Project Managers - Defence Science & Technology Laboratory

As a Project Manager leading a diverse team of technical, commercial and project support professionals, you will deliver complicated, innovative and far reaching projects that due to their nature cannot be done by anyone else.

Time, cost and quality is always your primary focus while maintaining standards of governance and risk management to ensure the effective delivery of your work are also key.

What's It Like to Work Here

On paper Dstl is an organisation like any other: we have managers, finance teams, commercial officers etc. BUT our outputs make a real contribution to the safety and security of the United Kingdom. A lot of what we do is a mystery until you join but what we can tell you is - work we are involved in is not limited to the here and now but also visions of the future, next generation iterations and even generation after next. The diversity of our staff is as wide as our work and our people always come first.

Want to know more? Apply today.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.

Projects Managers joining our team:

• Are able to lead and motivate a diverse team to effectively deliver.
• Possess excellent stakeholder management, both internal and external,
• Have great communication skills (written and verbal) and the ability to influence and negotiate with a wide audience to achieve desired results
• Have commercial project knowledge
• Have strong financial acumen including forecasting and analysis
• Are confident reporting to a Programme Manager on project plans, variances, risks and mitigating actions.

A comprehensive and full list of responsibilities for our Level 5 & 6 Project manager roles can be found in the role profiles attached to this advert.

Dstl is looking for experienced Project managers across several divisions:

Our projects address interesting and challenging problems that owing to their sensitivity cannot be done elsewhere and improves the front-line capability of the UK Armed Forces, supports national prosperity, and keeps British citizens safe.

Dstl is looking for experienced Project Managers who are used to delivering within a P3 construct (or similar reporting system) and thrive working in an ever changing and evolving and environment. You'll provide project management practices and we'll supply the technical experts to deliver world leading projects from the bottom of the ocean and into space and beyond.

Check out the Dstl divisions at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dstls-divisions

And to find out more about who we are and what we do visit our Dstl YouTube channel: YouTube channel

A comprehensive and full list of responsibilities can be found in the role profiles attached to CS Jobs. Don’t meet 100% of the person specification? If you have relevant experience, and can do the job – we want your application.

Essential Experience

• Delivering multiple projects consecutively within a recognised project management framework (at level 6 you would typically have 5 years + experience)
• Manage finances with tolerances
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Successfully manage risks
• Contract management experience (level 6)
• Health and safety awareness

Desirable experience:

• Recognised Project Management Qualification (APM / Prince)

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

If you are a current Dstl employee, you are encouraged to inform your line manager of your application as they can support you through the process and should you be successful it will help in negotiating a release date.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Please let us know which level role you are looking for Level 5 or Level 6. Only need to write level 5 or level 6 please.
• Describe a time you worked on multiple projects consecutively and how you prioritised your time to balance the workload?
• How would you detect scope creep and mitigate its effects?

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.
• Flexible working: Full flexibility working options include alternative working patterns, compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours. Remote working may be available dependent on role.
• Flexible working hours: Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

The information pack can be found attached to the job specification on Civil Service Jobs.

Our Diversity Networks

We have a number of support networks to ensure all employees feel supported at work. These include the following:

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Network
• Race, Faith and Culture Network
• Parents and Carer Support Network
• Alternative Working Network
• Gender Equality Network
• New Starters Network
• Enabled Network, for people with visible and non-visible disabilities.