Company overview
The Aerospace Technology Institute sits at the centre of UK aerospace research and technology. It is responsible for the UK’s Aerospace Technology Strategy and development of a national R&T investment presently worth over £4 billion through to 2031. It is a truly game-changing initiative, whose objective is to reduce aviation’s environmental impact through providing thought leadership on all aspects on the future of flight and through funding research projects that secure jobs, maintain skills and deliver economic benefits across the UK.
The importance of aerospace to the UK cannot be overstated. The UK is Europe’s number one aerospace manufacturer, second globally only to the United States. The industry is a major driver of economic prosperity through leading edge technology, high-wage jobs and high-value exports. The industry is resilient and growing at over 4.5% each year. These reasons are the basis for government investment and a coordinated effort to position the UK for success.
A small and young company charged with a big responsibility, the ATI encourages free thinking and innovation. We need individuals with drive, passion, ability to adapt and work flexibly, and who share our ambitions for the sector and UK. Our team is collaborative, open, respectful, positive and supportive.
Mission statement
Transforming aerospace through technology and innovation.
Diversity & inclusion
We are experts in our field, trusted to be impartial in our activities, and present a fair and independent view. We are passionate about innovation and technology and understand the rewards of bringing together a diverse and forward-thinking team to explore, enhance and shape our aerospace agenda. We are committed to equality in everything we do. We are proud to lead by example, demonstrating independent leadership and collaborating for success in all aspects of our work.
The opportunity
Position Title: Programme Management Office Lead
Job Type: Fixed-Term Contract (to end March 2025) or open to secondment opportunities
Location: London (hybrid working)
Travel: As required
Reporting to: Programme Director – HCN
The Hydrogen Capability Network programme
The Programme Management Office (PMO) Lead will join the ATI’s Hydrogen Capability Network (HCN) team, which is at the heart of the ATI’s efforts to decarbonise flight. Phase 1 of the HCN is a 12-month project which runs from April 2024 to end of March 2025. Phase 1 follows a successful Phase 0 project and will continue to develop the objectives of the HCN and will focus on the following objectives:
- Developing a long-term strategy and business case for the future of the HCN, including future operating and funding models.
- Mobilisation and delivery of a two-year capital infrastructure programme to develop a medium scale liquid hydrogen test hub.
- Mobilisation and delivery of a four-year strategic research programme on Cryogenic Hydrogen Materials Testing Standards (CHyMES) for future aircraft design.
- Securing funding and delivery of a skills pilots for liquid hydrogen in aerospace. To lead to a future skills strategy and programme.
- Developing a strategy for enabling the next 10 years of liquid hydrogen test and demonstration to make future hydrogen aircraft a reality.
- Working in collaboration with industry and academia to scope strategic research projects and a challenge led approach to future research.
- Engagement and collaboration across the entire aerospace sector on this emerging capability to gain insights, gather requirements and disseminate knowledge and develop strategic partnerships.
Phase 1 of the programme will run from April 2024 to March 2025, during which the HCN will submit a proposal into government to secure long-term funding for the sector for LH2.
The key outputs from Phase 1 include:
- Development of a business Case for subsequent phases of the HCN
- Developing a strategy for next phase of test infrastructure
- The design of a LH2 research programme
- The design of a sector skills programme
- Securing LH2 supply for test hubs and materials test programme
Continued sector engagement and collaboration
The role
The HCN PMO Lead will report to the Programme Director and work with all workstream leads to deliver the objectives of Phase 1.
The role of PMO Lead is to ensure timely delivery of the HCN Phase 1 project outputs, deliver PPM improvements and to coordinate the programme management across the HCN workstreams and achieve the following objectives:
- Delivery of Phase 1 to plan and consistent quality. Manage master milestone plan (inc. change control) across workstreams, holding to account to achieve planned output.
- Quality internal and external progress reporting to support programme governance obligations.
- Processes and improvements to support a cohesive and high performing team; ensuring Phase 0 lessons and process improvements are embedded.
- Future PPM process design, and plans for follow on phases of the HCN.
- PMO subject matter expert to all workstreams and to support development of more junior embedded PM skillset across workstreams to deliver all PMO responsibilities.
Responsibilities will include:
- Planning and milestone management: Responsible for maintaining the HCN master delivery plan, progress reporting and change control.
- Delivery support: Provide project management support to workstreams and external delivery projects as required to meet priority objectives.
- Benefits Management: establish clear benefits management approach, implement and track delivery results.
- Managing risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies (RAID): Responsible for maintaining the HCN programme RAID with regular reviews and actioning tasks.
- Governance: Support programme and project level governance design, development and implementation with clear terms of reference.
- Meeting administration and workshop facilitation: manage HCN team meetings, include agreeing agendas, recording actions and minutes where required.
- Stakeholder management and engagement: ensure workstreams are following process in capturing and logging engagements and impact can be measured.
- HCN requirements management: Capturing requirements from sector and other initiatives and making sure HCN monitor implementation where appropriate.
- PMO Continuous improvement: ensure HCN operational activities are reviewed and developed as required to achieve continuous improvement.
- Future HCN Phases
- Planning: Lead process development and project planning for Phase 2
- PPM support: Supporting technical/strategic analyst around governance and process design for future funding programmes.
- Business Case: draft the sections for the future HCN Business Case capturing appropriate management process and plans.
The candidate
The candidate will be passionate about the decarbonisation of flight and driving change within the aerospace sector. They will be a strategic thinker with strong strategy development and commercial experience within aerospace or related industries.
Background and experience
- Degree level qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline, with an appropriate project management qualification.
- Relevant project or programme management experience.
- Experience in creating and implementing project plans.
- Project management and delivery of project governance at a senior level
- Experience in PMO process development and implementation of improvements
- Management of project requirements and benefits tracking.
Skills and knowledge
- Strong relationship and influencing skills.
- Ability to transition between working the detail to seeing the big picture.
- Great communication skills – ability to hold team accountable for actions and tasks.
- Good understanding of project management tools and frameworks.
- Awareness of aerospace sector and/or research and development (R&D) would be beneficial.
- Understanding of government approvals and government department structures would be advantageous.
- Ability to capture and consolidate activities and issues from across the team and summarise concisely.
- Strong IT skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Word and other project management toolsets)
As an individual
- Self-starter with great energy and drive to deliver.
- Naturally organised with an ability to juggle multiple priorities and help organise others across a team.
- Strong communicator who comes across with conviction and credibility and is able to engage at various levels.
- Natural collaborator with strong work ethic and team spirit with the ability to take the leadership, strategic and implementation aspects of the role in his/her stride.
- Comfortable working in ambiguous situations, energetic and flexible to pick up and lead work in areas on the periphery of their core responsibilities to “get the job done”.
Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.
ATI benefits
- Competitive salary
- Attractive pension scheme
- Private Medical Insurance
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Life Assurance
- Professional development training
- Paid membership to one professional body per year
- Hybrid working, including core hours
- 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and additional Christmas leave
- Company Maternity & Paternity Pay
- 30 days Company Sick Pay
Assignment process and timeline
Short-listed applicants will go through a two-stage interview process with the ATI.
Applications should be made by submitting a CV and covering letter by 1st May 2024. Please submit your application on our recruitment partner’s site here.