Serco, a prominent player in the Space industry with over 50 years of experience, has a robust partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), particularly through our work at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. ESA-ECSAT serves as ESA's hub for telecommunications and integrated applications, supporting the development and commercialization of innovative space-based solutions.
On behalf of our client, the European Space Agency, we are looking for a skilledProgramme/Project Controllerto join our team distributed over the ESA-ECSAT site, in Harwell, UK.
Main Responsibilities:
- Supporting identified manager(s) on all activities related to project and activities cost, high-level schedule, and risks, as well as project management processes and administrative functions.
- Discharging responsibilities in the preparation, procurement, and monitoring of procurements, from tendering to closure of contracts, and for management, financial, planning, controlling, and industrial return aspects.
- Identifying and reporting on forward-thinking measures, current status with deviations, and recovery actions.
- Preparing management reports, including dashboards, to highlight status, outlook, and actions to be taken in the area of project control and management support.
- Managing multiple interfaces and providing input to support the project manager with negotiations with industrial contractors.
- Providing key input to identified manager(s) in programmatic decision-making.
- Maintaining close cooperation with the Business Unit Controller as needed for the Directorate’s internal and external reporting.
- Preparing, developing, and maintaining the overall programmatic aspects of the project/missions/activities, including cost, financial matters, work breakdown structure, schedule, configuration, documentation, progress control, geographical return, and general project administration.
- Preparing and maintaining cost plans covering industrial and operating (including workforce-related) costs.
- Implementing and operating planning and control procedures to provide full visibility over the progress of all activities, using established procedures and information systems, including maintenance in the ESA ERP system of project-related data.
- Actively monitoring and forecasting, identifying trends, deviations from plans, and potential problem areas, and proposing remedial actions in coordination with the Project Manager.
- Ensuring compliance with budgetary provisions and financial regulations.
- Supporting the preparation of AC and IPC papers and Programme Board status reports.
- Providing support to change control/review boards.
- Participating in TEBs as an expert, if needed, and evaluating proposals and business plans.
- Preparing information and input required for the project manager for subsequent contract negotiations.
- Participating in all tasks related to the placing of contracts, including providing input to the project manager for negotiations with the industry.
- Supporting the closure of industrial contracts and the financial year closure exercise.
- Maintaining risk and opportunities management, proposing mitigation actions, and preparing risk reports as required.
- Supporting project managers and Department/Directorate risk coordinators in preparing and maintaining the Projects Risk Register.
- Advising project managers on project control best practices, methods, processes, and procedures.
- Assisting in the preparation of ARTES work plans.
- Participating in the definition, maintenance, and improvement of project control procedures and control systems, including digitalization.
- Sharing knowledge within the Section and Directorate.
- Providing relevant periodic or ad-hoc management reporting, including Key Performance Indicators (KPI) on schedule, cost, and risk to various internal and external stakeholders.
- Supporting input to the Head of the Project Control & Management Support Section and Senior Financial Controller regarding specific projects.
Successful Candidate
Do you think you are the person we are looking for? See below what experience or knowledge you should bring:
- Master’s degree in engineering or equivalent, or MBA, or equivalent University degree from a recognized institution of secondary studies, or equivalent qualification in Business Administration, with relevant experience.
- Experience in controlling and/or management of activities and resources in the aerospace industry.
- For some tasks, knowledge of Finance/Accounting may be required.
- Highly proficient in the use of MS Office, particularly advanced use of Excel.
- Experience as a user of SAP, especially ECC and SRM modules, and familiarity with relevant ESA corporate applications (e.g., ESA-p) is an asset.
- Ability to rapidly understand and adapt to ESA-specific contexts and environments, including ESA corporate IT applications.
- Past experience with ESA in relevant activities is an asset.
- The role requires substantial interaction with key stakeholders inside ESA, such as Finance and Procurement Services, and external parties, including industrial partners.
- Comfortable with working in a diverse and multinational team environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills are needed, together with a high degree of organizational and communication abilities.
- Proficient in the English language, both written and spoken.
- Knowledge of another EU member state language is an asset.
- Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.
On offer:
- Flexible working policy (hybrid working)
- Comprehensive and competitive benefits plan
- A range of wellness activities and employee assistance programs
- Casual dress code
DE&I
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Serco is based on a culture where every voice is heard and every employee feels valued. Working together as one team, we can enhance the experience of our people and teams, improve the value of our solutions to better serve the missions of our customers, and make an impact in our world.
About Serco:
Serco is a leading Space Services Provider with thousands of skilled resources that has supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 Space or Government agencies around the globe, including the likes of ESA, CNES, EUMETSAT, EUSPA, ASI and NASA.We offer space capabilities across the full space lifecycle from satellite testing to Launch services, LEOP to spacecraft operations, space surveillance to data management, and supporting downstream application development. With over 55 years history in the space sector Serco is well placed to contribute to National strategies across Europe and the globeWe work within the heart of the space sector so understand the challenges our customers face. When it comes to recruitment we are experts in sourcing the very best talent within space engineering, earth observation, satellite communications and cyber security. We have placed hundreds of people from post graduates through to C-suite executives into space agencies, satellite operators, manufacturers, system integrators, consultancies, earth observation/remote sensing, launch providers and much more.
