the Market Price Index and then review GKN performance (at a product and sub component level) to seek opportunity to remove cost and improve performance.
  • Track progress and performance metrics.
  • Lead, coach and manage a team of direct reports. 
  • Facilitate communication and collaboration among stakeholders to resolve challenges and enhance efficiency.
  • Oversee the coordination of programmes across various locations, ensuring consistency in processes, practices and outcomes.
  • Establish and maintain programme governance structures, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets and quality standards.
  • Monitor and report on programme performance, provides insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.
  • Responsible for undertaking any other activity required to ensure successful delivery of the program. 

    • What You'll Bring

  • Proven experience in commercial, engineering, or operations roles within the defence sector, ideally in aerospace.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent academic level.
  • Project Management certification.
  • Demonstrated success in leading change initiatives.
  • Strong leadership capabilities with effective stakeholder management skills.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to identify growth and improvement opportunities within the product portfolio.
  • Solid business and financial acumen.
  • Analytical mindset with the confidence to challenge existing practices and drive cultural change.
  • Energetic, proactive, and assertive “can-do” attitude.
  • Able to work independently while engaging, influencing, and mobilizing others.
  • Resilient, with strong perseverance and the ability to handle pressure.
  • Skilled at driving activities across indirect or matrixed teams.
  • Good understanding of manufacturing operations and processes.
  • Fluent in English and Dutch.
  • Willing to travel to other GKN Aerospace sites and customer locations.

    • What We'll Offer

    We are committed to offer you a challenge but also a great opportunity to learn and grow. We want to offer you a career that can go to many directions thanks to our breadth of international opportunities. By being part of GKN Fokker Aerospace that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry, you will know that you will be working towards being the most trusted partner in the aerospace industry. We will support and promote your professional and personal development. Furthermore, we will offer you:

  • A salary in grade WTW-F
  • 8% holiday allowance
  • 30 paid holidays for full-time employment
  • An excellent pension scheme (PME)
  • Very competitive profit sharing scheme
  • A pleasant and informal working environment, in which we work together to achieve the best result for our customers
  • Business travel allowance according to GKN Fokker Aerospace policy.

    • Next to a competitive package, we will offer you a world of opportunities: we want to see your career fly! We will support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities.

    How to Apply

    Part of the selection procedure is carrying out the necessary checks and screenings in order to meet the requirements set by GKN Fokker's customers, partners and suppliers within the program. The checks and screenings will be assessed on the basis of frameworks set by our Export Compliance & Security department. Every employee within GKN Fokker must ultimately be authorized to give substance to his or her position. Assessment of checks and screenings can lead to the fact that no content can be given to the position and therefore no employment or deployment can follow. The onboarding at Fokker usually takes a minimum of 3 weeks.

    Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN Fokker Aerospace. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created an environment where everyone can be at their best.
    We are also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know. 

    *Due to privacy regulations we only accept applications via the website. You can apply directly via the button.

    #LI-MM1

    We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

    A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

    Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

    We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

    We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology. ​
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