Lead Project Controller – Defence Industry
Location: Templecombe
Contract: 12 months
Rate: £550 – £600 per day (Umbrella)
Primary Purpose of the Role
As a key member of the Programme Management Team within a defence-sector environment, the Lead Project Controller will ensure the Programme operates as a cohesive, integrated unit with consistent application of project management best practice. This includes oversight of scheduling, cost control, governance, change management, document control, and risk/opportunity management.
The role carries responsibility for maintaining the Programme Governance Drumbeat, ensuring that all project controls processes support the successful delivery of a strategically important defence Programme.
Success requires strong stakeholder engagement across diverse teams and locations. The role demands excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills to ensure delivery of required programme outcomes to agreed time, cost, and quality parameters.
Key Responsibilities and Tasks
Support the Project Manager in establishing and maintaining the programme drumbeat, governance structure, and reporting rhythm.
Own and manage the monitoring/control of the WBS, integrated schedule, risk register, and EAC.
Conduct deep-dive schedule analysis, ensuring schedule integrity, coherence, dependency alignment, and optimisation.
Embed a rigorous risk and opportunity management framework, supporting Control Account Managers as required.
Establish and maintain programme metrics to ensure visibility, monitoring, and control across all workstreams.
Manage configuration control for governance, baseline maintenance, and schedule reporting.
Lead and develop the PMO team, ensuring capability, accuracy, and proactive behaviour in programme reporting.
Prepare and review key data inputs for Programme Reviews and internal governance boards.
Ensure adoption of best-practice PMO processes and project controls protocols across the Programme.
Coach programme team members to drive consistency in project management standards.
Promote a continuous improvement and “Lessons Learned” culture within the Programme.
Undertake other relevant duties consistent with the seniority and nature of the role in a defence context.
Skills
Adaptive leadership and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including written reporting and presentation.
Excellent organisational and leadership capabilities.
Strong financial and commercial awareness.
Advanced PMO and project controls expertise, with the ability to coach project and work package managers.
Proficiency in interpreting and reviewing complex schedules and transforming data into clear management insights.
Positive attitude, strong motivation skills, and ability to build high-performing teams.
Expertise in managing change in a complex, high-assurance environment.
Experience
Extensive track record leading PMO/project controls in complex defence or similarly regulated environments.
Proven experience building and sustaining strong relationships with stakeholders in high-complexity programmes.
Experience operating in a multidisciplinary, multi-site defence or engineering organisation.
Experience coaching and developing less-experienced project management professionals.
Strong knowledge of scheduling and project management techniques (WBS, OBS, milestones, dependencies, EVM).
Deep understanding of Programme Management processes including Change Control, Risk Management, and Information Management.
Demonstrated experience managing lifecycle delivery across Development, Production, Closure, and Support phases.
Experience coordinating with supply chain, engineering, and finance teams within defence or high-integrity industries.
Proficiency with scheduling tools such as Primavera P6 and MS Project, including project control reporting and impact analysis