Portfolio Project Manager

Job Title: Portfolio Project Manager
Salary: Band FS2 £64,463 gross per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: RAL Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK (flexible working available, with at least 3 days a week on-site)
Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time (minimum 0.8FTE) (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

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!

About the NQCC:

The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is the UK’s national laboratory dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of quantum computing.

Headquartered at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the NQCC works across government, industry, and academia to address the engineering challenges of scaling quantum computers and to build a quantum-ready economy. Its mission is to enable the UK to solve complex societal and industrial challenges by harnessing the transformative potential of quantum computing.

The NQCC is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). It sits alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and has a 10-year funding commitment as part of the National Quantum Strategy.

About the Role:

We are looking for a Portfolio Project Manager who thrives on leading a diverse set of people and on overseeing an array of various technical 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 and continuous improvement of the NQCC's project management process. You will coordinate operations and technical resources, track portfolio performance, ensure every activity is run to time and budget, and improve the impact of projects within your portfolio. You will also identify and monitor portfolio risks and ensure effective change management processes are in place. As the Portfolio Project Manager, you will use your STEM background or acquired STEM-related experience to provide immediate escalation path for project managers, technical project owners, and teams of engineers. You will also directly manage projects which lead to the development and delivery of quantum computing hardware, software and services for the NQCC and our external stakeholders and partners. Finally, you will lead a team of project managers and ensure their performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Effectively lead a team of project managers, 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 or projects.
• Ensure the NQCC’s project management process is implemented correctly across all the projects and activities. Drive initiatives for continuous improvement. Secure advocates.
• 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.
• Maintain excellent project documentation across all your portfolio of projects (and that of the project managers you will lead) and communicate project updates to Senior Leadership and stakeholders in a timely manner, enabling decision-making.
• Develop and manage productive relationships with all stakeholders. Directly manage some of our quantum computing-related projects and the delivery of R&D or technical outputs, ensuring that all agreed milestones meet stakeholders’ expectations.
• Support colleagues in the Benefits, Monitoring and Evaluation team with any cross-projects reporting requirements.
• Support colleagues in the Programme Management team with monitoring and advice on performance trends and manage corrective action plans where needed.
• Help develop new processes within the Programme Delivery Team as required.

This is an outline description of the key responsibilities and accountabilities involved in the job. This is not an exhaustive list, and the successful applicant might be expected to undertake any other duties across the NQCC, appropriate to the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post-holder has the necessary experience and/or training.

Person Specification:

Whilst a STEM qualification or acquired experience is required, technical expertise in quantum computing itself is not required (but considered a bonus).

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

• STEM qualification or equivalent relevant experience. (S)
• Expert in principles and processes of large and complex R&D or technical project management with appropriate qualification and certification, e.g. Prince2, MSP, APM PMQ. Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse portfolio of projects and manage a fluctuating workload and competing priorities for yourself and your team. (S&I)
• Extensive experience in project management, including large-scale, complex environments, resulting in the ability to develop robust plans, mitigate risks, plan budget and multi-year expenditure, and resource effectively. (S&I)
• Excellent track record of leading diverse teams, resulting in demonstrable ability to collaborate, manage effectively, and achieve high performance. (S&I)
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and extensive experience establishing, developing and influencing productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders. (S&I)
• Proven track record of representing a technical (STEM) or UK-wide organisation in commercial negotiations, attracting funding, public speaking, policy development, etc. (S&I)
• Demonstrated creativity, solution-oriented mindset and resilience to deal with complex and unusual professional issues. Ability to innovate and to champion change and continuous improvement. (S&I)
• Strong desire to work for the NQCC and to support the Quantum Missions. (S&I)

You will need to be available to occasionally travel/work within the UK and overseas when required.

Security Clearance:

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they are appointed. The required security clearance needed is SC.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the United Kingdom for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years as the role requires SC clearance. However, UK residency less than the outlined periods may not bar you from gaining National Security Vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed for further advice.

Employee Benefits:

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

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• An excellent defined salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links / free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV and a covering letter that clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation to join STFC and the role you’re applying for (2 pages maximum each, in Arial 10 or equivalent, minimum). In your cover letter please write one paragraph per criterion, outlining how you meet the criteria, providing examples to demonstrate. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the file name description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit your application without a covering letter may result in your application not being considered.

This recruitment will follow a multi-stage process. Applicants will be scored at shortlisting against the criteria using information provided in the CV and cover letter. Successful candidates will be invited to a 15-minute phone call with the hiring manager. The top performing candidates will then be invited to a 75-minute interview, which includes a 10-minute presentation.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side?

Join us and discover what's possible!