Project Controller in Yeovil

Your impact: This is a rare opportunity to step into a pivotal role within our Programmes team as we launch an exciting new contract. As a Project Controller, you’ll play a central part in ensuring successful delivery—working across the business and collaborating internationally to keep projects on track, on time, and on budget. In this role, you’ll partner closely with colleagues in both UK & Italy and directly support the Project/Programme Manager, providing critical project controls expertise across Leonardo Helicopters programmes. Your work will directly contribute to the successful delivery of complex, high‑profile helicopter projects.

Reporting to the Head of AW149 UK Programme and operating as part of an Integrated Project Team (IPT), you will:

• Develop and maintain the project master schedule in line with contract requirements, working closely with cross‑functional teams.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of project data throughout the full lifecycle.
• Produce clear, insightful reports for both internal stakeholders and customers.
• Identify schedule and cost variances, and collaborate with teams to implement effective corrective actions.

This role offers a unique blend of cross‑functional collaboration, international exposure, and real impact—ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic project environment and wants to be at the heart of delivery. Hybrid – 3 / 5 days on site per week, dependent on business need and with the opportunity to travel to Italy.

What you’ll do as a Project Controller:

• Develop and implement the programme or project schedule (and SAP Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)) in accordance with the Contracted scope, delivery dates, Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM), financial baseline and Leonardo procedures.
• If multiple sub‑projects exist, coordinate, control and integrate the interfaces creating logical links and maintaining updates, applying earned value techniques where applicable.
• Input to establishing and implementing standards and best practice across Programmes or projects through the Process and governance teams.
• Maintain and control the programme or project schedule baseline (dates and budgets) to reflect any contracted amendments.
• Manage the approval and communication of these changes in accordance with Leonardo procedures.
• Ensure the flow of budgets and dates within SAP via the MSP Plan are kept in alignment with the approved Company Work Order.
• Direct the timely processing of schedule updates.
• Monitor the accuracy of project schedules and version control changes.
• Work with the Functions and Project Teams to drive the quality of the programme or project schedule and SAP WBS.
• Identify problems and provide support to improve processes to ensure the integrity of the data.
• Coordinate with the Key Stakeholders customer change proposals, capturing in a register and collating cost impacts for pricing.
• Assess progress, track and analyse the impact of the programme or project schedule forecast changes (dates and budgets) to identify threats at the earliest opportunity.
• Publish the schedule and ensure stakeholders are informed about changes.
• Perform critical path and ‘what if’ analysis, including the development of work‑around plans, capturing, monitoring and driving associated actions.
• Control the allocation of contingency reserve and updates to the programme or project schedule baseline ensuring alignment to the risk register.
• Produce internal and customer reports to confirm the project cost and schedule variance, future key milestones and to include earned value analysis.
• Prepare and present monthly CPR data, articulating changes from month to month and what schedule and costs impacts this will incur working closely with the functional departments to ensure accuracy.
• Generate purchase requisitions and perform service receipts to support project requirements.
• Support the PM in executing the Leonardo risk management methodology & risk management tools.
• Support the assessment, evaluation, prioritisation and update of risks.
• Monitor and measure the associated mitigation actions to prevent risk occurrence.
• Participate in regular risk reviews to identify, capture and sanction risks, able to apply Monte Carlo analysis to inform and monitor mitigation actions and ensure progress to recovery plans.
• Review the cost of mitigation action, budget and actual (both in the risk register and work breakdown structure) and evaluate risks to ensure the Programme or Project contingency reserve value is accurate and rigorous cost controls are applied.
• Perform cost / benefit analysis against contingency reserve actions.
• Support the production and communication of regular risk reports to ensure consistency.
• Report the progress of Risks at regular intervals to the appropriate level of management.

What you’ll bring:

• Good knowledge of company products and organisation.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a team setting and also to provide leadership when required.
• Effective & persuasive in building a network of contacts within LH, creating strong relationships with the LH performing functional areas.
• Proficient in the use of SAP and Microsoft Project (as core planning tool) and other common Microsoft packages.
• Excellent analytical and planning skills with good attention to detail.
• Ability to learn quickly and work under pressure in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to maintain a clear focus on goals & priorities.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Experienced in the planning and scheduling of complex tasks within an aerospace or similar industrial environment.

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance: This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).

Why join us: At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company‑funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee‑led networks championing inclusion and diversity.
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options.

Primary Location: GB - Yeovil - Lysander Rd

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid