National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
Senior Project Manager
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About the Role
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the UK’s National Metrology Institute, delivering world-leading measurement science that supports innovation, industry, and national priorities. As a Senior Project Manager, you will lead complex, high-value scientific and engineering programs central to NPL’s mission.
The role supports two strategic projects: maintaining and developing NPL’s dimensional and angle measurement capability, and delivering a new measurement instrument to replace ageing systems.
You will coordinate science, engineering, procurement, and estates teams, managing interdependencies, governance, financial control, and delivery in a highly visible environment.
About You
Role Purpose
Provide strategic project leadership across scientific and technical programs, ensuring delivery to scope, time, cost, and quality while strengthening NPL’s project delivery capability.
Key Responsibilities
Project Leadership & Delivery
- Lead complex, cross-functional projects from initiation to closure.
- Develop integrated plans across science, engineering, procurement, and estates.
- Apply robust governance, planning, financial, and risk controls.
- Manage interdependencies, critical paths, and cross-functional delivery.
Stakeholder & Customer Engagement
- Translate scientific and technical requirements into deliverable plans.
- Build relationships with customers, suppliers, and delivery partners.
- Provide clear reporting, escalation, and recommendations to senior leaders and governance boards.
- Maintain stakeholder alignment, clear roles, and transparent communication.
Risk, Quality & Compliance
- Operate within governance, assurance, commercial, and contractual controls.
- Ensure projects meet customer requirements and compliance obligations.
Risk and Assurance
- Identify, manage, and escalate risks and issues with clear mitigation plans.
- Support assurance and audit activity across governance, quality, and technical standards.
- Maintain audit readiness with technical teams.
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Delivery Quality
- Ensure robust data, document, and change control.
- Champion quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
- Lead accurate and consistent reporting cycles.
Leadership & Capability Development
- Mentor Project Managers and promote best practice.
- Contribute to portfolio planning, resourcing, and strategic decisions.
- Support integration across technical and operational teams.
- Influence stakeholders to drive alignment and timely decisions.
Skills & Experience Required
Essential:
- Significant experience managing large, complex technical or scientific projects.
- Strong governance, risk, financial, and delivery control expertise.
- Excellent senior stakeholder engagement, communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and financial management capability.
- Experience working with engineering teams on schedules, capacity, and delivery feasibility.
Desirable:
- Project management qualification such as APM, PRINCE2, MSP, or PMP.
- Experience in R&D, engineering, scientific, or public sector programs.
- Understanding of metrology, national laboratories, or government-funded research.
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and using Microsoft 365, SharePoint, or Microsoft Project.
What We Offer
- Meaningful work that contributes to national capability and scientific excellence.
- Hybrid working and flexible arrangements.
- Professional development and funded training.
- Inclusive and collaborative culture.
We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency, and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.
Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert, therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.
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About Us
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading center of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering, and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview
NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled, and black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.
At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity. As part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.
We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of rewards, benefits, and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people, and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.
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