Projects Control Manager in England

Welcome to AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace. Based in Farnborough, AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr. Zephyr’s persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time. Its current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere. From above 60,000+ft, or 20km above ground, AALTO can deliver several applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation. AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most of air traffic and low-Earth orbit, Stratospace. This is where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners. We can help monitor environments, observe borders, track natural disasters and connect unconnected communities. Join us as we create a new domain of aerospace: Stratospace. You’ll be part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people – Team AALTO. Together, we can Unlock Stratospace.

Job Purpose

You will join the Programme Management Office (PMO), working collaboratively across the organisation to develop, maintain, and enhance programme schedules, as well as support reporting requirements that enable the successful delivery of Zephyr Products (Aircraft, Ground Systems, Payloads and Service Management Systems) and its world‑leading stratospheric solutions. We are seeking a highly organised, data‑driven, and detail‑oriented individual with strong communication skills to join our PMO team. The Project Controls Manager will play a pivotal role in strengthening our reporting capabilities, maintaining programme schedules to ensure clear visibility of progress, and supporting the effective management of costs, risks, and issues. The Project Controls Manager will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the programme schedule, supporting and delivering reporting requirements through Power BI, and providing regular contributions to the monthly reporting cycle, including Programme Review Meetings.

Responsibilities

• Project Planning
  • Provide support to Programme Management and Project Managers in relation to the effective execution of the Project Control Lifecycle across AALTO.
  • Manage the integration of the control services within projects for realism, confirming that the agreed level of service support is available for each project in development and/or delivery.
  • Identify non‑labour resourcing requirements to support the projects and provide the holistic view.
  • Challenge all aspects of project/programme performance to determine causes of variance from plan.
  • Lead the formulation of corrective action plans and lead discussions with the project delivery teams and confirm their suitability and monitor effective implementation.
  • Engage with the programme’s executive team to provide functional governance and efficient value-adding services.
  • Liaison across the business to maintain the programme schedule, monitoring and reporting against milestones and activities, maintaining baselines, identifying trends, providing critical path analysis etc.
  • Programme schedule analysis to validate critical paths and interdependencies.
  • Scenario planning for options consideration and delay mitigation, establishing sequence, durations and options for projects as required.
  • Cross functional collaborative working to enable alignment on programme targets, timing plan, and resource allocation.
• Risk & Opportunity Management
  • Support Risk and Opportunity Management by the identification of risk and mitigations with the relevant disciplines, identification of possible opportunities and the creation of internal and external reports.
  • Provide guidance to Project Managers on schedule risks.
• Change Management
  • Lead on the management of the change control process across AALTO to provide effective management of the baseline for the Integrated Programme Plan.
• Project Communication and Reporting and Analysis
  • Develop and maintain integrated schedule.
  • Challenge Project Managers to provide sufficient information to enable quality reporting.
  • Monitor so that data input by project managers and teams meet required data standards.
  • Support the provision of information to provide visibility of current projects.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Identify areas for process improvement and actively contribute to the development and implementation of best practises.
  • Embrace digital transformation and automation to streamline processes and bring efficiencies.
  • Contribute to documenting PMO processes, procedures and work instructions.

Experience and Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in regulated environments and to apply aviation regulatory frameworks in a project or programme context.
• Qualified to degree level, or equivalent working experience, and holding or working towards a relevant industry association membership (e.g. APM).
• Proven experience in delivering project planning aligned to industry standards.
• Experience using Planning software essential, preferably MS Project and Project Online.
• Experience implementing Project controls systems and processes would be an advantage.
• Excellent IT skills (MS Office suite) especially Excel. Power BI and Power Automate preferable.
• Successful relevant experience of implementing project control systems and processes.
• Strong analytical capability with excellent report writing and presentation skills.
• Recognised process improvement skills / expertise.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to forge relationships across cross-functional teams and ability to work autonomously.

At AALTO, we offer an exceptional work environment that values your well-being and rewards your dedication. As part of our team, you will experience the freedom of flexible working that enables you to achieve a healthy work-life balance. We believe in recognizing your hard work and commitment, which is why we provide a fantastic bonus scheme that rewards your contributions. Additionally, we understand the importance of financial security and support your future with a competitive pension plan. When you join us, you become part of a workplace that not only encourages your professional growth but also cares about your personal fulfilment and financial stability. AALTO HAPS Ltd. is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.