Job description for Lead Planner and Scheduler

As the Lead Planner and Scheduler you will be working in the Schedule Management Group (SMG) which was established to deliver standardised, coherent, and cogent project baseline and P3M data outputs across the SDA. The SMG provides technical expertise and products to the SDA delivery and enabling teams, allowing us to strengthen how we deliver planning and scheduling analytics across the Agency, implement consistent ways of working, processes, and technology, and enhance our Management Information to enable effective and efficient decision making. Through the SMG we are providing a functional home to our planners and schedulers to collaborate and feel supported and thrive.

This is a varied, exciting, and challenging role which will see you leading and guiding a technical team, engaging with a wide range of stakeholder and being responsible for managing and undertaking planning and scheduling activity for several high complexity projects. The lead role is responsible for providing strategic direction and managing a team to deliver planning and scheduling for the Director of Submarine Support (DSMS) directorate.

You will be based at HMNB Devonport, Plymouth with the expectation to visit the team in Rosyth and Bristol with the opportunity to visit our Clyde and Barrow-in-Furness sites. At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance.

Nationality, visas and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the planning and scheduling discipline in a Project and Programme environment
• Responsible for the implementation of strategic direction driven by senior management across the SDA directorates
• Provision of expert scheduling advice and guidance on complex / novel scheduling issues
• Engaging with the Project Delivery function and wider team to understand and establish the demand for P&S activity
• Driving maturity, consistency, and standardisation across the directorate you are responsible for
• Provision of SME guidance on Performance Management / Earned Value Management (APM EVM) & data analysis
• Leading the integration of full project scope, cost and supplier data into Primavera P6 Pro
• Ensuring project risk is captured and implemented into schedules, driving and upskilling teams in the completion of schedule risk analysis
• Assurance of the Performance Management Baseline change control process
• Support the build and sustainment of the SMG capability including delivery of technical training and guiding / coaching of suitably qualified and experienced people

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Leading planners & schedulers in a complex Project / Programme environment, with a proven track record of implementing Planning & Scheduling methodologies
• Experience of Performance Management / Earned Value Management (APM EVM or equivalent) in a project environment
• You must have a working knowledge of schedule development and maintenance for complex projects with experience of shaping and / or influencing policy and strategy, supervisory experience, and training delivery
• Experience of leading Project Change and the impact of change on the schedule and planning artefacts
• Experience with Oracle Primavera P6 Planning software or other leading planning software

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Setting the Project/Programme Context – Expert
• Controlling a Project – Expert
• Leadership
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,700, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,309 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 27%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/SDA-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. When two (or more) candidates are on equal interview scores, positions will be offered based on the scores assessed at interview, in this order – 1st) Technical competence, 2nd) CV Review, 3rd) Behaviour one, 4th) Behaviour two.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.