Project Manager- Software

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 SKAO Project Management Group holds the project management and control expertise within the Observatory. During Construction, the Project Manager procures the services and delivers the software required for the SKA-Mid and SKA-Low telescope facilities by managing a portfolio of contracts and work packages. The Project Manager forms the primary managerial link between SKAO as the client and the selected suppliers and is responsible for delivery of their scope within the agreed budget and schedule, managing change, reviews, risks and issues and performing regular reporting and variance analysis.

The Software Project Manager will be part of the Construction programme delivery team providing project management capability working closely with SKAO and supplier team members and part of the Software Solution Team management.

Job Location Cheshire, UK (Head Office)

The Software Project Manager will manage the contractual and supplier relationships for the delivery of telescope construction related software products.  This will be completed via a broad portfolio of contracts providing software related services in conjunction with SKAO permanent team members:

Area

Contracts

Value (value per annum) Euro M

Countries

Software services

Portfolio of software related contracts including commercial and in-kind suppliers

€115m total software budget with approximately €40m remaining excluding risk contingency provision.

UK, Australia, South Africa, France, Switzerland, India, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, France

This role will be based at the SKAO Global Headquarters at the iconic Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire, 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

• Manage the delivery of the software products and services (major elements of highly complex projects / portfolios) through to successful completion, complying with relevant legislation, SKAO policies and frameworks.
• Actively manage budget, schedule, changes, reviews, risks and issues and perform regular reporting and variance analysis within SKAO’s governance framework aligned with the Low and Mid telescope delivery schedules.
• Where contracts not yet awarded or up for renewal, conduct rigorous tender, evaluation and selection processes, complying with organisational policies to select suppliers which best meet the requirements of the project and organisation.
• Ensure that the deliverables from these contracts and the work of the internal teams are integrated into the project level tools and systems.
• Assess programmatic and reputational risks associated with their contracts, recommend appropriate actions to senior managers and implement and report on agreed actions.
• Take prompt action to resolve any problems in accordance with the terms of the contract, including negotiating and managing contract variances.
• Manage an effective governance and control environment with their contractors to ensure the direction of travel in the contracts is aligned to the business case and data integrity is maintained, taking corrective actions when needed.
• Undertake contract quality reviews and audits in order to identify, assess and take action to mitigate risks to project success.
• Lead and co-ordinate efforts across the internal matrix organisation, including project control, engineers, procurement specialists, assurance and operations staff, to guide and support the contractors, with all applicable processes.
• Set task objectives and monitor performance, feeding back to team members and their functional/line managers or supplier representative to ensure team members have the necessary skills and understanding to deliver their requirements, coaching more junior colleagues as appropriate.
• Provide advice to senior management or senior programme/project leaders to support change through understanding and insight in order to have an impact on overall programme/project performance.
• Review and interpret programme and project management related functional policies or processes, develop and recommend changes and provide advice to colleagues to ensure their effective implementation.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders/customers to gain buy in and to support effective collaboration.
• Undertake continuing professional development to maintain the ability to manage their deliveries, according to the evolution of the profession and the evolving needs of the project itself.

Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Degree qualified or equivalent experience 
• Highly experienced in project delivery including large scale software development and IT projects in multi-national, multi-disciplinary matrixed environments. 
• Knowledge/experience in contract management and associated procedures and processes, with the ability to agree and shape ways of working to a particular project environment. 
• Ability to monitor, plan and manage an agreed budget within a defined area, producing reports, analysis and forecasts. 
• Ability to provide team leadership for a geographically dispersed, multi-cultural team working across several time-zones. 
• Ability to organise own work and plan ahead for others 
• Ability to develop and review project plans taking account of business and customer requirements and reconciling competing demands. 
• Experienced in informal and formal communications influencing across different levels of the business, including senior management, suppliers and stakeholders to influence behaviour. 
• Proficient user of web-based tools and services used in the delivery of complex projects, including scheduling, financial, configuration, collaboration and risk tools.
• Financial and budgetary planning and management skills. Ability to agree resources for a defined area as part of forward planning, monitoring progress and adjusting resources or priorities to meet goals.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Post-graduate qualification in management, computing, IT or business.
• End to end IT project lifecycle experience including mobilisation, delivery, transition to operations and project closure.
• Systems integration experience or experience of working within a software team (design, build, test).
• Membership or certification in a project management or related professional body (e.g. PMI’s PMP, APM’s PMQ, SAFe or Prince 2 Agile).
• Industry experience and/or a track record in successful collaboration with industry.
• Experience in using enterprise level tools and applications, for example contract management tools (e.g. CEMAR), Planning and scheduling tools (e.g. Primavera P6), collaboration tools (e.g. Confluence, Jira, Miro), Microsoft and Google office suite applications.
• Experience in using the NEC4 contract suite.

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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