Project Manager - Maternity Cover - Up to 12 Months

Project Manager - Maternity Cover - Up to 12 Months Status: Maternity Cover - Up to 12 months /Full-time hours preferable (requests for part-time/flexible working arrangements are welcome)

About us

Energy Systems Catapult is an independent research and technology organisation. Our mission is to accelerate Net Zero energy innovation.

Launched in 2015 by Innovate UK, the Catapult has built a team of more than 250 people, with a range of technical, engineering, consumer, commercial, incubation, digital and policy expertise. They draw on sector-leading test facilities, modelling tools, and data collected from our back catalogue of more than 500 research projects.

We use that 'whole energy' system capability to support innovative companies small and large - to test, trial and scale their new products and services. Our impact comes when those innovators attract new customers, new investment and new grants so they can thrive in the future energy system.

Based in Birmingham, Energy Systems Catapult is part of a network of nine, world-leading technology and innovation centres, established by Innovate UK. The Catapult Network fosters collaboration between industry, government, research organisations, academia, and many others to transform great ideas into valuable products and services.

We believe that innovation often stems from connecting different areas and ideas, and that working together in person can be an important enabler for that. We therefore expect people to be in the Birmingham office 40 days/year (roughly one day per week).

Context

We have two main Directorates that win and deliver our work: our 'Platforms' which are the externally-facing business areas that generally lead our business development / proposal development activities; and our 'Capabilities' which are the internal business areas that provide the technical expertise needed to deliver our projects.

We take a flexible approach to the workplace, combining working from home with time in the office, which ensures we keep some of the benefits of home working whilst enabling the Catapult to operate efficiently.

We are seeking a Project Manager on a (Insert contract type). The successful candidate will report into our Innovation Project Management (IPM) team and will take responsibility for specific projects within the Catapult. The project portfolio is diverse and includes technology, commercial market and business value proposition development activities in the context of multi energy vector solutions.

Key work activities

• Hold full accountability for delivering projects on-time, on-budget, to scope, in line with the Catapult's Project Management Lifecycle procedure, to achieve high levels of Customer satisfaction, with daily interface with project teams.
• Work closely with Commercial Directorate during bid development, assessing the deliverability of proposals and generating plans and resource profiles.
• Generate (with wider team input as appropriate) and ensure timely signoff of all project management documents needed for the initiation, detailed planning, execution and closure of the projects.
• Working with the project team to establish strong and effective customer relationships. This will include leading regular external project reviews and issuing written project updates to key customer stakeholders.
• Managing and monitoring project scope and leading customer negotiations on change.
• Engagement and management of third-party suppliers, ensuring they perform to the relevant contractual expectations and deliver the expected outputs for the project.
• Be responsible for project compliance with issues such as Health and Safety, Data Protection, IP, etc.
• Identify, document and actively manage project risks and issues.
• Report on project progress and strategic insights.
• Ensure appropriate resourcing of the projects, identifying constraints and negotiating with team leaders.

What credentials are we ideally looking for?

• Proven track record of successfully delivering cross functional projects.
• Professional Project Management Qualification (AMP or PMP) or working towards.
• Degree in a relevant field.
• Experience in managing collaborative projects comprised of a cross functional team that could include: internal staff, consultants, external contractors, public and private sector partners and clients; provide clear direction, and allocate tasks as appropriate.
• Understanding of key management topics, including stakeholder engagement, Health and Safety, Data Protection, Intellectual Property, contractor management.
• Be comfortable in managing the uncertainty inherent in advanced innovation projects.
• Proven experience of successfully managing projects in an innovation environment with both technical and commercial content; experience within the energy sector could be advantageous, but is not a prerequisite.
• Be comfortable with the hands-on work and flexibility required in a small team.
• Excellent IT skills, to include MS Word, MS Project, MS PowerPoint and MS Excel.
• Willing and able to travel around the UK (and potentially overseas) as required.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to excel in a rapidly growing, fast-paced organisational environment.
• Taking ownership of work and managing workload effectively and efficiently.
• Persuasive and approachable, you can successfully manage relations with clients, colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Open to change and adapts well to setbacks or pressurised situations.
• Supportive, positive and constructive in relation to your interactions with colleagues and external organisations.
• Experience of working with public sector partners and an appreciation of how these organisations work, their motivation and constraints, could be advantageous. but is not a prerequisite.
• Proven ability to manage relationships between organisations with different priorities and find ways forward that all parties are content with.

Employee Benefits:

Annual leave 28 days plus bank holidays (FTE) + Buy/Sell holidays Buy/sell holiday - maximum 1 week based on contracted hours + Pension 2 for 1 contribution via salary sacrifice scheme up to 10% + Discretionary bonus scheme + Recognition scheme to celebrate "above and beyond"+ EV Scheme Salary sacrifice + Cycle2work Salary sacrifice + Life assurance 4 x salary + Health Cash Back Plan + Retail and gym discounts + Employee Assistance Programme 24/7 phoneline and 6 free counselling sessions + Snacks and drinks + Annual company off-site event.

Flexible working options for eligible employees = (Sabbatical/Compressed/Staggered/Flexible hours) + Working within a hybrid office attendance model with the expectation of being in the office at least 1 day a week + and:

Maternity Leave = (100% 13 weeks / 50% 13 weeks/SP 13 weeks/Unpaid leave for 13 weeks)

Adoption Leave = (100% 13 weeks/50% 13 weeks/SP 13 weeks/Unpaid leave for 13 weeks)

Paternity Leave = (100% 2 weeks)

Shared Parental Leave = (100% 10 weeks/50% 13 weeks/SP 13 weeks)

Would you like to Apply?

The closing date for applications is Sunday 7th September 2025

Please note that at this time we areunableto provide UK visa sponsorship.

We welcome applications from all, including those who may be returning to work, those wishing to work flexibly for any reason, and those who may need additional support.

Energy Systems Catapult undertakes innovative and exciting work that will help shape the future of energy, with this in mind we encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible, as we do reserve the right to remove this advert or close it to further applications at any point during the recruitment process.

(Strictly No Agencies).

"We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion and belief, sexual orientation, or status regarding gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity."

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In the recruitment process we, Energy Systems Catapult Limited, are a "Data Controller". This means that we are responsible for deciding how we hold and use personal data about you.

The Energy Systems Catapult Limited is located at Cannon House 7th Floor, 18 Priory Queensway, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, B4 6BS and can be contacted by email at: .

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Used lawfully, fairly and in a transparent way;
Collected only for valid purposes that we have clearly explained to you and not used in any way that is incompatible with those purposes;
Relevant to the purposes we have told you about and limited only to those purposes;
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Kept securely.

The Kind of Personal Data we hold about you

In connection with your application for work with us, we will collect . click apply for full job details