UK Organisation Configuration Manager

at  Thales

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom
In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow’s possible.
Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
UK Organisation Configuration Manager
Location: Belfast/Bristol/Crawley/Cheadle/Glasgow/Reading/Templecombe
Hybrid working (Minimum 3 days at office)
Are you an inquisitive individual that has a passion for configuration management and integration? Do you have an interest in contributing to process improvements? Are you looking for your next challenge with the opportunity to work within a highly regarded team that will support with your learning and development? Then look no further..

WHAT THE ROLE HAS TO OFFER:

The opportunity to join a team that works across all business lines of Thales in the UK.
Working with teams across the globe along with the UK.
Being in a role that is analytical and organisationally driven.
Varied role with lots of potential to learn
Our Opportunity
The UK Organisational Configuration Manager is responsible for the development and operation of the Configuration Management (CM) Competency Centre, with a focus on practice maturity, data quality and value generation. Additionally this role will support continuous improvement in regulatory compliance (focus on technology and identification) practices, delivering increased engineering efficiency, data quality and a reduction in regulatory risks. This is a hugely varied role where no 2 days are the same.

KEY TASKS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Defines and implements the overall CM structure (Organisation, staff and skills, investments, teaming, partnering, etc…) for the UK CM Competency Centre
Applies, deploys and tailors the Governance rules for CM within the organization (Sponsorship, CM Policy, etc…)
Responsible for supporting CM estimation and capitalization (Means, cost model, …)
Is responsible for the deployment of the Group Reference System for CM in association with the CPO (Country Process Owner)
Acts as Deputy Country Process Owner for 9.7 – Manage Configuration
Identifies and champions improvements to CM Process, Practice and Tools in support of business and compliance needs.
Establishes delivery of the Configuration Management System training to operational users (Process & tools)
Develops the CM expertise and know-how at the right level within the organization
Support engineering regulatory activities, specifically in relation to Trade Compliance (export control and customs) product classifications and the management of export controlled technology(i.e. ICECC Process, documents markings, and Guidance & Hazard / Dangerous Goods Process)
Conducts audits (in support of Trade Compliance and Safety) identifying process maturity gaps, improvement opportunities and regulatory risks.
Guarantees that the CM discipline is at the right level of maturity (Measurement, KPI, ….), leads and promotes CM continuous improvement issues
Develops the attractiveness of the discipline
Project intervention to evaluate gaps in regard to customer requirements and Group standards for CM, sets-up and validates required action plan accordingly
Conducts audit, coaching, training… For specific contexts
About You
Ideally with an Engineering degree or equivalent.
Experience of leading Configuration Management teams across various environments; defining and monitoring process maturity, supporting PLM tools with specific focus on improvement activities (e.g. Change Management, Product Breakdown Structures, …)
Good understanding of engineering lifecycle, operations and measures and the alignment of CM practice
Understanding of regulatory compliance needs (especially technology control), operations and measures (existing experience of working with Trade Compliance requirements would be a plus).
Able to influence a wide range of people to get things done with experience of working in a matrix based organization.
Good communication skills and experience of developing an open environment where information and ideas are shared.
Good understanding of business operations and process improvements including managing change, systems thinking, lean thinking, continuous improvement practices and strategic planning.
Self-starter able to work with minimal supervision
Able to work with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation
You have experience/interest in training and processes.
The ability to listen and understand user questions and follow through to resolution.
A passion for supporting your team members in their roles using your expertise / contacts throughout the business, and all business users as a whole.