Programmes Directorate Business Manager
At the SKAO we are coordinating a global effort to deliver one of the largest science facilities on the planet. The SKAO telescopes will be next-generation instruments that will help to answer key questions in astrophysics, drive technological innovation and support human capital development.
More than a dozen partner countries and over a thousand scientists and engineers around the world are already on board, making the SKA project an international collaboration like no other, and one of the most ambitious science and engineering endeavours of the 21st century.
Headquartered in the UK, with telescope sites in Australia and South Africa, the SKAO will be one observatory operating two telescopes, an endeavour spanning three continents. Multinational by design, in early 2021 the SKAO became an intergovernmental organisation, one of only a select handful of science infrastructures to do so worldwide.
Our Global HQ is located near the buzzing city of Manchester at the historic Jodrell Bank Observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Cheshire countryside. It is home to a rapidly expanding international team of more than a hundred, working in a highly collaborative and inclusive way, in coordination with SKAO teams in Australia and South Africa as part of a global astronomy and engineering community.
Being part of Team SKA means contributing to something extraordinary: a uniquely exciting project to advance human knowledge that will last for decades. In return, we offer a diverse multicultural working environment, 30 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme, visa and support with relocation (if applicable), regular social events, a family-friendly environment and much more. Come and join us!
The Programmes Directorate Business Manager is the Director of Programmes' senior coordination, integration, and business management lead, responsible for ensuring Directorate priorities are translated into coherent actions, high-quality governance outputs, and measurable delivery improvements.
The role acts as the day-to-day integrator across the Programmes Directorate and the wider Observatory, breaking down silos between technical, programme, commercial, financial, assurance, operations, science, and corporate functions. It ensures Directorate activity is coordinated, decision-driven, forward-looking, and aligned to SKAO's strategic priorities.
The postholder will operate with delegated authority from the Director of Programmes to coordinate Directorate outputs, manage the Directorate's governance rhythm, drive closure of actions, escalate emerging issues, and lead business improvement activity where cross-functional ownership is unclear or fragmented.
This senior enabling role is intended to increase the effectiveness, tempo, and coherence of the Director of Programmes, the Programmes Directorate Senior Leadership Team, and the Directorate's contribution to Observatory-wide delivery.
Job Location Cheshire, UK (Head Office)The SKAO is an intergovernmental organisation with a global footprint, building and operating advanced radio telescopes across the UK, South Africa, and Australia. The Observatory's mission combines major scientific ambition, international collaboration, advanced engineering, software, data, and long-term operations.
The Programmes Directorate operates in a complex environment involving construction, systems integration, software delivery, engineering assurance, in-kind contributions, host-country interfaces, financial constraints, evolving operations readiness, and external governance by Member States.
The Business Manager must therefore operate across technical, organisational, and political boundaries, ensuring that Directorate outputs are timely, coherent, decision-useful, and aligned to the needs of internal and external governance.
This a fixed-term role to the end of March 2030 and is based at the SKAO Headquarters at Jodrell Bank, UK.
SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory.
There may be occasions where this role requires the post holder to work across different time zones and, in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.
Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties
- Act as the principal day-to-day coordinator of Programmes Directorate outputs on behalf of the Director of Programmes.
Establish and maintain an effective Directorate operating rhythm, including forward agendas, action tracking, decision logs, briefing cycles, escalation routes, and governance preparation.
Maintain a Directorate-level view of key commitments, actions, risks, issues, decisions, and upcoming governance obligations.
Ensure Directorate priorities are converted into clear deliverables with named owners, deadlines, dependencies, and completion criteria.
Proactively identify and resolve gaps, overlaps, duplication, and friction across Directorate teams and between the Directorate and wider Observatory functions.
Build strong working relationships with Engineering, Software, Telescope Delivery Teams, Operations, Science, Assurance, Finance, Commercial, HR, Legal, IT, and external partner-facing teams.
Lead coordination of Programmes Directorate inputs to key internal and external governance bodies, including Executive Group, Council, Committee of Council, Finance Committee, Science and Engineering Advisory Committee, Construction Programme Board, and other relevant forums.
Ensure governance materials are decision-focused, evidence-based, concise, forward-looking, and aligned to the expectations of each forum.
Maintain a forward governance calendar for the Directorate, identifying upcoming decisions, papers, briefings, risks, and engagement opportunities.
Coordinate Directorate briefings, papers, presentations, speaking notes, dashboards, and action responses for the Director of Programmes.
Ensure external governance engagement is proactive rather than reactive, with clear what, who, when, why, and decision-required framing.
Track and coordinate closure of governance actions, ensuring commitments made to senior bodies are followed through.
Support the Director of Programmes in preparing for senior stakeholder engagements, including Member-state, partner, contractor, and advisory body interactions.
Identify opportunities to simplify, streamline, or improve Directorate processes, governance, reporting, and management information.
Lead targeted business improvement initiatives where the issue cuts across teams or where ownership is unclear.
Improve the quality, consistency, and usefulness of Directorate reporting, dashboards, briefing materials, and management information.
Support Directorate planning cycles, including annual planning, quarterly reviews, external governance preparation, strategic priorities, and major Directorate interventions.
Support integration of programme controls, risk, finance, workforce, technical, and stakeholder information into coherent Directorate-level advice.
Coordinate preparations for major Directorate events, planning days, reviews, audits, governance sessions, and senior visits.
Assist the Director of Programmes in maintaining delivery tempo, action closure, and leadership focus.
Coordinate Directorate messaging for internal and external audiences, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and alignment with Observatory priorities.
Prepare or coordinate high-quality written material for the Director of Programmes, including briefings, notes, presentations, summaries, and action responses.
Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in a relevant discipline such as business management, programme/project management, engineering management, public administration, science administration, strategy, operations, or organisational management.
Significant experience in business management, programme coordination, chief of staff, PMO leadership, executive office, strategy implementation, or complex operational coordination roles.
Experience operating directly with senior executives or senior leadership teams.
Experience coordinating complex cross-functional activity in a matrix organisation.
Experience preparing, coordinating, or quality-assuring senior governance materials, executive briefings, reports, papers, or decision packs.
Experience driving action closure, business improvement, and organisational follow-through across multiple teams.
Experience working across organisational silos and influencing without direct authority.
Experience handling sensitive, ambiguous, or politically complex issues with discretion and sound judgement.
Experience improving business rhythms, governance processes, reporting cycles, or operating models.
Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Experience in a large science, engineering, infrastructure, software, defence, aerospace, research, or intergovernmental environment.
Experience in international or Member-state governance environments.
Familiarity with major programme delivery, systems integration, technical assurance, software delivery, or construction-to-operations transition.
Familiarity with programme controls, risk management, change control, configuration management, or benefits/impact tracking.
Experience supporting senior committees, boards, advisory bodies, or external governance structures.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement
SKA Observatory recognises that our diversity is a strength. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong, and diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. As such, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are at the core of SKA Observatory’s agenda.
Our aim is to recruit and retain the most talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, nationality or background.
Women have traditionally been under-represented in the fields of science and engineering; SKA Observatory welcomes and encourages female applicants.
Where applicants with a disability need facilities or adjustments to enable them to participate in the recruitment process, these will be provided.
SKA Observatory welcome all candidates, especially those from member countries.
The “How to Apply” information contained within the SKA Observatory recruitment portal provides more detail regarding our application and selection approach.
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