Project Office Manager

The Project Office Manager for Ultra Maritime will report directly into the PMO Director. They will be responsible for the development and implementation of best practice project management tools and processes to support project execution and delivery in a consistent approach within a Life Cycle Management environment. They will act as the technical authority in Project Management and Risk Management. Ultra Maritime is a matrix organisation and as such requires the candidate to have a full understanding of a matrix structure. They must be able to demonstrate the benefits of this type of structure and how to get the best performance through good communication between the teams and create more innovative ways of working. This exciting opportunity will be supporting complex projects on current and new product development of naval sonar systems, including hull-mounted, variable depth and torpedo defence sonars as well as future sonar and platform, data & weapon systems. They will ensure all aspects of Project and Risk Management are implemented and applied in a consistent manner whilst working collaboratively with the Engineering and Project Management teams. The Project Office Manager is expected to be the definitive expert in Project and Risk Management processes as well as the tools required to manage and plan complex projects

• Some of the key responsibilities include:

• Develop and maintain project management tools, templates, and guidelines to support project execution and delivery.

• Implement and manage project management software and tools to streamline project workflows and improve efficiency.

• Define and document project management processes and methodologies in alignment with industry best practices and organizational requirements.

• Provide guidance and support to project teams in the use of project management tools, processes, and methodologies.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify process improvement opportunities and drive initiatives to enhance project delivery effectiveness.

• Monitor project performance metrics and KPIs to identify trends, issues, and areas for improvement.

• Conduct regular reviews and audits of project documentation to ensure compliance with established processes and standards.

• Lead training sessions and workshops to educate project teams on project management tools, processes, and best practices.

• Stay abreast of emerging trends and developments in project management tools, methodologies, and technologies.

• Risk Identification: Proactively identify and assess risks associated with project activities, including but not limited to financial, technical, operational, and regulatory risks.

• Risk Assessment: Evaluate the potential impact and likelihood of identified risks, utilizing quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to prioritize risks based on their severity and urgency.

• Risk Mitigation Planning: Develop risk mitigation strategies and action plans in collaboration with project teams to minimize the impact of identified risks on project objectives. This may include implementing risk controls, transferring risk through insurance or contracts, or avoiding high-risk activities.

• Risk Monitoring and Reporting: Monitor the effectiveness of risk mitigation measures throughout the project lifecycle, regularly reviewing and updating risk registers and communicating risk status to relevant stakeholders. Prepare comprehensive risk reports for project management and executive leadership, highlighting key risks, trends, and recommended actions.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with project teams, senior management, clients, and external partners to foster a risk-aware culture and promote proactive risk management practices. Facilitate risk workshops and meetings to facilitate risk identification, analysis, and decision-making.

• Compliance and Governance: Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, standards, and organizational policies related to risk management. Implement and maintain robust risk management frameworks and processes, driving continuous improvement and best practices across projects and departments.

• Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, or related field. Master's degree preferred.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) APM certification or equivalent.

• Proven experience in project management, with a focus on tools, methodologies, and processes (including demonstrated experience with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and Cobra).

• Strong understanding of project management principles, frameworks, and best practices (e.g., PMBOK, Agile, Scrum, PRINCE2 practitioner).

• Hands-on experience with project management software and tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, JIRA, Asana).

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify process improvement opportunities and drive initiatives.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and be able to influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities, with a passion for driving change and continuous improvement.

• Proven experience in Project Risk Management, preferably within the defence sector, with a full understanding of and demonstrated experience of conducting QRSAs on projects.

• Proficiency in Risk Management software

Benefits on offer:

• Flexible working hours

• 1pm finish on a Friday

• Optional 9 day fortnight

• Hybrid working for certain job roles.

• Casual dress

• 25 days holiday

• Christmas shut down.

• Option to buy or sell holiday.

• Option to purchase private health care, dental, critical illness etc via salary sacrifice.

• Reward hub - discounts at over 200 online stores

• 4 x annual salary life cover

• Pension starting at 5% Employer / 4% Employee. You can select your employee contribution level from 4% to 70% (providing this sacrifice does not cause your salary to drop below the National Minimum Wage/ National Living Wage).

• Annual bonus

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Relocation Support

Attracting high-level talent and people that can add value and expertise, is vital to our success. Attracting and retaining brilliant people is imperative so that’s why we search across the UK for talent. We offer financial support to candidates that are considering relocating; this is considered on a case-by-case basis per role and subject to HMRC guidelines.

Nationality Requirements

Candidates must be eligible to obtain the relevant security clearance required for the role, due to the nature of the programmes we deliver for our customers.

Diverse & Inclusive Employer

Ultra Maritime is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity, inclusion, equity and equality. Underpinned by our values, behaviours, and policies, we want you to feel empowered to be your best and authentic self.

We promote a workplace that welcomes people from all backgrounds and cultures; believing that this will increase our diversity of thinking, and ultimately ensure we continue delivering on our commitments to our customers.

We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status and welcome applications from all candidates.