Senior Project Manager SKA-Low

SKA Observatory

Cheshire, United Kingdom

The Role

The SKAO Project Management Group holds the project management and control expertise within the Observatory. During Construction, the Senior Project Managers procure and deliver the SKA-Mid and SKA-Low telescope facilities and the enabling computing & software required by leading teams of project managers and wider matrixed delivery teams. The Senior Project Managers are responsible for delivery of their scope within the agreed budget and schedule, managing change, reviews, risks and issues and performing regular reporting and variance analysis.

The Senior Project Manager SKA-Low leads the procurement and delivery of the SKA-Low telescope. They will oversee a total remaining budget of over Euro 200M (approximately 50M pa) and engage with stakeholders in several of SKAO's member countries. Major SKA-Low sub-systems are being procured from Australia, China, France, Italy, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

This role requires the post holder to work across different time zones and, in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.

The role reports into the Head of Project Management and directly line manages several project managers.

This is a fixed term position with duration of Four years and is based at the SKAO Headquarters at Jodrell Bank, Cheshire, UK.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties

Lead and manage the delivery of the SKA-Low telescope facility through to successful completion, complying with relevant legislation, policies and frameworks;
Actively manage budget, schedule, changes, reviews, risks and issues and perform regular reporting and variance analysis within SKAO's governance framework;
Where contracts not yet awarded, oversee rigorous tender, evaluation and selection processes, complying with organisational policies to select suppliers which best meet the requirements of the programme and organisation;
Manage delivery, providing expertise and guidance as well as ensuring that deliverables are met in line with budgetary constraints and overarching objectives;
Manage the identification, analysis and parts of the mitigation of conventional safety, environmental, reputational and financial risks across scope, cost, schedule, resources and impact on wider programme/business goals;
Develop contracts and procedures for delivery teams to use in the management of suppliers and contractors;
Oversee the delivery of contractor outputs;
Lead quality reviews in order to identify, assess and take action to mitigate risks to programme success;
Liaise with other colleagues, particularly leaders of specialist areas such as Engineering, Computing & Software, Procurement and Assurance, to ensure coordination of effort;
Influence senior internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment around programme delivery to support strategic objectives;
Motivate a diverse (matrixed and line managed) team, coach more junior colleagues, set objectives and review performance to ensure staff have the necessary skills and understanding to deliver objectives;
Regular international travel to the SKAO member countries;
Build productive relationships with the market and appointed suppliers throughout the execution of the contracts;
Review and interpret programme and project management related functional policies or processes, develop and recommend changes and provide advice to colleagues to ensure their effective implementation;
Undertake continuing professional development to maintain the ability to manage their deliveries, according to the evolution of the profession and the evolving needs of the programme itself.

Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Degree qualified or equivalent experience supported by a relevant professional project or programme management qualification (e.g. PMI's PMP or APM's PPQ or ChPP), with deep understanding of the theoretical principles which apply to project and programme management;
Substantial experience of managing delivery of complex projects, including in multi-year, multi-disciplinary, multi-national programmes. This includes:
- Financial and budgetary planning and management skills;
- Managing contingencies, risks and impact;
- Proficient user of appropriate tools;
- Analytical and problem-solving skills.
Experience of successfully delivering engineering projects;
Excellent communication and influencing skills with distributed, highly specialised project teams and stakeholders, across international and diverse cultural backgrounds;
A demonstrated record of successful leadership and management of teams, promoting diversity and developing an inclusive, high-performing culture;
Experience of all aspects of people management including recruitment, capability development and performance management.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Post-graduate qualification in management, engineering or physical sciences;
Full membership of a project management or engineering professional body;
Knowledge of international relations and working with Intergovernmental Organisations;
Industry experience and/or a track record in successful collaboration with industry;
Experience in using the NEC4 contract suite;
Experience in using CEMAR, Primavera P6, Confluence, Google Drive and Jira;
Experience in delivery in remote environments.

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