Job description for SDA Project Manager

The Project Delivery function tracks and delivers some of the most complex and exciting projects in UK defence, offering fantastic variety with the support to shape and grow your career. With Project Controls and Project Management specialists working arm-in-arm, together our teams deliver fast-paced, cutting-edge projects – from the newest armoured vehicles to ground-breaking future aviation technologies – while ensuring critical core programmes keep moving forward, too.

We’re an Association for Project Management accredited organisation, and as part of our team you’ll benefit from plenty of opportunities for development, on-going training, access to funded professional qualifications, and a c.27% employer pension contribution. You’ll also have access to a wide range of employee networks, including the Women’s Inclusive Network, Race & Culture Network, Pride Network, Disability Network – and many more. We recognise that the best people for the job may have commitments outside of work, so we’re pleased to promote flexible working to support our colleagues in balancing work and home life.

At Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), we’re excited to be expanding our need for Junior Project Managers across our Project Delivery function.

The role will be to deliver small projects, or elements of larger projects using recognised project management principles, tools and techniques. You will also be responsible for the development of business cases and project management plans, or for providing project support in the development of these documents for larger projects.

You will be provided with diverse project opportunities; that are at the forefront of delivering future capabilities; such as robotics and automation; to humanitarian aid. For example evacuating people out of areas of conflict or meeting current national and international needs, such as those pertaining to COVID-19 or Disaster Relief.

You will be supported to deliver outputs that are critical to UK defence, and will be provided with training to further develop Project Professional skills.

Due to the secure nature of positions, some posts will be reserved for sole UK nationals only.

Please note some attendance to the stated site may be required for this position.

We strongly recommend tailoring your CV in line with our CV guidance before applying, with specific sections to highlight Key Achievements, Relevant Experience, and Applied Skills & Knowl

The Project Delivery function tracks and delivers some of the most complex and exciting projects in UK defence, offering fantastic variety with the support to shape and grow your career. With Project Controls and Project Management specialists working arm-in-arm, together our teams deliver fast-paced, cutting-edge projects – from the newest armoured vehicles to ground-breaking future aviation technologies – while ensuring critical core programmes keep moving forward, too.

We’re an Association for Project Management accredited organisation, and as part of our team you’ll benefit from plenty of opportunities for development, on-going training, access to funded professional qualifications, and a c.27% employer pension contribution. You’ll also have access to a wide range of employee networks, including the Women’s Inclusive Network, Race & Culture Network, Pride Network, Disability Network – and many more. We recognise that the best people for the job may have commitments outside of work, so we’re pleased to promote flexible working to support our colleagues in balancing work and home life.

Our Project Management function is tasked with the delivery of equipment and support in order to meet our agreed outputs. The expertise within Project Management includes: project, programme & portfolio management (P3M) across the acquisition lifecycle including business case, contract and performance management.

Please note some attendance to the stated site may be required for this position.

We strongly recommend tailoring your CV in line with our CV guidance before applying, with specific sections to highlight Key Achievements, Relevant Experience, and Applied Skills & Knowledge.

Responsibilities for SDA Project Manager

As a Project Manager, you will play a pivotal part in the delivery of equipment and services across any of our business areas.

As part of either role, your duties will include:
• Being responsible for project contract and performance management over their life cycle phase(s) (define, delivery, close and support)
• Supporting the project governance regime and conducting performance / issue management
• Understanding the project costs and responsible for in year and future years management inputs
• Consolidating and documenting the fundamental components of projects (scope, schedule, resource requirements, budgets, risks, opportunities and issues and quality management including establishing and maintaining governance arrangements for delivery of projects)
• Managing and advising multiple stakeholders and customers on complex issues including delivery of strategy, or management of large scale projects

Please note that due to the nature of the projects involved, this role will be open to Sole UK nationals only.

What you will be assessed against

To be successful with your application you must demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:
• Managing projects to time, cost and performance
• Experience of project management delivery in complex projects

It will also benefit your application if you are able to demonstrate the following desirable criteria:
• Experience of using Management Information, performance management and establishing and maintaining governance arrangements
• Relevant PM qualification and/or relevant suitable experience
• Demonstrable experience of successfully leading teams and securing the provision of resources of goods and/or services
• Ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience of Project Delivery in complex/Nuclear environments

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competencies and behaviours will be assessed at interview:
• Controlling a Project
• Making effective decisions
• Leadership

What’s in it for you?

Please note, our salary bands are under review and may increase. If the outcome of the review results in an increase in the minimum salary and your salary offer falls below the new minimum, your salary will be increased to the new amount from your contracted start date. If the new minimum is less than the salary you are offered, the original salary offer will be retained.

Our careers offer stability, training, progression – and much more! Learn more about our benefits and pension schemes.

We’re exploring future ways of working with a flexible and a family-friendly approach in mind. This means that successful candidates may be offered the option of hybrid working, combining working at home with working at their contractual location. Further information relevant to hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post, to find a balance that suits your needs and those of the organisation. Please note that employees are responsible for meeting the cost of their travel to and from work when attending site.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are dedicated to creating a great place to work that reflects the diversity of the society we serve. To help us do this, we particularly encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, disabled people and people from LGBT communities. By bringing together different ideas, experiences and perspectives, together we can achieve the extraordinary.

Please click the link below to apply for SDA Project Manager by creating an account and upload your details.