Project Cost Capability Lead

Opportunity Review: Project Cost Capability Lead at Babcock

This review offers insights into the Project Cost Capability Lead position at Babcock, located in Ashton, Bristol. We aim to provide potential candidates with a clear understanding of the advantages and key considerations for advancing their careers with this exciting opportunity.

The Role and Its Impact

Babcock is seeking a Project Cost Capability Lead to join their Mission Systems division, a critical area focused on delivering advanced engineering and technology for the UK's defence capabilities. This is a unique chance to shape a newly created role within an evolving organisational structure. As the Project Cost Capability Lead, you will be instrumental in embedding best practice cost management techniques and toolsets across the Mission Systems portfolio. This position offers a significant opportunity to drive delivery excellence and contribute to the future of national security.

Key Advantages for Candidates:

• Shaping a New Role: This is not a standard role; you will have the autonomy and influence to define and implement best practices, making a tangible impact on the organisation's project delivery lifecycle.
• Strategic Contribution: Your work will directly support Babcock's mission to create a safe and secure world, contributing to vital defence initiatives.
• Professional Development: You will lead and support a community of cost management professionals, offering mentoring, coaching, and opportunities for their professional growth. This also presents a chance for your own leadership development.
• Collaborative Environment: The role involves working closely with other Discipline Leads and the Operations Lead, fostering a collaborative and innovative atmosphere within a fast-paced, purpose-driven division.
• Hybrid Working: Babcock offers flexible hybrid working arrangements, with up to 3 days per week from home, allowing for a better work-life integration.
• Comprehensive Benefits: The role comes with a competitive salary and a robust benefits package, including generous holiday, matched pension contributions, life assurance, access to health and wellbeing services, an employee share scheme, and opportunities for professional fee payment.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Essential Experience: Candidates will need strong, proven experience in robust project cost management and control techniques, including forecasting, performance reporting (e.g., Earned Value Management), and quantitative cost risk analysis. A track record of leading cost management within complex, technically advanced projects is crucial.
• Technical Aptitude: Familiarity with or the ability to collaborate with teams using project and risk management software such as Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, Active Risk Manager, riskHive, Deltek Cobra, Safran, or Primavera Risk Analyser is expected.
• Leadership and Communication: Exceptional communication, influencing, and leadership abilities are paramount, as you will be engaging with a broad stakeholder community.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be a sole UK national and eligible to obtain and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance. While you can start with Standard (BPSS) clearance, obtaining SC will be a requirement once in post. Candidates should be aware of UK national security clearance requirements and their impact on eligibility.
• Commitment to Learning: While formal qualifications are not rigidly defined, a demonstrated willingness to learn and adapt is highly valued, alongside the required experience.

Career Path Guidance:

For professionals with a strong foundation in project cost management and a desire to influence strategic direction within a leading defence engineering organisation, this role offers significant potential. It's an excellent opportunity to move into a leadership position where you can define and implement best practices, mentor others, and make a substantial contribution to national security. The focus on embedding proactive approaches and building a pipeline of talent suggests that this role is critical to Babcock's future success and offers a platform for sustained career growth.

This is a compelling opportunity for seasoned cost management professionals looking to take on a leadership role with significant impact and contribute to a mission that matters.