At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead project controls for a major international defence programme and manage complex schedules.
- Company: Join a leading defence and aerospace organisation with a global impact.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly rate, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work within a tri-national consortium and enjoy a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of aerospace innovation and contribute to significant defence projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in project controls and strong communication skills required.
Location: Luton initially, transitioning to Reading from September 2026
Working Pattern: 3-4 Days On Site
Contract: 12 Months
Rate: £62 - £65 per hour (Outside IR35)
Security Clearance: Active SC Clearance Required
Nationality Requirement: Sole British Nationals Only
THE ROLE
We are recruiting on behalf of a leading defence and aerospace organisation seeking an experienced GCAP Project Controls Lead to support a major international defence programme. This role will support the FCA GCAP Programme Controls Manager in shaping and delivering a best-practice Project Controls framework within a tri-national consortium involving UK, Italian and Japanese partners. The successful candidate will play a key role in schedule management, programme planning, performance analysis and stakeholder coordination across a highly complex, multi-national engineering programme environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support the development and delivery of a best-practice Project Controls framework across the GCAP programme
- Develop, maintain and control complex project schedules across large-scale engineering programmes
- Apply recognised scheduling methodologies including Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Coordinate timelines and planning activities across multi-functional and international teams
- Monitor, analyse and report schedule performance, identifying risks and recommending mitigation strategies
- Support schedule optimisation and conflict resolution activities
- Balance programme resources and delivery deadlines to achieve contractual and operational objectives
- Work closely with programme leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure schedule alignment and project delivery success
- Support risk management and scenario planning activities across programme controls functions
- Maintain high standards of governance, reporting accuracy and schedule integrity
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Proven experience within Project Controls, Planning or Schedule Management roles on large, complex engineering programmes
- Aerospace and defence programme experience highly desirable
- Strong expertise in schedule development, maintenance and control
- Experience applying Critical Path Method (CPM) and advanced planning methodologies
- Strong stakeholder engagement and communication capability across international teams
- Ability to analyse schedule performance and develop mitigation strategies
- Strong problem-solving and risk management capability
- Experience balancing programme priorities, resources and delivery schedules
- Active SC Clearance essential
- Sole British National essential
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE
- Multi-national programme experience
- Complex defence or aerospace project environments
- Programme controls governance frameworks
- Advanced planning and scheduling tools
WHY APPLY?
This is an opportunity to work on one of the UK's most significant future defence programmes within a highly advanced international engineering environment. You'll be supporting critical programme delivery activities across a complex tri-national consortium while operating at the forefront of aerospace and defence programme controls.
INDWIN
Our clients and their customers come from diverse backgrounds and so do we. We hire our people from various walks of life, each of whom make our company stronger with their talent, uniqueness, and expertise. This is what makes our company special; if you want to help us grow and take this ethos to our clients, then we cannot wait to collaborate with you!
Lead project Controller - Luton/Reading in Almondsbury employer: Winsearch
Join a leading defence and aerospace organisation that values diversity and fosters a collaborative work culture. As a Lead Project Controller, you'll have the opportunity to work on significant international programmes, enhancing your skills in a complex engineering environment while benefiting from competitive rates and a supportive team atmosphere. With a focus on employee growth and best-practice frameworks, this role offers a unique chance to contribute to critical defence initiatives alongside talented professionals.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead project Controller - Luton/Reading in Almondsbury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the defence and aerospace sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and recent developments in the GCAP programme. We want you to show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who genuinely cares about their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your STAR technique for answering behavioural questions. Structure your responses around Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This will help us convey your experience effectively and demonstrate how you can tackle challenges in project controls.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead project Controller - Luton/Reading in Almondsbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Project Controls Lead. Highlight your experience in schedule management and any relevant aerospace or defence projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention your experience with Critical Path Method and how you’ve successfully managed complex projects in the past. Let us know what makes you tick!
Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills:Since this role involves working with international teams, make sure to highlight your communication and stakeholder engagement skills. Share examples of how you've coordinated with diverse teams to achieve project goals. We love seeing collaboration in action!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at StudySmarter. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Winsearch
✨Know Your Project Controls Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of project controls, especially in the context of large-scale engineering programmes. Be ready to discuss your experience with scheduling methodologies like Critical Path Method (CPM) and how you've applied them in past roles.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills
This role involves a lot of coordination across international teams, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully engaged with stakeholders in previous projects. Highlight your communication strategies and how you’ve navigated complex team dynamics.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving and risk management capabilities. Think of specific scenarios where you had to analyse schedule performance or develop mitigation strategies, and be ready to explain your thought process and outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Your Governance Knowledge
Since maintaining high standards of governance is crucial, be ready to discuss any frameworks you've worked with in the past. Show how you ensure reporting accuracy and schedule integrity, and how this has contributed to project success.
