Virtual Build Planning Lead

Our OEM Client based in Gaydon, is searching for a Virtual Build Planning Lead to join their team, Inside IR35. This is a 12-month contract position initially until 31st March 2026, with the potential for further extensions.

Umbrella Pay Rate: £33.64 per hour.

In this role the candidate should be ready to take the lead in shaping the future of our modern luxury vehicles.  As a Virtual Build Planning Lead, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless delivery of aligned and validated engineering data, enabling our prototype builds to set a new benchmark for excellence.

In this role, you will collaborate with engineering and build teams to drive results that make a tangible impact on prototype build events. This involves the co-ordination and delivery of multiple workstreams across Engineering Operations to ensure engineering data is aligned and delivered on time, enabling the physical build start, with zero issues passed to build. You will achieve this through technical planning, issue and risk management, reporting on technical status, presenting outcomes, and leading issue resolution reviews.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

• Co-ordinate the delivery and alignment of the required engineering data to enable build start across multiple projects and data sources. Workstreams include:

• Engineering BOM (CAD).
• Plan For Every Part.
• BoM Validation.
• Part to Order BoM.
• Own the delivery of buildable Engineering BOM (CAD) that enables physical prototype builds for:

• Full Vehicle Prototype.
• Full Powertrain Unit Prototypes (Battery & EDU).
• Vehicle & Powertrain Rigs.
• Manage risks or issues to build via programme impediment reviews and build 'board walks.'
• Lead CAD quality issue resolution reviews with Key Stakeholders and Customers.
• Co-ordinate a cross-functional team to deliver all required data prebuild.
• Supervise a Virtual Build Analyst, conduct line management duties as well as manage daily workload and performance to achieve the delivery of buildable CAD.

Experience Required:

• Knowledge of automotive Bill of Materials.
• Technical automotive understanding (Vehicle & Powertrain content).
• Technical project management experience, with an ability to manage multiple complex workstreams and show evidence of planning and delivery.
• Capability to expedite successful delivery through assertiveness, strong interpersonal skills, and negotiation with a wide range of multifunction teams.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills with the ability to communicate complex topics in a simple way.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills to approach technical issue resolution.
• Effective leadership skills for both direct and indirect reports, with strong interpersonal abilities.
• A highly driven, self-motivated individual with the capability to deliver results under pressure with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work across functional teams and influence decisions.
• Proficiency in the use and application of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.