Project Controller

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Project Controller Outside IR35 to join the team with our prestigious client at their site in Glasgow

Primary Purpose of the Role:

The primary purpose of the role is to provide project planning and monitoring and control expertise to the Project.

Working directly with the Project Manager (PM)/Control Account Manager (CAM) and PCM, this role supports the definition of the project goals and objectives, creates and maintains cost and schedule baselines, monitors and analyses progress against the baselines, and advises and challenges the Project Manager on their decision-making through the presentation and interpretation of relevant project data.

Key to the role is to integrate into the project management team, in order to assist the PM/CAM in key decision making and provide guidance and coaching to the project team. The Project Controller should understand the project status to a level where they can make informed analysis of any changes to schedule, cost, scope and Integrated Business Planning (IBP).

Principal Relationships:

The jobholder reports to the PCM, however they are required to develop networks and build key relationships within the project team to obtain ‘buy-in’ and cooperation in order to achieve objectives and fulfil responsibilities. Interfaces and communication shall be with all stakeholders and include, but are not limited to:

• PCM
• Head of PMO
• Programme Managers, Control Account Managers, Work Package Managers and Technical Leads across the programme
• Financial Controllers
• OME S&OP Team
• Risk and Opportunity SMEs
• Manufacturing/Production Planners
• Supply Chain Managers

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Responsible for ensuring baseline management is established and maintained across their area of responsibility for the Integrated Master Schedule and associate financial ETC & EAC position.

• Responsible for the generation, baseline and monitoring/control of the WBS, schedule, work package management, EAC, Earned Value Management and associated metrics for their area of responsibility in line with the Business Rhythm.

• Ensure update of project schedules to reflect progressed/completed work, with estimates to complete (ETC) established via allocation of required budget and resources to outstanding scheduled activities.

• Identify slippages within the project schedule and support the PM/CAM on the mitigation of these, where possible, through agreed re-planning actions.

• Provide performance data to support decision-making and inform / improve the planning and execution of outstanding work packages for their control accounts. Identify focus areas for the PM/CAM and management, with recommended actions to address any identified variances or improve performance.

• Support the timely production of both internal and external project reports and programme artefact delivery.

• Support the communication of all key milestones, objectives and programme position.

• Analyse area of responsibility demand profiles in accordance with IBP cycle and work closely with Programme Managers and PCM / Head of PMO to undertake and conclude “what if” scenario planning.

• Ensure that demand areas of concern are highlighted such that they are resolved appropriately.

• Support the generation and approval of both Programme and Business level monthly reporting across the Project. Attend the Project Management Reviews and be prepared to present the cost/schedule aspects as required.

• Support the effective and efficient process for managing Cost and Schedule Change Control.

• Take responsibility for the update and analysis of area of responsibility IBP data, ensuring that all IBP data published is correct and accurate and has been fully signed off by the Project Manager and Work Package Managers (WPMs).

• Support Risk Management process, risk reviews and modelling.

• Ensure correct governance is followed to ensure the project is well controlled, including identifying where governance is lacking and influencing a change in ways of working to ensure control.

• Adhere to the specification and implementation of best practise for project control standards & procedures for reporting in line with corporate policies.

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrated ability to work to specified time-scales and expected deliveries, whilst displaying the drive to achieve work-related goals.

• Detailed understanding of the planning process & the role / importance of milestones, dependencies, project networks, float & critical path.

• Has an understanding of the project management & control process that includes change control, risk & opportunity management, plus financial management.

• Detailed understanding of the principles of Earned Value Management, the demands that EVM reporting places on the schedule & the ability to implement EVM on Projects.

• Has an understanding of the project life cycle for complex programmes with an understanding of Development, Production and Long Term Support activities.

• Working knowledge / application of scheduling tools such as Oracle Primavera and Microsoft Project.

• Working knowledge / application of Microsoft Office suite particularly the application of data analysis & summarisation techniques such as pivot tables & charting using Microsoft Excel.

• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

• Able to analyse and interpret underlying causes, themes & trends, whilst also being able to think through the consequences of different options and solutions and communicate these to the project team. Be able to influence where attention is required and drive action.

• Able to identify areas where a change in ways of working is required to ensure control of the project and be able to influence the project team to implement these changes

• Literacy level and report writing skills should meet requirements to produce short presentations, flow-charts or mini-reports suitable for distribution to senior management.

• Numeracy level should be aligned with the need to carry out detailed investigation of cost variance(s) and publishing of financial information directly into Company financial reports.

Experience:

• Proven successful “hands-on” experience in planning, scheduling, data analysis & cost control within a complex engineering/manufacturing environment covering high level & detailed schedule compilation, programme reporting, budgeting & risk management.

• A relevant Defence or Civil Aviation background would be advantageous.

Qualifications:

• HNC/HND level education in an Engineering or Business Management discipline desirable (and / or proven successful work experienced in planning a complex and sizeable project environment).

Recognising the RESTRICTED nature of the work, suitable candidates will be SC cleared or eligible for this level of clearance