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.

2025 Service Delivery Manager Apprentice - Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship

Start Date:01 September 2025

Salary:£22,500 per annum

Employee type:Permanent

Location:Crawley

Working Schedule:Monday - Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday - Thursday, 5 hours Friday)

Are you passionate about leadership and support engineering services? Do you have an inquisitive mind? Are you looking for an employer who will sponsor you through a degree, whilst providing valuable and exciting on-the-job experience within a global, innovative and industry-leading organisation? If so, read on to see what Thales has on offer...

What the role has to offer:

• Earn while you learn
• Job specific training experience
• Recognised qualifications
• Permanent role from day one

Services teams all around Thales UK are responsible for the deployment and delivery of services to our customers. The Services job family has people working in many different roles pursuing outstanding outcomes for our customers, from Service Delivery Managers, Support Engineers, Architects and Modellers through to Technical Authors, Training Leaders and Spare & Repair coordinators, who are all collectively focused on outstanding Service Delivery.

Service Delivery Managers (SDM) are responsible for the co-coordination and the delivery of Services and Programmes for Thales internal and external customers. This service delivery ranges from spares and repairs to the provision/availability of a capability.

The SDM plays a vital role in creating and maintaining customer relationships. The SDM acts as the link between the customer and the UK Services operational delivery teams. It is the mission of the SDM to always strive to exceed expectations and delight our customers.

Customer relationship management is key to service success to ensure we pre-empt customer needs and offer solutions that add value.

As a Service Delivery Manager Apprentice you will develop key skills and experience in the following:

• Integrated Logistic/Product Support Engineering Management
• Customer Relationship Management
• Operational Strategy
• Project Management & Business Finance
• Digital Operations
• Leadership
• Communication & Collaboration
• Problem-Solving & Decision Making
• Commercial Awareness

Apprentice Programme

This is a 36 month programme under the Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship standard. Delivered through our academic partner, you will be given one day per week to complete your studies and will spend the remaining 4 days, applying your learning into a real world context within the Thales UK Services function. The programme will be delivered via a virtual delivery model, with live virtual workshops and 1-2-1 coaching calls. At the end of the 3 years and upon passing your End Point Assessment you will have achieved a BA (Hons) in Business Management Professional, plus the Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. You will also achieve Chartered Manager Status with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Requirements:

To be eligible for this apprenticeship applicants will need 5 GCSES grade 9-4 (A-C) including English and Maths (or equivalent), plus 104 UCAS points (BCC) or equivalent BTEC (DMM).

Benefits

• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Life Insurance
• Discount Portal
• Performance-related pay uplifts
• 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)

Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and May 2025. Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will take place from Monday 01 September until Friday 05 September 2025.

Closing date:Our applications will close at11.59pmonSunday 16 February 2025, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end ofFebruary 2025with details of next steps.

Recruitment Process:

For further information on our Early Careers recruitment process or to speak to a member of the Early Careers Team or a Graduate or Apprentice, please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr .

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a sole British National from birth and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years' residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks. As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and/or educational history.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link -https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

Recruitment Process:

For further information on our Early Careers recruitment process or to speak to a member of the Early Careers Team or a Graduate or Apprentice, please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr .

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!