Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager

Permanent, Full-time 

Inchinnan, Hybrid

About Us:
JFD is the world leading underwater capability provider, serving the commercial and defence markets with innovative diving, submarine and hyperbaric rescue, technical solutions and services.
Operating worldwide, the company is the world’s leading provider of submarine rescue capability and an established provider of submarine escape training. The company is at the forefront of Hyperbaric Rescue, along with being the leading supplier of commercial and defence diving equipment and saturation diving systems to the commercial industry.

The Role

Are you an experienced leader in the marine or defence sector, ready to take on a mission-critical role? JFD is seeking a high-calibre professional to join our Defence Tactical Delivery Vehicle Team—part of our globally respected Defence Division. This is a senior leadership position embedded within a high-performing team, where you’ll be accountable for the successful delivery of complex, high-value international projects involving advanced subsea platforms and tactical delivery systems.

Initially, you’ll lead a flagship, high-profile programme central to our strategic objectives, working with a dedicated resource pool to meet exacting defence standards. Beyond this, you’ll continue to support a robust pipeline of new product development (NPD) initiatives, helping to transition cutting-edge underwater defence technologies from concept to operational capability in response to evolving customer requirements.

International travel will be required on occasion with the postholder being required to have security clearance from relevant Defence authorities or capable of obtaining prior to starting.

Special Features

• Highly motivated, capable of adapting to various situations and audiences.
• Client focussed; Detail driven yet supportive individual. An expert in internal stakeholder management and engagement.
• Versatile influencer capable of engaging and building long term collaborative internal and external relationships.
• Calm and effective communicator adapting style to suit.
• The ability to achieve excellence through motivational management, communication and collaboration.
• Safety champion through example.

  Role Accountabilities 

• Lead strategically important international projects within JFD’s global Defence portfolio with delivery of the project on time, on budget and to the customers complete satisfaction.
• Develop detailed project plans to guide the customer and internal stakeholders on the projects progress, status, risks and variances from the plan in line with PMO processes whilst delivering mission success for our customer and achieving or exceeding contract performance obligations.
• Act as the primary point of contact with the customer and be comfortable dealing with Senior Military and/or Defence personnel whilst managing project constraints and conflicts including resource and schedule demands.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, environment, sustainability, legal and security objectives are achieved throughout the lifecycle of the project.
• Ensure projects are executed in accordance with JFD’s Global Project Execution Process (GPEP), New Process Design (NPD) and associated procedures to ensure that the governance is maintained throughout the project.
• Accurately communicate project status and performance (weekly & monthly reporting as required) to internal and external stakeholders, in accordance with the approved reporting processes. This will include working and reporting contractual KPI’s.
• Support activities associated with sub-contractor and equipment selection and acquisition with JFD’s commercial and procurement functions.
• Manage and coordinate effective communication between key stakeholders for the purpose of resolving technical, commercial or procurement issues whilst assigning and managing tasks to vendors, engineering, production, and support functions.

  Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience 

• Demonstrable experience in a Senior Project Management role.
• Proven experience with UK and International Defence contracting terms and conditions.
• Qualification in Project Management from a reputable association.
• Proven track record of positively managing customer relationships on complex projects, ideally within the Defence environment.
• Business and commercial acumen.
• Experienced negotiator, capable of agreeing long term strategic commercial benefit for the company.
• Previous experience of commercially sensitive projects and the security aspects this entails.
• Experience of delivering in service / contractor logistic support services within a naval maritime environment would be advantageous.
• Awareness of working to maritime, defence standards and international quality & safety standards would be advantageous.
• Be flexible and available to travel worldwide in support of project activities.
• Full clean driving licence.
• Ability to obtain SC level clearance.

What's on offer

• Competitive salary.
• 26 days holidays plus Christmas, Boxing Day, 1st and 2nd January.
• Company pension.
• Cycle to work.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Early Finish on Fridays.
• Hybrid working
• Opportunities for development and progression.
• Great culture.

Due to the volume of applications that we receive for our vacancies, on occasion applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

James Fisher is a global engineering services company. From our origins as a ship owner and operator, we’ve evolved to provide the expertise and innovative technology our customers need in the harshest of environments across Energy, Defence and Maritime Transport.

The Defence Division provides underwater systems and life support capabilities, for the defence and commercial diving markets.

James Fisher & Sons are committed to taking positive action on diversity and we strongly encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and as a Disability Confident employer we are committed to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

James Fisher and Sons plc, are proud to be partnered with the Career Transition Partnership, the official provider of Armed Forces resettlement for over 20 years.