Project Controls & EVM Officer in Belfast

Navantia UK is a new force in British industry, supporting the UK’s defence, energy and maritime ambitions. We’re doing this by creating state-of-the‑art sovereign defence capabilities, investing in the UK to modernise industrial facilities, and bolstering the nation's energy security. Established in 2022, Navantia UK is a subsidiary of Navantia SA, a Spanish state‑owned company with over 300 years of naval shipbuilding history. In January 2025, Navantia UK completed the acquisition of Harland & Wolff and its four historic facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil, and Arnish. By combining Harland & Wolff’s proud heritage and facilities with Navantia’s global expertise, Navantia UK is well‑positioned to strengthen Britain’s defence, maritime and energy industrial capabilities, supporting jobs and economic growth across the UK.

Job Purpose: The Project Controls & EVM Officer plays a critical role in supporting shipbuilding operations by ensuring robust cost control and Earned Value Management (EVM) practices across projects. This role is responsible for planning, monitoring, analysing, and reporting project costs, while maintaining the integrity of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) within SAP Project Systems (SAP‑PS). Working cross‑functionally with Planning, Finance, Engineering, and the PMO, the postholder ensures accurate cost and progress tracking, supports EVM compliance, and contributes to audit readiness in line with corporate governance standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• WBS & Cost Integration (SAP‑PS)
  • Develop, structure, and maintain the WBS hierarchy in SAP‑PS aligned to contractual and project control frameworks (OBS/CBS/schedule).
  • Ensure accurate setup of networks, activities, cost elements, and control accounts to support budgeting and forecasting.
  • Maintain WBS standards, including coding, labelling, and version control across multiple projects.
  • Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure WBS integrity as the single source of truth.
• Earned Value Management & Schedule Integration
  • Act as the interface between SAP and scheduling tools to ensure alignment of cost and schedule data.
  • Support monthly EVM reporting cycles, validating Actual Cost, Planned Value, and Earned Value.
  • Reconcile cost and schedule data to ensure accuracy and integrity.
  • Drive improvements in EVM processes and support progression toward full compliance standards.
• SAP Project System (PS) Support
  • Manage SAP PS data updates including actuals, forecasts, commitments, and accruals.
  • Provide support for SAP‑related queries, troubleshooting, and data integrity.
  • Assist in project setup and closure activities within SAP.
• PMO & Governance
  • Support internal and external audits through documentation and traceability.
  • Contribute to development of procedures, training materials, and guidance for WBS and EVM.
  • Support forecasting, milestone planning, and risk‑informed decision‑making.
  • Analyse cost performance and recommend corrective actions.
  • Ensure accurate cost allocation, including commitments, accruals, and change impacts.
  • Undertake additional responsibilities as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Strong understanding of project cost control and reporting.
• Ability to interpret and reconcile cost data, WBS structures, and schedules.
• Experience working with control accounts, accruals, and project baselines.
• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Engineering, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Experience in shipbuilding, construction, manufacturing, or defence sectors.
• Familiarity with SAP PS or similar project control systems.
• Experience developing or managing Work Breakdown Structures.

Personal Attributes:

• Highly detail‑oriented with strong organisational skills.
• Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Proactive approach to identifying improvements and control weaknesses.
• Strong commitment to accuracy, quality, and audit compliance.
• Office‑based role with occasional travel, including overnight trips within the UK and internationally.
• May require flexibility in working hours to meet project demands.
• Operates independently on most tasks with minimal supervision.
• Manages medium‑complexity project activities.
• Applies professional expertise to solve diverse and complex problems.
• Exercises judgement in decision‑making within defined scope.
• Builds strong internal and external relationships to deliver results.

Additional Information: This job description is not exhaustive and may evolve to meet organisational needs. The postholder may be required to undertake additional duties within the scope and level of the role.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, postgraduate qualification, or equivalent professional experience in Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Engineering, Finance, or a closely related area, reflecting strong technical and analytical competence.

We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace. Our approach, shaped by our values of service, trust, excellence, agility, dedication, and you, we focus on removing barriers and recognising potential. We are committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and actively working to eliminate discrimination. We believe talent is everywhere, and by widening access to opportunity and welcoming diverse experiences, we aim to create a workplace where every person feels valued and has an equal chance.