Combat Management Systems (CMS) Operations Manager

Location: Hengelo, Netherlands

Position Overview:We are seeking a proactive and capable CMS Operations Manager to enhance operational efficiency, planning, governance, and collaboration. This role is critical in improving CMS project delivery, preparing for future contracts, and strengthening product management.Key ResponsibilitiesSecuring Delivery:🔹 Data Quality & Reliability:

• Support the Work Package Manager in ensuring high-quality Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP).
• Validate data accuracy and assumptions to enhance decision-making confidence.

🔹 Product, Project & Portfolio Planning:

• Assist in Earned Value Management (EVM) for major CMS projects and work packages.
• Collaborate on an integrated product portfolio schedule in Primavera.
• Support Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) by monitoring budgets, milestones, and development activities.

🔹 On-Time Delivery (C-OTD):

• Improve C-OTD and E/D-OTD to 80% by 2025.
• Identify key projects for step-change improvement.
• Conduct root cause analysis for delays and establish recovery plans.
• Ensure a performance-driven culture with clear roadmaps for CMS delivery.

🔹 Baseline Validation:

• Optimize standard CMS processes to enhance efficiency in Commitment Control Reviews (CCR).
• Address significant deviations to ensure actionable and effective CCRs.

Collaboration:🔹 Enabling Cross-Team Collaboration:

• Support data assessment within CMS.
• Ensure compliance with export control, information security, and physical security policies.
• Strengthen collaboration across Thales Group domains and engineering teams.

🔹 Product Store Integration:

• Enhance alignment between PLM and CMS teams.
• Support seamless collaboration between global CMS outlets (e.g., UK, Edisoft).

People & Governance:🔹 Skills Management:

• Assist EDMs in enhancing CMS skills using the IMPACT tool.
• Support HR-driven talent management, focusing on identifying, developing, and retaining talent.

🔹 Defining Key Contacts for Deliveries:

• Ensure CMS Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) and roles are clearly defined and communicated.

🔹 Customer Awareness:

• Increase customer deadline awareness, particularly for product owners and other key stakeholders.
• Promote a balance between product and project awareness to strengthen customer relationships.

Looking Forward:🔹 Continuous Improvement:

• Identify gaps in CMS processes and implement improvements.
• Deploy an operations execution framework from Q2-2025.

🔹 Product Convergence:

• Ensure organizational structure supports multiple product versions while minimizing complexity.

🔹 Service Support Contracts:

• Prepare for in-service support contracts (K130, Type 31) and align release plans accordingly.

Qualifications:✔ Proven experience in operations management, preferably within Combat Management Systems.
✔ Strong knowledge of project planning, S&OP, and Primavera.
✔ Team player with cross-functional collaboration experience, working across international teams.
✔ Ability to simplify complex processes, making them understandable and executable.
✔ Strong communication skills, ensuring clear and effective stakeholder engagement.
✔ Knowledge of in-service support processes for software organizations is a plus.
✔ Proactive, adaptable, and comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.📍 Occasional international travel required | Security clearance neededReady to take on this exciting challenge? Apply now!