Senior Project Manager - Automotive

Region/ country: United Kingdom

Job title: Senior Project Manager

Reporting to: Programme Manager

Location: Midlands / Surrey

Company

Akkodis is a global leader in engineering, technology, and R&D, harnessing the power of connected data to drive digital transformation and innovation for a smarter, more sustainable future. As part of the Adecco Group, Akkodis employs over 50,000 engineers and digital specialists across 30 countries in North America, EMEA, and APAC. Our teams bring extensive cross-sector knowledge in critical technology areas such as mobility, software services, robotics, simulations, cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics, enabling clients to tackle complex challenges in today’s rapidly evolving markets.

With a comprehensive solution portfolio across four service lines—Consulting, Solutions, Talents, and Academy—Akkodis supports clients from concept through to full-scale deployment and optimisation. Our diverse offerings help organisations rethink product development, accelerate productivity, reduce time-to-market, and prepare for the future. At Akkodis, you’ll join a dynamic environment that values continuous learning and global collaboration, where you can make a meaningful impact through innovative projects that shape the future of technology.

Scope

The Project Management function at Akkodis Consulting provides delivery leadership across IT, Digital, Engineering, and Aerospace & Defence. Our Project Managers oversee initiatives ranging from discrete work packages to complex, multi-stream programmes, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to the required quality while maintaining strong client and stakeholder relationships.

• Lead and support projects of varying scale and complexity, coordinating across multiple workstreams to ensure alignment and successful programme outcomes.
• Partner with Programme Managers, Business Managers, and senior stakeholders to manage schedules, resources, risks, and dependencies effectively.
• Apply structured project management practices with a focus on clear communication, proactive problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
• Balance delivery discipline with adaptability, fostering trusted client relationships and ensuring business objectives are met.

With a tiered structure (Junior, Project Manager and Senior), the function provides both delivery execution and programme-level coordination, enabling consistently successful outcomes across all client sectors.

Role

The Senior Project Manager will lead the end-to-end delivery of complex automotive programmes across a number of OEMs and across technical areas: including EVs, software delivery & autonomous systems. Operating at the intersection of technology and business, the role is responsible for creating the conditions for high-performing delivery teams while maintaining strong governance, reporting discipline, and client confidence.

The role requires ownership of multiple workstreams within fast-paced, high-pressure environments, ensuring alignment to programme objectives, effective stakeholder engagement, and successful delivery across the full lifecycle — from discovery through to implementation and live service.

Working closely with internal delivery teams, third-party partners, and senior client stakeholders, the Senior Project Manager will drive collaboration, manage risk, and ensure consistent, high-quality outcomes across complex digital initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the end-to-end delivery of complex automotive system projects, ensuring delivery to agreed scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
• Operate as the primary point of contact for clients, proactively managing expectations and communicating clearly on progress, risks, and decisions.
• Coordinate multiple delivery workstreams, managing dependencies, risks, and cross-team alignment.
• Lead agile delivery practices (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe or equivalent), applying them pragmatically to suit programme and client context.
• Maintain strong governance across the programme, including RAID logs, reporting packs, financial tracking, and stakeholder updates.
• Drive roadmap planning, dependency mapping, and delivery forecasting across complex, multi-team environments.
• Partner with Programme Managers and senior stakeholders to ensure alignment with wider programme objectives and priorities.
• Manage third-party suppliers and delivery partners, ensuring accountability and performance against agreed outcomes.
• Monitor team performance and velocity, using data and metrics to inform delivery decisions and continuous improvement.
• Identify and remove blockers, enabling delivery teams to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Support and mentor team members, fostering a high-performance, collaborative culture.
• Ensure compliance with governance, assurance, and reporting standards relevant to ground transport and cross company requirments.
• Drive continuous improvement in delivery processes, governance, and ways of working.

Required Experience

• Proven track record of leading end-to-end delivery of complex automotive projects, managing scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
• Experience delivering automotive programmes across engineering domains: for example - EVs, ICE, Electrical & Electronic, Body & Trim, manufacturing and supply chain.
• Demonstrable experience working across the full project lifecycle, from concept through to SOP.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams across multiple delivery workstreams.
• Experience operating within OEM, 1st Tier and supply chain.
• Strong experience managing third-party suppliers and complex stakeholder landscapes.
• Experience balancing agile delivery with structured governance and reporting requirements.
• Background in consulting or client-facing delivery environments.

Required Skills

• Strong leadership and delivery ownership across complex, multi-stream automotive programmes.
• Advanced stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders.
• Expertise in agile delivery methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) and the ability to apply them pragmatically.
• Strong dependency management, roadmap planning, and risk mitigation capability.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with confidence in client-facing environments.
• Ability to balance delivery pace with governance, reporting, and control.
• Strong analytical mindset, using data and metrics to drive decision-making and delivery improvements.
• Proficiency with delivery tools such as Jira, Confluence, or equivalent.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure, and complex environments.

Required Education

• Degree or equivalent professional experience in Project Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Project management certification (e.g. PRINCE2, AgilePM, PMP, or equivalent) desirable but not essential.