Project Manager in Guildford

Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) is considered a pioneer of the small satellite market, with a heritage that spans over 40 years. SSTL prides itself on continual innovation and improvement of space technologies, products, and services, delivering space missions for a broad array of applications, including high-resolution Earth imaging, communications, science, and navigation. Since 1981, SSTL has built and launched over 70 satellites, including 7 constellations, and has 8+ further satellites and payloads under contract.

We are looking for a passionate Project Manager who has the skills and motivation to lead and motivate a team to deliver some of the world’s most innovative space projects to a diverse customer base including institutional, export, and defence.

Key tasks:

• Manage projects or aspects of a project from contract commencement through development and delivery of space and ground segments, launch preparation, in-orbit commissioning, and subsequent service delivery and operations.
• Be responsible for all aspects of the project, or a major element of a programme, working in accordance with established procedures & processes developed within SSTL.
• Day-to-day management of the project core team activities to ensure the entire project is progressing in line with the baseline plan.
• Break down work into appropriate work packages and obtain agreements with engineering team leaders for appropriate resources.
• Communicate with SSTL customers and internal stakeholders, including Engineering Functional Managers, Heads of Engineering, Project Accounting, Commercial teams, and SSTL’s Leadership Team.
• Complete management of the major project reviews, identifying clear objectives, inputs, outputs, success criteria, and ensuring successful outcomes to secure corresponding customer payment milestones.
• Manage the project key risks to ensure that risks are identified and captured with measurable and appropriate mitigation actions in place.
• Monitor and control the project finances to ensure the project is delivered within the agreed budget.
• Prepare cost packs in support of business development activities.
• Support SSTL bids providing programmatic solutions into the Bid Manager, covering deliverables, schedule, costs, risks, and customer interactions.

Person Specification:

Previous Experience:

• Proven experience in project management specifically in setting up, running, and successfully delivering projects, ideally in a satellite, engineering, defence, or aerospace industry.
• Experience of interfacing with customers.
• Good experience of implementing contracts.
• Familiarity with work package systems and matrix management structure preferable.

Qualifications Knowledge & Skills:

• A degree or equivalent in an engineering or technical discipline would be preferable.
• Good people management skills, able to motivate in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to influence, persuade, and negotiate with people at all levels.
• High degree of organisation, self-motivation, and initiative.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
• Results orientated with a strong drive to deliver.
• Pro-active and able to take initiative.
• Decision making and creative problem-solving skills.
• Clear communication skills.
• Proven ability to deliver solutions under pressure and to tight timescales.
• Ability to work closely with technical teams to understand and grasp concepts and issues.
• Ability to produce and maintain a risk register and communicate the philosophy on risk.
• Ability to understand commercial terms and translate those into impacts on the project.
• Ability to create a project plan and translate that into a project schedule within MS Project.
• Able to work autonomously and using own initiative.
• Understanding of contracts and product assurance plans.
• Good knowledge of MS Office Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and particularly Microsoft Project.
• Able to demonstrate company mindsets and behaviours; Be accountable, Drive & delivery, Communicate effectively, Self-manage effectively, Work as one team.

Location: The role is based in our Head Office in Guildford.

Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes 32 days holiday plus bank holidays, pension scheme with life assurance, private medical & international travel insurance, annual bonus scheme, share incentive plan, enhanced maternity, paternity & shared parental pay for new parents, high street discount scheme, and many more!