Marc Johnston
@marcjohnston
I lead complex defence and infrastructure programmes from governance through operational delivery.
United KingdomWhat I'm looking for
At OpenWorks Engineering, I lead a £200m portfolio of eight concurrent Counter-UAS engineering projects, coordinating mechanical, electrical, software and systems delivery for NATO customers across Europe.
Previously at the Ministry of Defence, I directed governance and delivery for more than 100 Army trials annually and authored the Army's 2024 Trials Policy, maintaining operational continuity with zero safety incidents. I also led technical trials and user engagement for the £5.2bn AJAX programme under significant public and operational scrutiny.
Across more than 25 years in Defence, infrastructure and public-sector change, I translate strategic intent into governed delivery, manage risk in safety-critical environments, and develop teams ready for demanding operational commitments.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Project Manager
OpenWorks Engineering
Jul 2025 - Present (1 year 2 months)
Lead a programme of eight concurrent engineering projects within a rapidly scaling defence Counter-UAS SME, responsible for end-to-end delivery across mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering disciplines. Manage cross-functional delivery and portfolio-level risk management across £200m of engineering projects.
Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM)
Queen's Own Yeomanry
Jan 2025 - Present (1 year 8 months)
Senior soldier responsible for discipline, welfare, and operational readiness across a squadron of approximately 60 personnel. Advise the Squadron Leader on training delivery, ceremonial activity, and organisational standards.
Directed the governance and delivery of over 100 Army trials annually, overseeing a national workforce and change initiatives to standardise operations. Authored the Army's 2024 Trials Policy to unify governance, drive operational consistency, and enhance safety standards.
Led technical trials and stakeholder engagement for the £5.2bn AJAX programme under significant public and operational scrutiny. Delivered all trial activities across UK and overseas sites to time, cost, and quality requirements.
Engineering Manager
British Army
Jun 2020 - Jun 2021 (1 year)
Managed operational readiness, resource availability, and rapid response logistics for frontline armoured vehicle operations. Achieved 100% fleet readiness by implementing effective asset rotation and maintenance strategies.
AFV Gunnery School Instructor
British Army
May 2017 - Jun 2020 (3 years 1 month)
Delivered technical training, curriculum development, and operational readiness preparation for armoured vehicle units. Standardised training materials to ensure consistent delivery and improved learning outcomes.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
ILM (Institute of Leadership & Management)
Level 7 Award, Leadership and Management
Completed a Level 7 Award in Leadership and Management.
Chartered Management Institute
Various Awards (Levels 3–6), Leadership and Management
Completed various awards in Leadership and Management at Levels 3 to 6.
City & Guilds
Diploma (Level 3), Mechanical Engineering
Completed a Level 3 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
City and Guilds
Level 3 Diploma, Education and Training
Completed a Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training.
Association for Project Management
APM PMQ, Project Management
Achieved the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ).
Chartered Management Institute
Postgraduate Diploma (Level 7), Strategic Management and Leadership
Completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at the Chartered Management Institute.
Army Career Management Officer Certification
Certification, Career Management
Completed the Army Career Management Officer Certification.
Agile Project Management Foundation
Agile Project Management Foundation, Project Management
Achieved the Agile Project Management Foundation certification.
The Open University
BA (Hons), Economics and Business
Earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Economics and Business from The Open University.
Chartered Management Institute
Level 7 Award, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Completed a Level 7 Award in Strategic Approaches to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
United KingdomAuthorized to work in
Salary expectations
Skills
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