Senior Project Manager - DV Cleared

Defence | Hybrid (Reading-based) | Contract Role | Can be outside of scope of IR35 Status | Competitive Rate | Current DV clearance and experience delivering projects at concept stage is essential

The Opportunity

We are currently looking for a Senior Project Manager on a contract basis to support a key defence client. These are dynamic roles focused on project and portfolio management at the Concept stage - working with complex defence initiatives from initiation through to structured handover for delivery.

Contract Details: Contract role (inside or outside IR35 negotiable) | Competitive rate | Hybrid working (1 day/week on-site at Reading location) | DV Clearance essential

You'll be responsible for supporting the full project initiation lifecycle, from identifying opportunities and developing business cases through to securing approvals and preparing projects for delivery. You'll work across portfolio controls, structured investment processes, and strategic programme development-supporting your defence client's portfolio entry and project initiation function.

This role suits experienced project professionals who understand government and defence delivery environments, can navigate complex approval processes, and thrive in structured, policy-driven project management frameworks.

What You'll Be Doing

Project Initiation & Portfolio Management

• Support the initiation of projects and programmes using Portfolio Entry controls and structured business case development methods
• Coordinate pre-Concept studies to explore business problems and opportunities
• Develop early understanding of solution options to inform decision-making
• Produce initial estimates for scope, schedule, and cost ranges
• Recommend appropriate delivery methodologies for proposed initiatives

Strategic Planning & Business Cases

• Analyse and break down complex problems to develop strategic proposals for Investment Approval
• Produce business cases for complex and ambiguous problems
• Prepare key initiation deliverables including Business Cases, Stakeholder Maps, and Project Categorisation Forms
• Ensure alignment of proposed projects and programmes with overall portfolio strategy and priorities
• Develop initial cost, schedule and resource estimates

Stakeholder Management & Approvals

• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather inputs and validate assumptions
• Represent project interests in approval forums and governance meetings
• Secure approvals to proceed, including Standing Approval and initial resource allocation
• Handover all completed deliverables to the Portfolio Entry team prior to exit
• Manage stakeholder communication and expectation-setting throughout initiation

Programme Support

• Work across multiple concurrent projects and programmes
• Support portfolio decision-making and investment prioritisation
• Contribute to refinement of portfolio management processes and controls
• Escalate risks and issues appropriately through governance structures

About You

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' experience delivering projects at Concept stage
• Proven experience delivering projects within Government environments (essential)
• Strong project management fundamentals - familiar with structured project initiation processes
• Government/defence procurement knowledge - understanding of business case development, gateway reviews, and portfolio controls
• Excellent analytical skills - able to break down complex problems and develop strategic solutions
• Strong communication - capable of producing clear, structured business documentation
• Stakeholder management experience - comfortable working across multiple stakeholder groups at different levels
• Meticulous attention to detail - accuracy matters in formal government documentation
• Ability to work autonomously - comfortable taking ownership of workstreams with defined objectives

Desirable

• Experience writing business cases for complex and ambiguous problems
• Proposal management experience and/or professional chartership (APM, PMI or equivalent)
• Demonstrable experience in Portfolio Management
• PRINCE2 or equivalent formal project management qualification
• Experience with government delivery models (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid)
• Knowledge of defence procurement processes and security classification requirements

Security Vetting

Current DV clearance is essential

The Role in Practice

You'll work on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 1 day per week on-site at the client location in Reading. Remaining days will be remote.

This is a contract role with flexible IR35 positioning depending on your circumstances.