DV Cleared Project Manager

Sanderson Government & Defence; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government & Defence is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead complex programmes across Government, National Security and Defence, with hybrid work between Gloucester offices, client sites and home. Salary ranges from £40,000 to £75,000 with potential up to £90,000 depending on experience.

You must hold active eDV clearance or be eligible, and have a structured approach to delivering critical government technology projects with strong stakeholder engagement and governance

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering complex projects or programmes in Government/Defence environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage at all levels.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules and risk registers.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex engineering and technology projects across government and defence clients.
• Define and manage project scope, schedules, budgets, risks and dependencies, ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality.
• Act as the primary point of contact for senior stakeholders and client leads, managing relationships and expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, governance documentation and reporting in line with client and internal standards.
• Lead cross-functional teams, coordinating across engineering, technical and commercial workstreams.
• Identify, assess and manage risks and issues, escalating where appropriate and driving timely resolution.
• Support bid and proposal activity, contributing to project planning, resourcing and cost estimation.
• Drive continuous improvement across delivery processes, sharing lessons learned and best practice.
• Ensure projects are delivered in line with relevant security and compliance requirements.
• Contribute to the development of project management capability within the business.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Communication skills

Delivery of complex programmes

Adaptability

Education

PRINCE2 / APM PMQ / PMP or equivalent

Job description

Project Manager

We are recruiting Project Managers to work for a leading British engineering and technology consultancy. Our client is seeking experienced Project Managers to lead and deliver complex programmes across Government, National Security and Defence. This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team delivering resilient technology solutions that help keep the UK safe.

Salary: £40,000-75,000 per annum

Location: Gloucester preferred (other offices considered)

Working Pattern: Flexible hybrid working, split between office, client sites, and home

Why This Role?

This is not a typical project management role. You will be delivering programmes that underpin national security and critical government operations - environments where what you do genuinely matters. Our client offers:

• Work that matters - you will be leading delivery across critical programmes in Government and National Security, contributing directly to keeping the UK safe
• Structured progression - a clear career framework with defined pathways, supported by senior leadership and client teams
• Ongoing development - access to training, professional certifications and exposure to complex, high-value programmes across defence and government
• Competitive pay - salary up to £90,000 depending on experience, with a strong wider benefits package
• Flexible working - a genuine hybrid model that trusts you to manage your time across office, client sites and home

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex engineering and technology projects across government and defence clients
• Define and manage project scope, schedules, budgets, risks and dependencies, ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality
• Act as the primary point of contact for senior stakeholders and client leads, managing relationships and expectations throughout the project lifecycle
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, governance documentation and reporting in line with client and internal standards
• Lead cross-functional teams, coordinating across engineering, technical and commercial workstreams
• Identify, assess and manage risks and issues, escalating where appropriate and driving timely resolution
• Support bid and proposal activity, contributing to project planning, resourcing and cost estimation
• Drive continuous improvement across delivery processes, sharing lessons learned and best practice
• Ensure projects are delivered in line with relevant security and compliance requirements
• Contribute to the development of project management capability within the business

Essential Skills

• Proven experience delivering complex projects or programmes in a consultancy, defence or government environment
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage at all levels
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules and risk registers
• Recognised project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM PMQ, PMP or equivalent)
• Ability to work across multiple workstreams and adapt to changing priorities

Security Clearance - eDV Required

Due to the nature of the programmes this role supports, candidates must hold an active Enhanced Developed Vetting (eDV) clearance, or be willing and eligible to undergo the process. eDV is the UK's highest level of national security vetting and is required for access to the most sensitive government and defence environments.

To be eligible for eDV clearance, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Sole UK national - candidates must hold British citizenship only, with no dual nationality
• Residency - must have resided in the UK for a minimum of 10 years
• No outstanding criminal convictions or significant criminal history
• Pass a drugs and alcohol assessment as part of the vetting process
• Full financial background check, including credit history and any outstanding debts
• Willing to undergo in-depth personal interviews and character references as part of the vetting process
• No close family ties to foreign nationals or interests that could present a security risk

Please note: only candidates who currently hold active eDV clearance or can clearly demonstrate eligibility will be considered for this role.

Desirable Skills

• Experience working within MOD or other government security frameworks
• Familiarity with Agile or hybrid delivery methodologies
• Understanding of systems engineering or technology integration programmes
• Experience supporting or leading bids and tenders in a defence or government context
• Knowledge of security classification handling and secure project environments

If you are an experienced Project Manager with a structured approach, strong stakeholder skills and the drive to work on programmes that genuinely matter, we'd love to hear from you.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.