Project Manager

On behalf of the MOD , we are looking for a Project Manager (Inside IR35) for a 2 year contract which is a hybrid role so does require up to 3 days a week in the Portadown West location in Hampshire

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a central government department with a mission to protect our country and provide the ultimate guarantee of its security and independence , as well as helping to protect its values and interests abroad.

An experienced Level 6 Project Manager is required to lead the procurement, mobilisation and implementation of Category Management contracts and frameworks within the Science and Technology (S&T) portfolio at Dstl. The role will be responsible for delivering all aspects of project management , including governance, planning, procurement coordination, stakeholder engagement, risk and issue management , financial control , assurance activities and supplier mobilisation.

The successful candidate will work closely with commercial, technical and business stakeholders to ensure the effective transition from existing arrangements to new contractual frameworks, maintaining continuity of critical scientific, analytical and technical support services to Defence. The role will provide leadership throughout implementation and transition into business-as-usual operations, ensuring the successful embedding of new ways of working, governance arrangements and contract management processes.

A significant aspect of the role is the management of complex contracts and strategic supplier relationships. The Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring contractual obligations, delivery outcomes, performance measures and value-for-money objectives are achieved.

This requires substantial practical contract management experience, with the ability to proactively manage supplier performance, commercial risks, contractual changes, dependencies and delivery issues across multiple stakeholders and suppliers.

SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.

As a Project Manager , your main responsibilities will be

- Project Management – Day to day management and leadership of the project. Provide effective leadership and management controls . Set project controls . Set appropriate delivery methodologies. Manage effective transition between project phases.
- Stakeholder Management – identify and manage stakeholder relationships and need for senior level support. Manage internal and external relationships as appropriate.
- Business Case – Coordinate development of the Business Case. Responsible for the production and co-ordination of the project business case(s) and review notes (where required), throughout the lifecycle of a project, therefore good writing skills are essential
- Risks & Issues – Identify and monitor project risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions and escalate as appropriate. Identify and work with related projects to manage interdependencies.
- Governance – Provide key reports and support effective governance and decision making. Provide reporting and engage in mechanisms that hold you, as Project Manager , to account for delivery.
- Change Management – Ensure effective Change Management processes are in place to agree and document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders.
- Contract Management - Oversee the placement of contracts with strategic suppliers with strong requirements. Manage supplier relationships, and ensure receipt of contracted deliverables to time, cost and quality.

Essential Skills

- Delivery of tasks and projects to time cost and quality (PM1-4)
- Project management experience in effective management of complex contract and supplier relationships
- Stakeholder management at all levels across the business
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to demonstrate the professional credibility required to work collaboratively across project and organisational boundaries;
- Contract management experience and skillset

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, the MOD encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates . Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, the MOD welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following “this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.