PRINCIPAL PROJECT MANAGER (CAPABILITY LEAD)

About the Role

Whether you’re talking about length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, amount or the brightness of light, the National Physical Laboratory sets the standards by which these things are all measured. At NPL, we touch ordinary lives in extraordinary ways, and you could too. 

As a Leader in Project Management Capability, you are a key member of the Project Management Office (PMO) Leadership team. You will drive effective decision-making, accountability and oversight across the Science and Engineering medium to high-risk portfolio of projects. You will embed robust project management standards and best practices to develop and mature the Project Management capability to delivery Science and Engineering Projects to our customers.

To be successful in this role, you will need to provide leadership to ensure NPL’s mission, approach, and plans are articulated and understood internally and externally for your areas of the business.

• You will manage the performance and potential of your team, building highly motivated, customer-focused, and performing teams.
• Guide the development of science and engineering project management approach, skills, and competency.
• Create opportunities to raise the project management function’s profile and its capabilities within the organisation.
• Coach and mentor more junior PROJECT MANAGERs to ensure development, succession, and knowledge transfer.

We are now working in a hybrid way, with a mix of remote and office working. We strive to offer a great work life balance - if you are looking for full time, part time or flexible options, we will try to make this work where business possible. This will be dependent on the kind of role you do and part of the business you work in

About You

Skills and Experience

• Experience in leading project management capability within a Science and Engineering environment.
• knowledge of project management in research environments to support complex science and engineering projects.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to take a broad view of the business, industry, and environment to anticipate and plan for future.
• Able to identify the focus and defines what PM capabilities and management systems are required.
• Proven experience of embracing and initiating change, evaluating what is needed and being pragmatic about the level of change required.
• Able to build collaborative relationships across functions based on trust and respect. Promotes the inclusion of diverse knowledge, skills, and experiences to achieve results.
• Proactively seeks out information and clarity needed to enable strong decision making .
• Degree level qualification (or equivalent)
• Highly proficient in project management techniques and their application
• Project Management Qualification (APM PMQ or equivalent)
• Strong people management skills to work within a cross functional, multi-disciplinary team and to influence people
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proficiency in all aspects of Microsoft Office, including MS Project

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process.

Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward.  We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

About Us

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK.  

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.  

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditations to ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page. 

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success.  

To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.