Project Planning Lead

Babcock; Helensburgh; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Contributory Pension with life cover

Digital GP and health checks

Job summary

Babcock International is recruiting a Project Planning Lead to oversee planning and coordination of submarine support equipment across maintenance programmes. You will forecast demand, manage procurement interfaces, and work with engineering and operations to ensure timely availability of critical assets.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, strong reporting, and the ability to lead geographically dispersed teams within the defence sector. Hybrid working arrangements are provided.

Qualifications

• HNC or HND in Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline, or demonstrable equivalent experience within a complex engineering, maintenance, or project delivery environment.
• Experience in project planning, project management, or programme delivery within a complex engineering or operational environment.
• Good understanding of submarine or surface ship operations, maintenance, and support activities.
• Experience leading and managing geographically dispersed or remote teams.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across multiple functions and levels.
• Excellent communication, reporting, and presentation skills, including producing and presenting management information to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Leading the planning and coordination of support equipment requirements for future submarine maintenance and refit programmes.
• Developing and maintaining demand schedules that provide visibility of equipment availability, requirements, and potential risks.
• Coordinating procurement, refurbishment, and supply chain activities to ensure support equipment is available when needed.
• Engaging with planning, engineering, operational, and programme stakeholders to maintain accurate planning information.
• Producing reports, schedules, and performance updates that support effective decision-making and programme delivery.

Skills

Planning

Project management

Stakeholder management

Reporting

Communication

Remote team leadership

Education

HNC/HND in Engineering or related discipline

Job description

Job Title: Project Planning Lead

Location: Plymouth, Devon or Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: Up to £55,800 dependent upon experience

Role Type: Full Time / Permanent
Role ID: SF76742

Help deliver the future of submarine support and maintenance

Do you want to help us in our mission, creating a safe and secure world together, whilst working on projects that are truly unique?

The Royal Navy rely on our engineering, project management and digital teams to keep their submarines at sea and submariners safe. They Protect our Nation and we help to Protect them.

At Babcock we have a true culture of opportunity – with business contracts that last decades and structured career development pathways that can take you in all kinds of directions; you will grow, develop, and achieve more than you ever thought possible. There has never been a better time for you to join Babcock Submarine Support and play your part in protecting the protectors.

The Role

As a Project Planning Lead, you'll play a vital role in ensuring the right support equipment is available at the right time to enable critical submarine maintenance and refit programmes. Operating at the heart of the defence sector, you'll work across planning, procurement, supply chain, and engineering teams to forecast future requirements, manage equipment demand, and support the successful delivery of complex projects.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a direct contribution to the operational readiness of the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet while developing your career within one of the UK’s leading defence, aerospace and engineering organisations. Working with a wide range of stakeholders, you'll help maintain programme performance, maximise submarine availability, and support the delivery of projects that protect national security.

What you’ll do:

• Leading the planning and coordination of support equipment requirements for future submarine maintenance and refit programmes.
• Developing and maintaining demand schedules that provide visibility of equipment availability, requirements, and potential risks.
• Coordinating procurement, refurbishment, and supply chain activities to ensure support equipment is available when needed.
• Engaging with planning, engineering, operational, and programme stakeholders to maintain accurate planning information.
• Producing reports, schedules, and performance updates that support effective decision-making and programme delivery.

What you’ll need:

• HNC or HND in Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline, or demonstrable equivalent experience gained within a complex engineering, maintenance, or project delivery environment.

• Proven experience in project planning, project management, or programme delivery within a complex engineering or operational environment.
• Good understanding of submarine or surface ship operations, maintenance, and support activities.
• Experience leading and managing geographically dispersed or remote teams.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across multiple functions and levels.
• Excellent communication, reporting, and presentation skills, including producing and presenting management information to diverse audiences

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Our Benefits

We offer you fantastic total rewards, and the ability to have real flexibility - including working from home up to 3 days a week, and a '9 day fortnight' working pattern. It's what sits at the heart of our fantastic and friendly environment, where you'll feel truly welcome.

• Generous holiday allowance of 25 days plus bank holidays
• Contributory Pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock International has helped to defend nations, protect communities, and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please let us know. We are committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone's free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working - please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing Date: 20/11/2026

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