Programme Manager – R&D Department

Position: Programme Manager – R&D Department

Location: Northampton, UK

The role:

Due to continued business growth and a large product roadmap, Blackstar Amplification is looking to appoint a guitar playing Project Manager to join our established team on a full-time basis. This is a very diverse position, but you will primarily be providing a key role in driving and managing product delivery throughout its full life cycle, from whiteboard concept through prototype and mass production stages. We are looking for someone who is driven by achieving our targets, a strong team player, someone who is focused on ‘the bigger company picture’, and passionate about helping our company grow.

The duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Project Management

• Working with both the R&D Director and project coordinator on prioritisation and follow-up of day-to-day project tasks and issues on assigned products.
• Agile software development planning with the software team
• Updating the UK R&D team daily and providing written reports when required.
• Responsible for updating and maintaining a ‘Master Project Plan’ incorporating all projects in Microsoft Project Professional 2019.
• Preparing and driving weekly sprint meetings with the R&D team.
• Tracking and maintaining costs on the projects, helping to achieve the project goals.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships both internally and externally with factories to achieve project objectives and solve help to any new issues.
• Coordinate resources in line with the project plan to meet project requirements.
• The coordination and chasing of project information between the UK-based Blackstar departments (R&D, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain etc).
• The daily coordination of activities between the UK team and overseas engineering teams.
• The formulation and maintenance of the project risk register.
• Maintenance of project-related budgets and spending.
• Holding and driving regular project meetings with project leaders, and engineers, with a focus on the project status, lookaheads, risk and any issues.
• Administrating the testing and documentation for new products (non-technical).

Documentation

• Regular reports on all aspects of projects including timescales, budgets and costs.
• The organisation and filing of project-related documentation from internal and external sources
• Ensure that the R&D QMS (Quality Management System) is followed, and always UpToDate. Train and audit all R&D staffs.

The ideally sought candidate will possess the following:

• Be a guitar or bass player.
• Prior experience working in an Agile/ scrum team environment, including 3 years’ experience as a Project Manager
• Qualified to degree/ HND level or above
• A positive ‘can-do/ go getter’ attitude with a keen eye for detail
• Experience in a project management role or similar
• Experience working in a target driven environment and working to deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Confident working with numerical data and financial information.
• Good attention to detail and well organised.
• Independent and self-reliant, being able to work without close supervision.
• Very methodical and a diligent record keeper

The below skills would be beneficial, however not essential:

• Experience using Microsoft Project software.
• Knowledge of the Agile framework and APMG/ACP/PSM or similar Agile certification
• Prince2 methodology processes

The Person fit:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills.
• Highly organised.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Independent and self-reliant.
• A flexible approach to work.
• Driven, Passionate and a definite go-getter.

The company:

Launched in 2007, Blackstar is an internationally recognised and respected guitar amplification company. We are a team of musicians who are truly passionate about what we do, and who understand the importance of great tone.

Blackstar is based in Northampton, England, with over 100 years’ combined experience in guitar amplification design and production. Our team pioneer change in the industry and have a strong commitment to driving transformational innovation in all of our products. Blackstar products are the best in the world for design, technology and performance – we are setting the standard for the industry.

The Environment:

Blackstar is a unique environment; most of us are musicians and the dress code is very relaxed. Our teams are experts in their field and we are incredibly passionate about our products and the industry as a whole. Most of our world-class team have worked in the music industry for a long time, and we are looking for candidates who wish to grow with the company and share in our current and future success.

Office hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, with a willingness to work extra hours as and when required to achieve project deliverables to schedule. Flexible approach to working hours/environment where required, according to business needs.

If you share our passion, approach your work with pride, are driven by innovation, want to be the best and help to grow our global brand to its highest potential – we would love to hear from you.

Please apply with an up-to-date CV for an immediate response. We are looking to hold interviews ASAP, for which an initial telephone conversation would be the first step.

How to Apply

If you think you have what it takes to join us please make sure you download and fill out the Blackstar Application Document. Please attach that along with your CV and send to: recruitment@blackstaramps.com

Alternatively if you would prefer, you are able to apply in writing with your Covering Letter, CV and your Blackstar Application Document to our mailing address: Blackstar Amplification Ltd, Suite 2, Hawes Business Centre, Sandfield Close, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6AB