HiLUX Project Manager

Contract Type: Fixed Term (4 years)
Hours: Full time or Part-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

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. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

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.

Are you looking for a project management role which will combine your technical expertise with the chance to support world leading projects?

The Central Laser Facility (CLF), part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, provides advanced laser research facilities for UK and international scientists. The CLF has just been awarded £17M funding for a major upgrade of their ultrafast laser spectroscopy facilities (the HiLUX project).

This project will extend the range of techniques for ultrafast laser spectroscopy, and encompasses upgrades to laboratories, new laser systems, new detectors and sample-handling technologies, control systems and data handling. HiLUX will be the only open-access facility in the world providing access to such a wide range of spectroscopies.

We are currently seeking a Project Manager for HiLUX, who will be responsible for ensuring delivery of the project to meet the technical and scientific scope, within budget and on schedule

Your responsibilities will include:

• day-to-day project management of the HiLUX high level project plan
• developing, managing, and maintaining working relationships with team leaders, senior leadership and stakeholders
• coordinating cross-functional project teams, both internal and third party, to ensure deliverables are completed on time, within budget and meet quality requirements
• maintaining project documentation to a high standard including the project management plan, risk registers, lessons learned etc
• working with finance and procurement teams and be responsible for management of all aspects including finance, planning, staffing, quality and safety

We are looking for someone with:

• project management experience, or experience of working on a large-scale project together with some formal project management training
• a degree in a numerate subject, with extensive work experience related to at least one of the technical or scientific areas covered by the HiLUX project
• efficient time management and problem solving including experience balancing conflicting needs of multiple projects and stakeholders
• strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present information in a variety of ways tailored to the audience
• excellent ability to build relationships with and influence difficult or complex stakeholders, including people management
• experience of high value (>£100K) procurement, including tendering

What we offer

We are offering a fixed term position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday annually (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days)
• flexible working hours
• an excellent defined average salary pension scheme
• employee shopping/travel discounts
• excellent learning and development opportunities
• visa Sponsorship for candidates applying outside of the UK

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what’s possible.

In your application, please provide a CV and a Cover Letter which details your experience in relation to the criteria for this role.

Closing Date: 19th February 2023.