Programme Manager-UAV Programme (Hoogeveen)

Programme Manager-UAV Programme (Hoogeveen)

Date: Sep 15, 2026

Location:Hoogeveen, NL

Company: GKN Aerospace Careers

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Lead the future of aerospace innovation

Are you an experienced Programme Manager who excels at bringing complex technology programmes to life? Do you thrive in environments where innovation, industrialisation and strategic transformation come together? Then this is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact.

GKN Fokker Aerospace is looking for a Programme Manager DUAV to lead one of the most exciting and strategically important programmes within the organization. This role goes far beyond delivering a new product. You will help shape GKN's evolution into a fully-fledged OEM by building the foundations, processes and capabilities needed to successfully bring advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (DUAV) products to market.

This is a highly visible role where you will engage with senior stakeholders, lead multidisciplinary teams and drive both programme delivery and organisational transformation.

Your challenge

As Programme Manager DUAV, you will operate at the heart of a complex development and industrialisation programme. You will be responsible for taking innovative DUAV solutions from concept through industrialisation and market readiness, while simultaneously establishing a scalable operating model for future product introductions.

Approximately half of your focus will be dedicated to the successful introduction and industrialisation of new products, including the establishment and operationalisation of a pilot production facility. The remaining focus will be on driving organisational change: defining governance structures, implementing effective programme management disciplines and creating a repeatable way of working that supports long-term growth and OEM excellence.

You will bring people together, align priorities and ensure that engineering, operations, supply chain and leadership teams move forward with a shared vision and a clear delivery roadmap.

What will you do

• Lead a strategically important programme from product development through industrialisation and market introduction.
• Drive programme execution across multiple workstreams, ensuring delivery against scope, milestones, budget, quality and performance targets.
• Lead and coordinate the Integrated Programme Team (IPT), creating alignment across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and supporting functions.
• Establish and govern programme structures, decision-making processes and lifecycle gate reviews.
• Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) and industrialisation activities, including the implementation of pilot production capabilities.
• Drive key business decisions around manufacturing strategy, make-or-buy scenarios, supply chain readiness and operational scalability.
• Proactively manage programme risks, issues and dependencies while ensuring stakeholders remain informed and aligned.
• Support senior leadership in shaping programme strategy, investment decisions and business cases.
• Act as a change leader, helping build a future-proof organisation capable of successfully delivering a growing DUAV portfolio.

Who you are

You are a natural programme leader who combines strategic thinking with strong execution capability. You enjoy navigating complexity, creating structure where none exists and bringing diverse stakeholders together around a common goal.

You are comfortable operating at both executive and operational levels, influencing decision-makers while remaining close enough to the programme to ensure successful delivery.

Most importantly, you are energized by building something new. Whether that is a product, a production capability or an entirely new way of working.

What you bring to be succesful

• Proven experience as a Programme Manager within engineering, manufacturing or high-technology environments.
• Experience within an OEM, scale-up, start-up or aerospace/defence environment is highly valued.
• A bachelor's or master's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Aerospace or a related technical discipline.
• Strong expertise in New Product Introduction (NPI), industrialisation and the implementation of new production capabilities.
• Demonstrated success in leading complex, cross-functional programmes involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience driving organisational change, process improvement and business transformation.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent Dutch and English language skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally approximately once per month, primarily to the UK.
• Availability to work on-site in Hoogeveen.

Why join?

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in one of the most innovative developments within aerospace and defence. You will join an organisation with a strong heritage, cutting-edge technology and ambitious growth plans.

At GKN Fokker Aerospace, you won't just manage a programme. You will help define how future aerospace products are developed, industrialised and successfully brought to market.

In return, you can expect:

• • A highly visible and strategically important leadership role.
  • The opportunity to shape both programme outcomes and organisational capabilities.
  • An innovative, international and technology-driven working environment.
  • Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
  • A competitive salary in Grade N (Metalektro CLA) ranging from €6,558 to €8,444 gross per month.
  • 29 vacation days plus 13 ADV days (42 days in total).
  • Travel allowance.
  • The chance to work with passionate professionals who are pushing the boundaries of aerospace innovation.

Interested?

For questions please contact Tamara Bottenberg via View email address on careers.gknaerospace.com. We only process applications submitted via the “Apply” button.

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further.  And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN.  We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute.  It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’.  By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.​
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