Details
Reference number
423705
Salary
£54,415 - £61,280
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Grade 7
Contract type
Permanent
Type of role
Project Delivery
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Cardiff, Wales, CF10 1EP : Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 8FT : Leicester, East Midlands (England), LE4 5SP : Didcot, South East England, OX11 0DF
About the job
Job summary
Background: The UK Space Agency:
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government's space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government's vision.
Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity's horizons.
We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £18.9 billion and employs 52,028 people across the country.
Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector's interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes.
We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.
More information about the Agency is available here:
To discover more please watch this film
Our Inclusive Environment
We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.
Job description
This is a key delivery-focused role supporting two high-profile strategic programmes within the UK Space Agency (UKSA): the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) and PuMA2 (Plutonium Management for Advanced Applications).
The position is split approximately 50/50 across both programmes and offers a unique opportunity to work at the heart of the UK's space infrastructure and innovation agenda.
The Space Cluster Infrastructure Fund, embedded within the Space Ecosystem Development team, is an initiative being delivered by the UK Space Agency to directly influence space-related Research & Development infrastructure across the country, by providing a mechanism for industry to bid for match-funding support on large-scale R&D infrastructure projects.
The PuMA2 facility is a new £19 million laboratory in Cumbria equipped with next-generation equipment and technology. It will deliver a sovereign supply of fuel for space batteries in the context of a global shortage, enabling the UK and its partners to pursue new space science and exploration missions.
The post is an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to be at the forefront of the UK Space Agency's work to ensure the successful delivery of the facility and be an integral part in the design, rollout and delivery of Phase 2 of SCIF, along with the review of the Pilot scheme.
The role will cover a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of overall project objectives. The role will be split nominally 50/50 between PuMA2 and SCIF.
For PuMA2, the role will focus on project management - leading successful delivery through overseeing grant funding, tracking progress – working closely with a range of stakeholders from within UK Space Agency, across Government, ESA and within UKNNL.
The role will lead on project governance, chairing regular meetings that will include senior leaders from both UK Space Agency and UKNNL. There is a strong requirement to engage with teams across UK Space Agency, including Finance, Commercial, and the Office of the Chief Engineer, to ensure compliance.
The post holder will also be required to engage across Government to ensure relevant departments are kept informed of the progress and needs of the facility during the development phase and beyond.
The post holder will be required to meet the regular in depth reporting requirements that a project of this nature necessitates.
There will also be a need to promote the facility at relevant project engagements.
On SCIF, the post holder will be required to share experience and knowledge of grants management, stakeholder management and operate as a task manager for the programme delivery team, ensuring the successful completion of the remaining projects.
The role will also be required to lead elements of the evaluation of the SCIF Pilot programme. The role will be expected to identify lessons from the Pilot and, working closely with the SCIF Programme Lead, incorporate these into the design of the next phase of SCIF.
The role will also be heavily involved the running of future calls and evaluation of proposals. This will include, but is not limited to, designing and implementing call documentation, leading engagement events with prospective applicants, liaising with internal and external stakeholders and conducting potentially difficult conversations regarding budgets and evidence. The role will be required to deliver news of unsuccessful competition bids to senior leaders from industry.
The role will also be heavily involved in all aspects of programme management, managing a large budget and project portfolio, and helping junior members of the team prioritise projects, for both current and future calls.
Person specification
* Demonstrable experience in project and/or programme management within complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
* Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with senior leadership.
* Proven ability to manage large budgets and deliver against high-level objectives.
* Experience in grant management or programme delivery.
* Ability to work across internal teams and external partners to ensure effective collaboration and delivery.
* A proactive, organised and solutions-focused approach to managing competing priorities.
Essential Criteria:
* Project Management qualifications and a strong track record of managing or supporting the delivery of complex programmes, particularly those involving specialist or technical subject matter.
* Comfortable operating in technically complex environments, with the ability to understand programme-level detail and apply that understanding to drive delivery and inform strategic decisions.
* Experience working across cross-functional teams, bridging the gap between technical experts, commercial teams, and senior decision-makers to ensure alignment and effective delivery.
* Strong experience developing or contributing to business cases, reporting and oversight products, using evidence and insight to support decision-making.
* Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including the ability to engage confidently with technical and non-technical audiences, and lead challenging or sensitive discussions.
* Demonstrated ability to operate in fast-paced, high-profile environments, managing risk and delivering results across multiple priorities.
* While a formal technical background is not required, candidates should bring a strong appreciation of the complexities involved in large-scale, high-value delivery programmes, and be confident engaging with subject matter experts and delivery partners.
* An undergraduate STEM degree.
Desirable Criteria:
* Ability to work as part of a team based across multiple sites
* Interest in emerging technologies in the space sector, infrastructure, science.
* A good understanding of the UK's Space Ecosystem
* An existing network of contacts within the space sector
* Working knowledge of the UK space sector and its delivery landscape — or demonstrable ability to quickly engage with a highly specialised ecosystem, including awareness of its stakeholders, funding mechanisms, and programme goals.
* Proven ability to manage public funding (e.g. grants, competitions, contracts), track delivery progress, and engage with assurance, finance and governance processes
Qualifications
Undergraduate Degree in a STEM subject.
Project Delivery Qualification.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Making Effective Decisions
* Changing and Improving
* Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £54,415, UK Space Agency contributes £15,764 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
UK Space Agency offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
* A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
* Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
* A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
* An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
* Access to a range of retail, travel, and lifestyle employee discounts.
* A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.
* This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home, or elsewhere, as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
* The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement (maximum 500 words) and behaviour examples (maximum 250 words each).
Your CV should include job history, qualification details and previous skills and experience. The CV is for information and will not be scored.
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
The Sift will be assessed on Personal Statement and Behaviour.
The Interview will be assessed on Behaviours and a Presentation. For the Presentation please prepare to present a 5 min overview of your awareness of the opportunities and challenges of high profile infra projects as part of space ecosystem?
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour Seeing the Big Picture. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift date w/c 08/09/25
Interview date w/c 22/09/25
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
The Interview location will be MS Teams
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Further information
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
* Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
* Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
Any move to UK Space Agency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms directly. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
* Name : Antonia Yendell
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints