Defence Project Controls Manager

Electus Recruitment Solutions; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Electus Recruitment Solutions is recruiting integrated Project Controls Consultants and Managers for permanent consultancy roles supporting UK defence programmes. This is hands-on project controls work across cost, schedule, risk and change, not a reporting-only PMO position.

Location and travel: hybrid working for candidates across the South of England, with around 2 days per week at a London, Bristol or Plymouth office, a UK client site or a combination.

Qualifications

• Hands-on project controls experience across cost, schedule, risk and change.
• Experience on UK defence programmes or closely related sectors.
• Ability to challenge forecasts, assumptions and performance information.
• Familiarity with EVM or NEC is useful but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Bring cost, schedule, risk, change and baseline data together to assess progress and forecast outcomes.
• Challenge forecast quality, assumptions and performance information.
• Explain variance and trends to delivery teams and stakeholders.
• Develop or improve controls processes and performance measurement.
• Senior roles: shape the integrated controls approach and mentor others.

Skills

Integrated controls

Forecasting

Cost management

Schedule management

Risk analysis

Change control

Tools

EVM

NEC

Job description

This is not another Project Manager vacancy.

It's for the people who bring cost, schedule, risk and change together, challenge the information and help project teams understand where delivery really stands.

I'm recruiting integrated Project Controls Consultants and Managers for permanent consultancy roles supporting UK defence programmes and closely related environments.

This is hands-on Project Controls work for established consultants through to senior managers, rather than a reporting-only PMO position.

What the work involves

• Bringing cost, schedule, risk, change and baseline information together to assess progress and forecast outcomes
• Challenging the quality of forecasts, assumptions and performance information rather than simply compiling reports
• Explaining variance, trends and dependencies to delivery teams and client stakeholders so they can make informed decisions
• Developing or improving controls processes, assurance and performance measurement
• For senior appointments, shaping the integrated controls approach and helping other controls professionals develop

Who this could suit

• Project Controls Consultants, Managers or Leads with genuine hands‑on integration across more than 1 controls area
• People who have worked on UK defence programmes or closely comparable aerospace, maritime or civil nuclear projects
• Professionals who can demonstrate actual forecasting, baseline, cost, schedule, risk, change or performance‑analysis outputs
• Those comfortable working with clients and challenging project information constructively

EVM, NEC and professional qualifications can be useful, but they are not universal requirements. A planning, risk or cost specialist with meaningful wider integration experience may also be relevant.

The role is not aimed at Project Managers whose background is delivery management only, or PMO professionals whose work is limited to administration and governance packs.

Location, salary and eligibility

• Permanent opportunities, approximately £40-75K depending on experience and level
• Hybrid working for candidates across the South of England, with around 2 days per week at a London, Bristol or Plymouth office, a UK client site or a combination
• Willingness to travel to other UK client locations where an assignment requires it
• Sole British nationality and current or previously held UK SC or DV clearance, subject to the relevant security checks