Service Delivery Manager - Pillar Lead Minehunting

Service Delivery Manager

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Thales are currently recruiting a Service Delivery Manager for the UWS MSET Support team with responsibility for the leadership of Mine Hunting Support for the UK Royal Navy.

This role provides support for the management, control and delivery of all allocated Work Packages/Tasks/Bids for In Service Support under the MSET programme. This role provides support the delivery of the Programme whilst rising to the challenge for achieving efficiencies. The incumbent shall guarantee that KPI commitments are met, working closely with the Delivery Teams across Pillar to ensure that successful contract performance is achieved and maintained.

On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes:

• Performance Related Bonus
• Hybrid Working
• Pension Scheme
• 28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays)
• Life Cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

What will you deliver?

• Oversee Mine Hunting support service delivery and in-service support, acting as the main customer contact.
• Lead and manage the service delivery team, including work planning, assessments, and development.
• Prepare reports, financial analyses, and support monthly internal and customer reviews for the Mine Hunting Pillar.
• Manage preparation, pricing, and coordination of support proposals and quotations, maintaining project schedules and Work Breakdown Structures.
• Identify and mitigate risks affecting program performance.
• Support contract-required reporting and use management plans to track activities, milestones, and resources.
• Contribute to sales, cash flow, and margin growth.
• Own and maintain the Simlok/OPUS model for MSET Mine Hunting Equipment, supporting its ongoing improvements.
• Develop and implement improved support processes and coordinate related projects and contracts.
• Manage reporting activities and utilize data tools to support pillar operations.
• Support procurement, manufacturing, repair, stock, obsolescence, and change management processes.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration across internal teams to address issues and opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement of ways of working within the Mine Hunting support pillar.

Additional Duties

• Be responsible for developing a coordinated approach for support.
• People Management responsibility for 4 individuals
• Responsibility for supporting/implementing any Mine Hunting waterfront support required as a part of M-SET transformation

Who are we looking for?

• Proven experience in service delivery and in-service support management, preferably in defence or maritime sectors.
• Strong background in project and contract management, including proposal preparation and pricing.
• Experience with financial reporting, budget management, and financial analysis.
• Familiarity with Work Breakdown Structures, project scheduling tools (e.g., Primavera), and program management methodologies.
• Risk identification and mitigation in complex program environments.
• Hands-on experience with procurement, manufacturing, repair, stock, obsolescence, and change management processes.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management skills, including performance assessment and development planning.
• Skilled in stakeholder management, acting as a primary liaison with customers and internal teams.
• Experience with continuous improvement initiatives and implementing improved ways of working.
• Knowledge of inventory and provisioning processes.
• Expertise in using and managing technical models or simulation tools such as Simlok/OPUS.
• Experience preparing and presenting reports for senior management and customers.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process.