Project Manager

Project Manager (Science Research Infrastructure Projects)
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £39,748 to £44,166 per annum, pro rata if Part Time (dependent on skills and experience)
Hours: Full time or Part time considered
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire
Closing Date: Wednesday 21st June 2023

Together, our scientist, technologists, engineers and business team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

The RAL Particle Physics Project Office manages many of the UK’s national and international particle physics research-infrastructure projects. The resulting experiments contribute to fundamental understanding of the building blocks of the universe in a field where only few people in the world have such enviable access. As project manager you will manage one or more of a wide range of these UK projects. Our growing portfolio includes DUNE, Hyper-K, CMS, SWIFT-HEP, LHCb, AIT and AION.

The role requires sound knowledge and experience in project management but does not require a scientific or technical background. We therefore welcome applicants from a scientific or technical field or an applicant from a completely different field. Both of whom we believe would bring valuable skills to the role in different ways.

As Project Manager, you will work alongside the Principal Investigator to ensure that UK contributions are delivered most appropriately to the international projects. The projects are mostly waterfall in nature but have elements of agile. They involve the definition, design, construction, co-ordination, delivery and commissioning of significant technical and scientific contributions to international experiments, ranging from mechanical hardware (such as large detector components), civil engineering (underground tunnels) through state-of-the-art electronics to software for experiment control and data analysis. You will ensure that suitable management of the project is in place to enable reliable planning and informed decision making to provide accurate and informative reporting through the use and maintenance of appropriate project tools. A rigorous approach to formal project management is essential and an ability to analytically interpret, record and present project plans, risks and performance data to investigate project issues is vital.

The main challenge for the project manager is the management of the collaborative aspects of the projects. The projects are long-term (>3 years) and often part of long running programmes (~20 years). In the UK this can involve a national collaboration of typically 15 university physics departments as well as STFC national laboratories working together to deliver to the international programme. UK project costs range up to the tens of £millions. There is a strong element of financial management required for the role. You must exhibit a pragmatic attitude towards the work of others, particularly in a collaborative environment where there is no line-management control of participants.

The Project Office follows closely the approach promoted by the UK Association for Project Management whilst being tailored for use within a complex collaborative science environment. You will be expected to help develop these methods and processes as a member of the Project Office team in the interests of continuous improvement. Some project support is provided via processes and support staff within the Project Office but it will be the successful candidate’s responsibility and accountability to ensure that the project is managed in the appropriate manner.

Not only is this an exciting role at the forefront of science and technology in some of the most complex and exciting projects in the world today, but you will also gain excellent experience of formal project management in a collaborative environment. The role gives considerable scope for personal and professional development as well as further training, aiming to reach Chartered Project Professional within a suitable time frame.

Person Specification
The below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Candidates should be careful to outline in their cover letter how they meet the specifications. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Essential:
Project management qualification equivalent to APM PMQ (S)
A bachelors degree (or equivalent) in a numerate subject (S)
Experience of delivering projects as project manager (S&I)
Up-to-date understanding and evidence of applying formal project management methods, controls and processes (S&I)
Demonstrable excitement for our projects (S&I)
Strong communication and personal skills, good writing style (cover letter), experience of comprehensive reporting and presenting, ability to integrate into a highly collaborative and semi-structured environment. Pragmatic and flexible approach (S&I)
Analytical approach with confidence in the use of project scheduling and analytical tools (I)
Commitment to continuous improvement and to be challenged (I)
Ability to undertake some travel within the UK and perhaps abroad. (S)

Desirable:
Higher level project management qualifications (S)
Membership of a relevant professional institution (e.g. APM) (S)
Experience as project manager in complex/collaborative or a variety of environments (S&I)
Experience of implementing new project management methods, controls or analytics (I)
Experience of complex procurement (I)
Some of our projects have specific requirements: for example the Hyper-K project requires the individual to have an interest in Japanese culture (I)

Employee Benefits:
We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:
30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
Flexible working hours.
An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
Employee shopping/travel discounts.
Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We are committed to sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all, to help us achieve the highest possible standards in our work and organisation together. In this regard, we encourage applications from under-represented groups.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself.

Join us and discover what’s possible.