Defence Cost & Productivity Manager

Line of Service

Industry/Sector

Specialism

Management Level

Job Description & Summary

About the role:
We are entering a new era for UK Defence - one that demands transformation not only in how we fight but in how we operate invest and deliver value. As part of this transformation the Defence Cost & Productivity solution group plays a critical role in enabling the UK to meet its strategic ambition: to be secure at home and strong abroad.

This role sits at the heart of Defences response to the challenges outlined in the Strategic Defence Review 2025. With the UK facing heightened threats fiscal pressures and the imperative to restore warfighting readiness cost optimisation and productivity are no longer optional - they are mission-critical. The Defence Cost & Productivity team is central to ensuring that every pound spent delivers maximum operational impact supports affordability and strengthens the UKs defence posture.

You will be part of a team that drives efficiency across Defence enabling the delivery of enhanced capability and readiness through smarter investment leaner processes and a relentless focus on value for money. This includes supporting the Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan unlocking savings through structural simplification and embedding productivity metrics across programmes and portfolios.

Your work will directly contribute to:

• Reversing the hollowing out of foundational capabilities.

• Supporting the Defence Investment Plan to ensure affordability and deliverability.

• Enabling innovation at wartime pace by aligning resources with strategic priorities.

• Strengthening Defences role as an engine for economic growth and national resilience.

• This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of Defence deliveryensuring that transformation is not only bold but also sustainable affordable and effective.

What your days will look like:

As a Manager you will play a key role in delivering driving value for our Defence clients. Working as part of a dynamic team you will:

• Support the design and delivery of high-profile technology-enabled Cost & Productivity programmes for UK Defence organisations.

• Lead workstreams within larger transformation initiatives ensuring successful implementation.

• Analyse and interpret client challenges contributing to the development of innovative solutions.

• Support senior stakeholders building trusted relationships and helping to navigate complex change.

• Manage project delivery tracking progress risks and budget while ensuring high-quality outcomes.

• Contribute to the development of Cost & Productivity methodologies tools and best practices.

• Coach and mentor junior colleagues fostering a collaborative and high-performing team culture.

• Continue to develop your expertise in Defence Cost & Productivity and stay ahead of emerging industry trends.

This role is for you if:

• Analytical and structured problem-solving skills
  You bring a rigorous data-driven approach to diagnosing complex cost and productivity challenges. You are comfortable working with ambiguity and can break down problems into actionable insights that drive measurable outcomes.

• Commercial and financial acumen
  You have a strong grasp of cost modelling value analysis and financial levers. You understand how to optimise cost structures without compromising operational effectiveness and can articulate trade-offs clearly to senior stakeholders.

• Operational delivery and transformation experience
  You have hands-on experience delivering cost optimisation productivity improvement or transformation programmesideally in Defence infrastructure or other complex regulated environments. You understand how to embed change sustainably.

• Stakeholder engagement and influencing
  You are a confident communicator who can build trust with senior leaders delivery teams and external partners. You can challenge constructively influence decisions and navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.

• Curiosity and systems thinking
  You are intellectually curious and able to see the bigger picture. You understand how cost and productivity link to readiness capability and strategic outcomesand can connect dots across policy operations and finance.

• Delivery under pressure
  You thrive in fast-paced high-stakes environments. You are resilient adaptable and able to deliver high-quality work at pace often in uncertain or evolving contexts.

• Consulting mindset with a hands-on approach
  You combine strategic thinking with a bias for action. You are comfortable rolling up your sleeves to work alongside delivery teams and you bring a pragmatic outcome-focused mindset to everything you do.

• Familiarity with Defence or public sector transformation (desirable)
  Experience working within or alongside Defence organisations or in public sector cost transformation is a plusbut not essential.

What youll receive from us:

No matter where you may be in your career or personal life our benefits are designed to add value and support recognising and rewarding you fairly for your contributions.

We offer a range of benefits including empowered flexibility and a working week split between office home and client site; private medical cover and 24/7 access to a qualified virtual GP; six volunteering days a year and much more.

Education (if blank degree and/or field of study not specified)