Project Management Specialist

Morson Edge are currently recruiting for a Project Management Specialist to work on behalf of one of our prestigious clients based in Sheffield. This is a contract role for 12 months, with possibility of extension.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the project from initiation through to completion, ensuring delivery against objectives while effectively managing resources, risks, and stakeholder expectations.
• Responsible for the IHSS portfolio, ensuring IHSS, COMPASS and HICOMS remain aligned to agreed schedules and commitments.
• This is a 12-month backfill role reporting to the client’s Lead for IHSS.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, including timelines, milestones, and resource allocation, in alignment with subcontracted Project Controllers.
• Monitor and control the project budget to ensure efficient use of funds and compliance with financial constraints.
• Identify, record, and manage risks and issues, while developing and implementing mitigation strategies and capturing opportunities where appropriate.
• Support the technical team (PI and engineers) in delivering technical outcomes, ensuring research activity and deliverables meet required standards and that transition points are achieved.
• Coordinate procurement activities in collaboration with technical leads, SM, ISC, and business support specialists.
• Lead the project team, fostering effective communication and collaboration among internal team members and external partners.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including reports, meeting minutes, change logs, and progress updates.
• Lead reporting activities within the consortium to ensure reports are delivered on time and to the required quality and format.
• Work closely with the client’s POC to communicate relevant information in line with the agreed scope and budget to the UK Government.
• Escalate issues to leadership, where necessary, in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with HICOMS projects to ensure plans are delivered within agreed timelines and to the required specifications.
• Lead project management meetings with partners, both at consortium level and in one-to-one meetings.
• Meet regularly with the client’s Lead to align on finances, milestones, and other execution metrics.
• Provide relevant information, including project updates and financial data, to the Portfolio Lead as required.

Accountability

• Accountable for successful project delivery, including achievement of agreed objectives, timelines, and budget.
• Accountable for the quality and timeliness of reporting to the UK Government and other stakeholders.
• Responsible for team performance, engagement, and compliance with applicable regulations, ethics, and corporate policies.
• Make decisions regarding resource allocation and team management for the assigned project(s).
• As project lead, accountable for integrating all partners into the project plan, objectives, and requirements.

Authority

• Project owner for assigned project(s), with authority to allocate resources and manage budget within the project.
• Authority to make team management decisions, resolve team or stakeholder conflicts, and maintain project integrity and momentum.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Engineering, Project Management, Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Certified Project Manager (e.g., PMP, Prince2 Practitioner) preferred.
• 5+ years’ project management experience in R&D, engineering, or research programme environments.
• Demonstrable experience managing government-funded projects and delivering formal reporting to government stakeholders.
• Experience working in a portfolio environment and coordinating multiple projects to achieve strategic outcomes.
• Experience communicating project status to senior leadership through written communication.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong planning and financial management skills, including budgeting and cost control.
• Expertise in risk and issue management, with a proven ability to implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Proven ability to support technical teams and translate technical progress into project deliverables and gate approvals.
• Strong procurement coordination experience and understanding of contracting and purchasing processes.
• Strong team leadership skills, including motivating teams, performance management, and conflict resolution.
• Familiarity with relevant compliance, ethics, and documentation standards, including UK requirements and the client’s policies.

Desirable

• Experience working with UK Government departments or international government stakeholders.
• Previous experience within aerospace, defence, or complex technical R&D programmes.