Project Controls Lead

National Nuclear Laboratory Limited; Workington; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Learning opportunities

Health care benefits

Cycle to work

Job summary

National Nuclear Laboratory Limited is seeking a Project Controls Lead to manage day-to-day PC operations within the PMO, guiding a team and ensuring robust cost control and reporting across UKNNL projects. The role involves engaging with senior stakeholders and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

You will oversee risk analysis, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure accurate forecasts and schedules for Class 3 & 4 programs, all while upholding security clearances and governance.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of line management in a Project Controls delivery environment.
• Experience delivering Senior Project Controls services on complex projects/programmes.
• Involvement in strategic-level discussions and development of functional/service delivery strategies.
• Ability to present at all levels of seniority.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership within the Project Controls team.
• Embed and drive a Project Controls framework aligned to PMA and delivery strategies.
• Oversee performance, identify capability improvements, address gaps.
• Lead on schedule risk analysis and mitigation.
• Deliver cost control, reporting, and accrual management for projects.

Skills

Line management

Leadership

Stakeholder communication

Commercial awareness

Security clearance ability

Education

Cost engineering / project controls qualification

Tools

Microsoft Project EPM

Primavera P6

Agresso

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Description for Project Controls Lead:

As part of our Project Management Authority, you'll play a critical role in managing projects that deliver nuclear science to benefit society. Your project management skills and attention to detail will enable industry-leading scientists, engineers and analysts to work together to deliver unique projects using cutting edge technology. It's a challenging role but it's an opportunity to grow, adapt and develop new skills in a fast-moving area.

The UKNNL PMO team are looking for an individual who will be accountable for leading and managing the day-to-day operations, development, and support the growth of the Project Controls team. Responsible for the provision of Project Controls support services on UKNNL projects, and programmes. The role will include stakeholder interface with the Project Management Authority, to ensure smooth transition of information is supplied to establish effective reporting.

The location for this role is flexible and can be based at Workington or Sellafield.

Main Responsibilities for Project Controls Lead:

• Line management responsibility within the Project Controls team, providing day-to-day leadership, mentoring and support as required ensuring that the portfolio PC services are being effectively discharged.
• Support the development and embed a Project Controls framework (aligned to the UKNNL PMA and Delivery Operations delivery strategies) and drive the correct behaviours across the PC team; to maintain an effective Project Controls service to the UKNNL PM community.
• Oversee, motivate and monitor the performance of the Project Controls team, working with the lead team to identify capability improvement and team development opportunities, addressing any performance gaps as required.
• Lead on functional continuous improvement activities / initiatives relating to Project Controls operational governance procedures, processes, tools and systems.Attendance at, and provision of input into, Project Management Authority (PMO) Senior level management review meetings, and responsibility for the management of Project Controls related actions arising.
• Support and manage the Project Controls framework, systems and resources to deliver aneffective cost control and reporting service to Project Managers and Sponsors within the portfolio.
• Provide senior-level Project Controls oversight and support on more complex UKNNL projects / programmes (Class 3 &4) and Risk Reviews / workshops as required, providing assistance to Project Managers as required to discharge their duties; leading on schedule risk analysis activities, and development of risk mitigation strategies to increase the chances of successful project outcomes.
• Ensure the generation of fully detailed project forecast cost estimates, work breakdown structures (WBS), and 'quantity tracking' tools / mechanisms, to enable projects to be delivered within a robust project controls framework.
• Implement effective project control techniques (in line with best practice), including where appropriate monitoring of 'earned value'; cost and schedule variance; estimates at completion (EACs); critical path analysis, and risk, to deliver projects effectively.
• Prepare, monitor and forecast expenditure profiles and provide accruals where needed.
• Prepare cost and progress reports, including earned value analysis, identifying criticalareas and trends and recommend recovery options; ensuring the accuracy of data.
• Communicate and report any current and potential issues to the Project Manager and key stakeholders (as required).

Essential Criteria for Project Controls Lead:

• Demonstrable experience of line management / leadership responsibility in a Project Controls delivery environment.
• Demonstrable experience of successfully delivering / leading Senior Project Controls services on complex projects/programmes/portfolios.
• Experience of involvement in strategic-level discussions and development of Functional / service delivery strategies.
• Ability to confidently present and converse at all levels of seniority within organisations.
• Commercial awareness to support customer facing projects.
• Ability to obtain SC level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial and criminal record checks plus 5 years' worth of UK residency).

Desirable Criteria for Project Controls Lead:

• A relevant qualification associated with one of the cost engineering / project controls professional bodies, e.g. AACE, APM, APMG International, ACostE, ECITB, and PMI.
• Proficient working knowledge in the use of Microsoft Project EPM, Primavera P6, Agresso and Microsoft Office Suite (or other professional project scheduling software packages).
• Demonstrable experience of developing systems of work; governance and/or delivery processes, tools & systems.
• Good level of understanding of schedule risk analysis techniques and interpretation of output data, and development of mitigation / recovery strategies.

UKNNL isn't just a place where you can do career-defining work that makes a real-world impact. It's also a place where you'll feel appreciated and valued. We're creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is free to be themselves and feel like they belong. We put your wellbeing first, we push you to reach your potential, and we do everything possible to help you feel safe, supported and inspired.

We also offer a range of employee benefits:

• Sector leading Family-Focused Policies: celebrate life events, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave and a week off for your marriage.
• UKNNL offers attractive pension plans. If you contribute 5%, UKNNL contributes 15%. Alternatively, if you choose not to contribute (0%), UKNNL will still contribute 10%.
• Annual Leave: Benefit from 25.5 days of leave, plus 4 extra days to be taken during Christmas shutdown, plus Bank Holidays.
• Reduced gym membership with discounts of up to 25% from 3,700 gym and leisure providers across the UK
• Company Bonus: Be rewarded for your contributions.
• Learning Opportunities: Enhance your skills through excellent development programmes.
• Employee Assistance: Access support for personal and professional challenges.
• Cycle to Work: Stay active and eco-friendly.
• Life Assurance: Ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
• Enhanced Sick Pay Benefits: Receive support during illness or injury.
• Access to 'Mydiscounts' which has a range of special offers and discounts from more than 200 suppliers, including medical insurance and dental insurance.
• Health Care: Health savings plan which allows you to claim money back on visits to the dentist, optician and/or physiotherapist (limits apply).

About The Company

UKNNL is an incredible place to work. A place where people do things that have never been done before. A place where people push boundaries to further themselves, the business and society as a whole.

This is a place where personal and professional opportunities are limitless. If you want to change the world, if you want to tackle climate change, if you want to help advance medical science, if you want to help put things in space, if you want to answer the big questions, if you want to work with extraordinary materials, if you want to meet great people, learn new skills, challenge yourself, work flexibly, and build a long successful career with the power to make a real impact... you can do it all here.