Job Vacancies

Job Description

KDC are looking for a Project Planner to join the new state of the art facility to shape solutions for our clients’ missions and build links with colleagues in both the US and Japan.

This is a unique opportunity to join our clients dynamic and rapidly growing company, seeking to make a positive contribution to the growing problem of orbital debris that endangers mankind’s continued use of space as an asset.

Your role will help make a difference every day by ensuring the projects is managed effectively and delivered on time to drive forward the missions and help to make space safer and more sustainable for future generations.

Our client has several live space system projects and bids that require a consistent approach to schedule production and management. The role will support each project’s PMO to deliver upon our commitments in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for the production and maintenance of schedules in support of the design and delivery of space missions (or aspects thereof) on complex engineering missions in a matrixed project / engineering environment with definition inputs from the relevant Project Director/Manager.
• Support planning and delivery of project review gates, including the tracking of associated deliverables and their interdependencies.
• Generate schedule inputs to senior management reviews, mission concept studies, technical or non-technical packages of work, and bid work, in support of the wider business.
• Interface internally with engineering, product assurance, and procurement as necessary in support of project, bids, or similar activities.
• Day to day reporting to Project Directors/Managers and line management reporting to the VP of Programmes.

Expected results 

• Schedules are produced and maintained to a consistent standard.
• The Project Planner becomes a key member of the Project Management Office, Programme team and wider business.

Position sizing 

• The Project Planner will schedule all project/bid activities over the UK business.

What you’ll need

• 3+ years’ experience in project planning, ideally in the space or aerospace industries with MS Project expertise.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a close-knit team of technical and non-technical personnel and drive successful outcomes.
• Production and maintenance of schedule deliverables for internal and external stakeholders, at all levels.
• Experience of planning project review gates (Requirements Review, Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, etc).
• Experience of working closely with Systems Engineering teams, including a high-level understanding of Systems activities such as architecture definition, CONOPS, requirements derivation, etc.
• Practical understanding and application of lean engineering methodologies.
• High personal standards & desire for honesty, openness, and integrity.
• An understanding of people, coupled with the desire to collaborate to achieve mutual success. A willingness to put a team’s requirements before one’s own when appropriate, balanced with the ability to hold difficult conversations when necessary.
• A can-do approach, and drive to work together to achieve collective success within a project management & company team framework.

Desirable Skills

• Full mission lifecycle planning experience from requirements definition to verification, delivery, commissioning, and operations.
• Technical career / background, ideally within space or aerospace sectors.
• An understanding of engineering process, with knowledge of large satellite company or agency design principles e.g. ECSS. (Alongside aforementioned familiarity of lean or agile project implementation methodologies).
• The ability to understand, influence, and negotiate, coupled with the desire to seek mutually beneficial outcomes in forum environments.
• Experience of supplier management or satellite part procurement.
• Experience working with challenging customers, partners, or suppliers.
• Evidence of successfully ‘unblocking’ and closing out behind schedule / cost overrun projects (or aspects thereof).
• Experience of bid support and product assurance (QA / PA).
• Awareness of spacecraft sub-system functional teams such as Guidance Navigation Control (GNC / AOCS), Command & Data Handing (C&DH / OBDH), Propulsion, Software, Ground Segment, Operations, etc.
• Awareness of Assembly Integration and Verification processes (integration, subsystem / integrated / environmental testing etc).
• Useful to have a knowledge of Japanese, though not essential (the working language is English, however some familiarity of Japanese may be of occasional benefit).
• Experience successfully collaborating with personnel from different countries and cultures in a fast-paced technical working environment.
• A basic knowledge of debris removal, end-of-life, in-orbit maintenance, or servicing.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work with a highly talented, diverse & dynamic international team with cutting edge technology
• Flexible working around core hours in a friendly and supportive environment
• Hybrid working available (dependent on individual role requirements)
• 25 days holiday (increasing yearly up to a maximum of 28 days) + 8 days Bank Holiday
• Life insurance and long-term sick pay
• Private healthcare (taxable benefit)
• Relocation allowance
• Visa sponsorship for employees
• New state of the art office and cleanroom facility
• Regular social events