Portfolio Project Manager

Job Title: Portfolio Project Manager

Location: RAL Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK 

Contract Type: Up to 2x Permanent Positions

Salary: £56,900-£62,590 gross per annum

Hours: Full-time (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants however you would be required on site 3 days per week)

Due to the requirement of obtaining an enhanced security clearance for this role, we are only able to accept applications from persons who have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years. We cannot sponsor visa applications for this role.

Together, our scientist, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

About the Role:

Our National Quantum Computing Centre are looking for a Portfolio Project Manager who thrives on leading a team of diverse people and on managing an array of large-scale projects. You will be working alongside scientists, engineers, developers and experts in quantum technologies, to enhance the UK's quantum computing capabilities.

Day-to-day, you will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the NQCC's project management process, coordinating resources, tracking project performance, reporting on milestones and deliverables, and ensuring every activity is run to time and budget. You will also identify and monitor project risks and ensure effective change management processes are in place. As the Portfolio Project Manager, you will provide immediate escalation path for project managers and internal and external stakeholders.

Main Responsibilities Include:

• Effectively lead a team of project managers, ensuring their well-being at work, allocating projects and tasks fairly and according to their strengths, regularly and objectively managing their individual performance and that of their projects, and supporting their personal development.
• Set or negotiate KPIs, objectives, schedules and resources for your team.
• Directly manage some projects within a portfolio of development programmes and projects, ensuring that all agreed deliverables are met or exceed stakeholders’ expectations.
• Ensure the NQCC’s project management process is implemented correctly across all the projects managed by your team. Suggest ideas for continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective risk management is in place across all projects, so that risks to NQCC and the wider STFC can be identified and led from the outset before they become issues.

Person Specification:

• Extensive experience in project management, including large-scale, complex environments, resulting in the ability to develop robust plans, assess risk, develop and drive mitigation plans, plan budget and multi-year expenditure.
• Experience leading diverse teams, resulting in demonstrable ability to motivate, inspire and collaborate effectively.
• Excellent time management and outstanding organisational skills.
• Strong desire to take ownership and accountability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, resulting in the ability to communicate with and influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to manage a diverse portfolio of projects and manage a fluctuating workload and competing priorities.
• Familiar with a range of professional tools and methods related to large scale programmes and projects delivery.
• Eye for detail, interpreting and presenting project performance data in an evidence-based manner. Working with discretion to protect project confidentiality, commercial sensitivity and personal data.

Who are we?
As part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is leading a programme to establish a National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). This includes a commitment of £93m over 5 years, dedicated to drive development in the field of Quantum Computing and to place the UK at the forefront of the field.

Our primary purpose is to fill a key gap in the research and innovation landscape addressing the challenge of scaling quantum computing.

Employee Benefits:

We recognise and value employees as individuals and aim to provide a pay and rewards package that motivates staff to perform to the best of their ability. The reward package includes a flexible working scheme, a Career Average Revalued Earnings pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance and a number of other benefits.

Join us and discover what’s possible!