SDA - Project Controls Manager

Ministry Of Defence; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental department in the UK is seeking a Project Controls Manager to oversee project control functions for submarine maintenance portfolios. The role involves ensuring data accuracy, working with project managers and contractors, and analyzing project performance. Applicants should have strong stakeholder management skills and experience in project control roles. A competitive salary along with comprehensive benefits and a culture that promotes inclusion are offered. Flexible working options available.

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension with employer contribution of 28.97%

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build relationships with key stakeholders.
• Experience in a regulated environment.
• Demonstrated experience in project control roles.

Responsibilities

• Manage project control functions for submarine maintenance portfolios.
• Ensure quality and accuracy of project controls data.
• Communicate complex project controls data to stakeholders.

Skills

Monitoring and analyzing complex projects

Stakeholder management

Cost management

Scheduling

Risk management

Microsoft applications

Power BI

Education

Degree or membership of a professional body (APM, AcostE)

Job description

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in‑service support, and disposal of the UK's nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK's continuous at‑sea nuclear deterrent (CASD), and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence. At least one of four nuclear‑armed submarines, supported by smaller attack submarines, is on patrol at all times: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

At the SDA, we strive to Support, Deliver and Aspire and put our values at the heart of our recruitment process. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable to be themselves and be supported to do their best work. As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will find a community to belong to. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we'll achieve the extraordinary.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. The SDA is seeking a Project Controls Manager to join our In‑Service Submarine (ISM) team specifically in our Superintendent Submarines (SUSM) Satellite Programme Management Office (PMO) supporting the operational boat programme.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for managing and undertaking the project control functions for Submarine Maintenance portfolios and supporting key elements of the larger projects and portfolios. This role acts as the focal point for all project controls activities, ensuring integration, quality, and accuracy in the data produced by the project controls team. You will play a key role in delivering timely and accurate project performance analysis and supporting internal and external stakeholders in achieving project success.

• Act as the key contact for project controls and to integrate and co‑ordinate all project controls activities within the project/programme.
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of all project controls data and artefacts is in‑line with SDA policy, and ensure that these are utilised by the project team.
• Work with the Project Manager and commercial teams to ensure that contractor and supplier data is received in a timely manner, in an appropriate format, and to the required standards.
• Analyse performance of projects against the Programme Management Board (PMB) and communicate it to the project teams to ensure effective delivery.
• Manage resource planning in line with the project schedule, ensuring resource demand is underpinned by robust BOE (driven by schedule activities).
• Co‑ordinate and analyse project risks (threats and opportunities), alerting senior stakeholders to the need for mitigation and/or escalation.
• Manage project scope and change through robust assumption management and change control mitigation, to ensure that only documented, authorised changes are made.
• Communicate complex project controls data to key stakeholders of the project, programme and SDA Leadership Team, in a clear and audience‑appropriate manner.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated experience in monitoring, analysing, and reporting on complex projects in high‑pressure situations, ensuring alignment with project objectives and performance metrics.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across functions, including project managers, contractors, and external partners, to ensure seamless integration of project controls practices.
• Experience operating within a regulated environment, with an understanding of project controls, cost management, scheduling, and risk management.
• Experience in Microsoft applications and Power BI.
• Must also have experience of the Project Support role, or a previous Project Control Manager assignment.

Desirable Skills

• No specific qualifications mandatory, though a degree or membership of a suitable professional body (APM, AcostE, etc.) would be advantageous.

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Technical Skills

• Controlling a project – Practitioner
• Stakeholder Management – Practitioner

Salary and Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,700, the Ministry of Defence contributes £13,239 towards your membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in‑person attendance (expected to be a minimum of 60% depending on business needs) promotes the benefits of face‑to‑face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work‑life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourself with the site, the team and your role. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD and are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six‑month probation period. Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Please note that the Department is conducting a review of all pay‑related allowances which could impact the allowances that the post currently attracts.

Eligibility and Sponsorship

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points‑based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points‑based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

Application and Interview

To apply, you must provide a Personal Statement/Experience of up to 1,000 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable requirements for the role. Interviews will be conducted over Microsoft Teams. The panel will ask questions about your personal statement, explore your past experiences, key achievements, and qualifications. The selection process assesses Behaviours and Technical Skills as outlined above.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however all examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified, applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates after the interview and before a formal offer of employment is made. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Security and Vetting

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is a security check. People working with government assets must complete a baseline personnel security standard check.

Nationality Requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Equal Opportunity

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria and offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants at risk of redundancy and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.