Programme Manager

Who we are Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards. As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously. We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications. The role As the Programme Manager for Partner Management, you are the chief diplomat and commercial steward for our most critical external relationships. You will act as the central point of ownership for the entire partner and supplier ecosystem, ensuring that our key contractors and vendors operate as a seamless and high-performing extension of our core team. Reporting directly to the Programme Lead, your role is to architect and manage these vital partnerships, from contract negotiation to performance excellence, safeguarding the programme’s objectives and ensuring value, quality, and delivery are achieved across the entire supply chain. The day-to-day Serving as the primary relationship owner for a portfolio of key strategic partners, suppliers, and contractors Leading regular, structured partner performance reviews to track progress against contractual obligations, SLAs, milestones, and quality standards Collaborating closely with Commercial and Legal teams to support the negotiation, drafting, and management of Statements of Work (SOWs), contract amendments, and change orders Acting as the first point of escalation for all partner-related issues, driving resolution by facilitating communication and structured problem-solving between internal teams and external partners Monitoring and reporting on partner performance, providing the Programme Lead with clear insights into supplier risks, dependencies, and opportunities Proactively identifying and mitigating commercial and delivery risks within the supply chain before they can impact the programme’s critical path Ensuring partner deliverables are seamlessly integrated into the master programme schedule and that dependencies are clearly understood and managed Fostering a collaborative, not just contractual, relationship with partners to encourage innovation, transparency, and a shared sense of mission success You should apply if you Have 4-5 years of experience in a role with significant commercial and/or vendor management responsibility, preferably within a major consulting firm Have operated at a level equivalent to an Engagement Manager or Senior Consultant, where you were responsible for managing complex workstreams and client/vendor relationships Possess strong commercial acumen and a deep understanding of contract management, including experience with SOWs, SLAs, and performance-based contracts Are an exceptional negotiator and influencer, adept at building consensus and driving outcomes with senior stakeholders, both internal and external Are a natural relationship builder, able to establish trust and credibility with partners while holding them accountable to rigorous standards Have a proven track record of managing supplier performance, diagnosing issues, and implementing effective recovery plans Are highly skilled in communicating complex commercial and performance data to an executive audience in a clear and impactful way Combine strategic thinking with a pragmatic, hands-on approach to managing the details of contracts and deliverables Are eligible to obtain and maintain the necessary level of security clearance Bring a high degree of resilience, diplomac