Project Manager

Location: Huizen, Netherlands

About the team

The Bids and Projects department consists of three teams: bid managers, project managers and the project management office. All three teams report to the Director Bids and Projects (B&P). The B&P department consists of approximately 40 people, of which half are project managers.

Each project manager collaborates closely with sales managers, bid managers, and technical leads within a Customer Account Team (CAT) to ensure we deliver exceptional service to our customers. In this context, each project manager is expected to develop an own style, finding a balance between implementing Thales framework of project management processes, and engaging with external stakeholders and various internal disciplines.

In this role, you will be responsible for managing multiple projects simultaneously, where:

• You set up the (first) project management baseline during the bidding phase for a new project,
• You facilitate a smooth transition of the contract from bid- to project phase,
• You execute the project within its contractual obligations (budget, schedule, quality), secure customer satisfaction, and provide clear reporting to the top management.

About your future job

As Project Manager for our customers and local partners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), you are responsible to deliver military communication solutions and services to our customers. Either directly from our site in Huizen (NL), or via local partners who are responsible for i.e. assembly, training, maintenance and technical support. All projects are run in close collaboration with the local Thales entity. Currently we have strong local representation consisting of a NL project director and a local project manager, who are dedicated to the military communications product line from NL. You are based in NL and required to travel to KSA frequently to actively collaborate with our local team.

For the KSA account and its projects your main tasks are:

• build a relationship with and understand expectations of the customer, and capture additional work when opportunities arise;
• pro-actively manage risks and opportunities;
• contribute to commercial and bidding activities for the KSA-account;
• build, lead and facilitate the project team; engage a variety of stakeholders for the benefit of your project;
• implement solid work package management, enabling work package managers to take ownership of their part of the project and support them in keeping track of budget and schedule;
• optimize the cooperation and interaction between work packages, in order to ensure timely delivery and manage dependencies;
• enable a controlled, predictable and data-driven execution of the project, conduct project reviews and evaluations and report project status to senior management;
• identify and implement improvements to increase efficiency (for your project and/or the organization).

This job gives you the opportunity to further expand your project and stakeholder management skills, in an international and multi-cultural environment. It may also prepare you to take over the responsibilities of the NL project director in KSA in the future.

Why you'd be a good match:

• you have a relevant college/university degree and a minimum of 5 years relevant working experience (project management, team management, experience Middle East is preferred);
• you have experience in the fields of Supplier Performance Management, transfer of production, and/or industrial quality;
• you are willing and able to travel to and collaborate in the Middle East on regular basis;
• have excellent communication- and language skills (English required, French/Arabic is a plus);
• you have a special interest in the defense industry;
• you have experience in leading transnational project and multicultural teams;
• you are familiar with an engineering/technical environment and are able to get up to speed very quickly with(in) the Thales organization, our solutions and our customers;
• You are curious, see opportunities and deal well with complexity;
• You bring structure and clarity, set goals and are result-driven
• you easily collaborate  with a variety of stakeholders at operational, tactical and strategic level;
• holding an IPMA certification is a plus.

What's in it for you

• A challenging job in a great team within our high-tech, innovative work environment. Includes the freedom for initiative and good ideas;
• Room for personal and professional growth within our organization, for example in regards to technical, commercial or international skills;
• Valuable international collaboration with coworkers, from 68 different countries around the globe;
• A comfortable work space in a modern environment, with a focus on flexibility and the right work life balance;
• Flexibility of work: you can usually work where and whenever you want. Within Thales, we aim for a 60/40 balance, where you work from home two days a week, when your role allows this;
• A good salary, fitting travel allowance, and the ability to personalize your employment conditions: for instance, you can trade PTO for internet costs, our bicycle plan, company fitness and relocation costs.
• 40 days off per year (PTO).

Interested?
Apply now! Click on the button below to upload your profile and show your interest.
To ensure that we are a good match, we can ask you to participate in an assessment.
Diversity Statement
We actively support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions. That means that equal opportunities, inclusion and an informal culture are integral to our success. It also means that your well-being and happiness matter to us! That’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, remote working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times.
Security Requirements
In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in The Netherlands and employment and/or education history. Some vacancies may require a security clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please refer to the Military Intelligence and Security Service.