Schedule and Risk Management Expert

Serco, a prominent player in the Space industry with over 50 years of experience, has a robust partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), particularly through our work at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. ESA-ECSAT serves as ESA's hub for telecommunications and integrated applications, supporting the development and commercialization of innovative space-based solutions.

On behalf of our client, the European Space Agency, we are looking for a skilled Schedule and Risk Management Expert to join our team distributed over the ESA-ECSAT site, in Harwell, UK.

The overall goal of the service is to provide project management support services for CSC Programmes and Projects, covering all activities linked to schedule and risk management, project administration support and configuration and data management. The service shall assist the CSC teams in improving operational harmonisation, efficiency and effectiveness through the continuous review, update and implementation of project management processes, procedures, best practices and tools.

For schedule and risk management control activities, the service requires a planning and schedule expertise to support the analysis of schedule files and critical paths, the definition and maintenance of project schedules within the CSC directorate, the definition and maintenance of milestone trend charts and support to the preparation of risk adjusted schedules.

The task covers the schedule and risk management functions in support of the CSC projects managed at ESTEC and ECSAT. The service shall operate in a lean and efficient manner, working autonomously on routine tasks, liaising and collaborating with other Teams/Groups in ESA, proactively interfacing with industrial teams as necessary, maintaining good working relationships and facilitating information exchange.

Main Responsibilities

As Schedule and Risk Management Expert, you will concentrate your activities on the following:

• Coordinate project schedules and risk support, ensuring consistency in tools and approaches.
• Assist project teams in schedule control and monitoring industrial partners' progress.
• Analyze schedules using KPIs and prepare performance deviation reports.
• Conduct schedule quality assessments, critical path analysis and risk evaluations.
• Provide expert advice on schedule and risk management during key project phases.
• Set up and maintain schedule and risk management tools.
• Support project teams in improving schedule performance and mitigating risks.
• Organize and lead schedule/risk meetings with internal teams and industry partners.
• Identify scheduling issues, suggest improvements and run simulations for decision-making.
• Maintain reporting templates, performance indicators and progress tracking tools.
• Prepare periodic reports on schedule performance and communicate findings.
• Ensure alignment between industrial partners' schedules and project requirements.
• Assist in schedule-related activities for project close-out.
• Contribute to process improvements, new tool implementations and best practices in schedule and risk management.
• Provide training and support on schedule and risk tools for ESA teams.

Successful Candidate

Do you think you are the person we are looking for? See below what experience or knowledge you should bring:

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• At least 4 years of experience in schedule and risk management or project management.
• Expertise in creating and managing baseline schedules using MS Project, with a focus on critical path analysis, monitoring schedules and controlling changes.
• Strong background in schedule risk analysis, including the development of risk-adjusted schedules and providing recommendations for improving or accelerating timelines.
• Skilled in tracking and monitoring schedule performance through KPIs, trend charts and milestone tracking.
• Capable of producing status reports, quarterly updates and management presentations to communicate schedule and risk performance.
• Experience in setting up and configuring schedule and risk management tools.
• Knowledge of schedule management procedures and continuous process improvement.
• Strong communication skills with teams across engineering, technical and business domains. Ability to collaborate and coordinate schedule management across stakeholders.
• Customer-oriented, with a focus on delivering quality service.
• Ability to create and deliver training materials on schedule tools and risk management practices.
• Proficient in the English language, both written and spoken.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.

On offer

• Comprehensive and competitive benefits plan
• A range of wellness activities and employee assistance programs
• Casual dress code
• Bike Scheme

About the Company

Serco is a leading Space Services Provider with thousands of skilled resources that has supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 Space or Government agencies around the globe, including the ESA and NASA. Serco offers space capability across the full space lifecycle from satellite testing to launch services, LEOP to spacecraft operations, space surveillance to data management, and supporting downstream application development.

Why should you join Serco?

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play.

Meaningful and vital work - You’ll contribute to methodologically intercepting challenges whilst achievements will also be recognised and celebrated.

A world of opportunity - You’ll be wholeheartedly supported with development and career progression.

Great people - You’ll become an integral member of a well-defined and supportive team who believe passionately in the value of our work. We are a company passionate about diversity and inclusion.

We are a diverse and inclusive organisation

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential and we are committed to supporting the needs of all our colleagues. It’s a mix of people from different backgrounds, experiences and opinions that keeps our culture strong and vibrant.

We believe in equity so we strongly encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their abilities in an interview. We also welcome a conversation about any adjustments that would make the interview process more accessible for you. Wherever possible we are open to discussions around flexible working and we operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas.

In the UK, we are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader in the government’s scheme and hold the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard; in Belgium, we are partner of Diversicom and member of Charter der Vielfalt in Germany.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to The Serco Europe Recruitment Team.

Important:

Any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing documents to verify your identity and employment eligibility, as required by law.

Applicants are reminded that they will be requested to produce such documentation during the recruitment process.

Please contact a member of the recruitment team if you require further details of acceptable types of documentation required for verification of identity and work authorization.

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• Salary: Salary information available upon application.
• Frequency: Annual
• Job Reference: UK25/ECSAT/10460
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Closing Date: 03 April, 2025
• Job Category: Satellite & Space Engineering & Science