Project Office Manager

Smiths Detection, part of Smiths Group, is a global leader in threat detection and screening technologies for aviation, ports & borders, defense, and urban security. Our expertise is spread across 5 R&D centers, 21 Global Offices and 7 Manufacturing Sites with 3000 Brilliant minds globally contributing for over 40 years at the frontline which enables us to deliver the solutions needed to protect our society from any threat and illegal passage of explosives, prohibited weapons, contraband, toxic chemicals, and narcotics. Every minute of every day, our technology and talented team members help to make the world a safer place - https://youtu.be/JmcKLJTrHLc

Job Purpose:

The Project Office Manager is responsible for implementing effective planning and project controls to their assigned portfolio of projects/programmes within Smiths Detection. They will ensure that the business standard approach to planning and project controls is being followed, covering all stages of the project lifecycle. The Project Office Manager will work closely with the Commercial and Programmes Director to provide a capability that supports the needs of their assigned portfolio and will drive an improvement in the overall execution of our projects and programmes.

The role will be closely linked to the lean Project Excellence Centre (PEC) and will contribute to the value that it provides to the project management function and wider business.

Duties:

Planning of Projects:

• Ensure that projects/programmes establish and maintain the required minimum number of artefacts (e.g. Work Breakdown Structure, Cost Breakdown Structure, Responsibility Assignment Matrix, Responsible Accountable Consulted Informed (RACI) Matrix, time scheduling, resource planning, risk and change management controls, etc).
• Drive application of recognised project controls practises to achieve the establishment of cost, schedule and resource baselines and the maintenance of such baselines through the updating of forecasts and the management of scope.
• Support the development of plans, methodologies and processes for ensuring compliance with Earned Value Management Systems as required by Client, experience on this is critical especially in Ministry of Defence environment.
• Support the development and maintenance of overall project schedules and ensure that these products reflect the approved scope. Monitor and liaise with project team to mitigate any adverse trends.
• Ensure the development and maintenance of schedule narratives against the original baseline, any subsequent baseline revisions, and the progressed schedule with analysis of critical and near critical path.
• Develop and report according to the schedule development progress metrics and key performance indicators including schedule risk analysis against the project risk register.
• Review and endorse 3rd Party schedules and progress Baseline and forecasts prepared including rolling into the contract master schedule. The master schedule describes contracted activities, milestones and decision points to enable deliver.
• Assistance in developing/writing Risk and Opportunity Management Plan with the Programme Director/Project Manager will be required.
• Develop and Embed the Baseline Change Control process including maintenance, analysis, communication and approval.
• With PM support, conduct monthly variance analysis to explain and interpret the impact against the baseline and the completion and tracking of corrective/preventative actions.

Control of Projects:

• Accountable for the effective execution of project controls related to the initiating, planning, monitoring & controlling, communicating and close-out phases of all projects in their assigned portfolio.
• Responsible for providing cross-functional teams with the necessary project controls support to achieve successful completion of projects to their committed delivery dates within budgeted costs operating as an embedded member of project teams. As required, lead the activities of Project Controllers in order to deliver the necessary service to that area.
• Operate in accordance with the standard project business rhythm that coordinates the activities of project/programme management, finance and project controls teams.
• For every project establish and maintain the required minimum number of artefacts (e.g. Work Breakdown Structure, Cost Breakdown Structure, Responsibility Assignment Matrix, Responsible Accountable Consulted Informed (RACI) Matrix, cost, scheduling, risk and change management controls, etc) commensurate with the project categorisation.
• Follow recognised project controls practises to achieve the establishment of cost and schedule baselines and the maintenance of such baselines through the updating of forecasts and the management of scope. Apply the defined risk and change control process in accordance with the business rhythm.
• Conduct monthly variance analysis to explain and interpret the impact against the baseline and the completion and tracking of corrective/preventative actions.
• Accountable for the completion of timely, accurate and standardised project reporting across their assigned portfolio of projects at all levels.

People and Talent Management:

• Provide support to the Project Office team and manage the talent across the team.
• Promote disciplined planning and project controls throughout the portfolio/programme/projects and wider project management function.

Commercial:

• Assuring that best industry practise planning and project controls are employed and through customer reporting provide confidence that projects are being planned, monitored and controlled in a professional manner.
• Lead an established project management office with the required capability (e.g. lead people, tools, etc) to deliver in accordance with specific customer planning and project controls requirements, such as the use of specified planning tools or the application of practises such as earned value management.

Policies and Procedures:

• Embrace the standardised and integrated PEC framework covering Project Lifecycle Management, Product Lifecycle Process and Science & Technology Process applied across the global business.
• Support the Global Technology Programmes Director with their contribution to the regular maintenance of the PEC process framework to ensure that it accurately reflects Smiths Detection planning and project controls practices.

Planning and Decision Making:

• Portfolio responsibility for planning, organising and implementing project controls.
• Responsible for following a standardised project controls approach for the global Smith Detection business.
• Required to operate autonomously in accordance with strategic direction from line manager.

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Educational requirements:

• Degree qualified (HND minimum) in relevant discipline – Business/Project Management or Technology/Engineering.
• Internationally recognised professional qualification in project controls such as Project Planning and Control (Practitioner).
• PMI PMP or IPMA certification in project management would be beneficial.

Knowledge:

• Extensive knowledge of cost, data management and reporting methodologies/techniques.
• Detailed understanding of planning methodologies/techniques and all other aspects of project controls such as earned value management.
• Demonstrated understanding of data science and business intelligence technologies and the value that its application creates.
• Understanding of complex integrated technology-based sensor systems.

Skills:

• Experience with baseline planning and scheduling, forecasting and estimating, cost/schedule integration techniques.
• Resource management and integration with Integrated Business Planning.
• Experience in critical path analysis, reporting, risk management tracking and the completion of corrective action plans.
• Proficient in the use of estimating, scheduling, risk and change software tools such as: SAP, Primavera, Oracle ERP, MS Project, Pertmaster, Active Risk Manager, Cobra, Power BI.
• Strong verbal and written communication and people management skills.
• Proven problem-solving skills combined with experience performing data analysis to benefit the delivery of projects by enabling the creation of an environment that operates on informed decision making.
• Experience or exposure to the implementing of project controls practices in a project environment and demonstrate capability to work under own initiative and produce governance documentation to adequately record and communicate the process.
• Experience of continuous improvement adopting both formal and informal approaches.
• Experience of product development covering product introduction, enhancement and sustaining.

Competence and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate at all levels of the organisation.
• Proficient at influencing and acting as a champion for project governance, particularly those related to project controls requirements.
• Ability to manage a multicultural team in a matrix environment and influence people outside of direct reporting relationships.
• Vision, attention to detail, highly organised and proven ability to work under own initiative.
• Take a lead role in the production and control of baselined, fully logic linked, cost and resource loaded plans, with appropriate milestones utilising approved work breakdown structures and techniques.
• Capable of producing special reports for the Senior Leadership Team within short timescales and comfortable working with ambiguity.
• Leading the application of change activities from proposal through to integration into the Performance Measurement Baseline.

To find out more about life at Smiths Detection check out our LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/smiths-detection/ and follow our story

Join us for a great career and competitive compensation & benefits whilst keeping the world a safer place.

Diversity & Inclusion:

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (www.smithsdetection.com/careers)

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)