Sector Lead - Defence

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a senior leader from the consultancy sector to take on the role of Sector Lead – Defence within a respected, high-performing organisation delivering some of the UK’s most complex and strategically significant defence and infrastructure programmes.

This position is suited to a seasoned professional with extensive experience delivering construction and infrastructure projects within the defence sector, ideally gained at a leading consultancy. You will play a pivotal role in shaping, growing, and leading the consultancy’s defence portfolio, working across high-value, mission-critical programmes ranging from multi-million-pound infrastructure upgrades to major programmes exceeding £200m.

The Opportunity

As Sector Lead Defence, you will provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of complex defence programmes, ensuring excellence in delivery, governance, and client engagement. This is a highly influential, client-facing role with responsibility for setting strategic direction, strengthening client relationships, and driving best practice across multiple workstreams.

You will act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders across the MoD, major defence primes, and the wider defence estate, representing the consultancy at executive level and ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality outcomes.

• Key Responsibilities
• Lead and grow the Defence sector offering across the business, setting strategic direction and ensuring consistent delivery excellence
• Oversee large-scale, multi-disciplinary defence infrastructure programmes from inception to completion
• Provide leadership across programme governance, risk management, scheduling, and commercial management
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with defence clients, representing the business at board and programme leadership meetings
• Manage and mentor multi-disciplinary project teams, promoting a collaborative, high-performance culture
• Ensure alignment between programme delivery, contractual obligations, commercial targets, and business strategy
• Drive innovation, continuous improvement, and best practice across all aspects of programme delivery
• Work closely with technical, commercial and operational leaders to ensure effective integration and seamless programme execution
• Engage with stakeholders, regulators, and MoD representatives to ensure compliance within highly regulated environments

About You

You will be an experienced senior leader with a background in consultancy and a significant portfolio of construction or infrastructure projects delivered within the UK defence sector.

Essential Experience:

• Proven track record delivering complex, high-value defence, nuclear or regulated infrastructure programmes
• Experience working within a consultancy environment delivering construction and infrastructure projects for defence clients
• Strong leadership capability, with experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and leading at senior/executive level
• Excellent client engagement and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
• In-depth understanding of NEC4 contracts, commercial management, and programme governance
• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline (engineering, project management or related field)
• Chartered status (RICS, ICE, APM, CIOB or equivalent)
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing large budgets and complex programme portfolios
• Eligible for UK MoD Security Clearance (sole UK nationals only, due to project sensitivity)

Why Apply?

This is a defining career opportunity for an experienced consultancy professional looking to lead and shape a thriving defence sector offering within a respected, forward-thinking organisation.

You will benefit from:

• A high-impact leadership role with genuine strategic influence
• A strong, well-established project pipeline across the defence estate
• A flexible, people-first working culture and hybrid working
• Executive package with excellent progression prospects
• The opportunity to deliver programmes that directly enhance national capability and critical infrastructure

The role can be based in Yorkshire or the North West, with UK-wide travel as required.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact:

Caroline Kingsley – Kingsley Recruitment  caroline@kingsleyrecruitment.co.uk
07768 381 831
https://calendly.com/caroline-200/15min