About us

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.

As strategies, technologies and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough use of technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

An innovation and transformation consultancy, we are over 4000 specialists in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. Our people are strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers and technologists.

We operate globally from offices across the UK, US, Netherlands and Nordics.

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.

Would you like to work with a high-performing team that delivers meaningful and lasting change to it's clients? 

Our Major Programme Services (MPS) team is looking for exceptional Project Controls/Planning Specialists.    

As part of PA’s Delivery stream, PA’s Centre of Excellence for all project, programme, and portfolio capability, MPS works across Defence, major projects & infrastructure, transport, and public sector in client-facing roles on long-term assignments. Having experienced repeated successes in delivering value and excellence for our clients, most of whom are within daily commuting range from home, we are in high demand and are now expanding further across the UK. 

As a Project Controls/Planning Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in supporting our clients in controlling some of the UK’s most complex major programmes. Your expertise in project controls methodologies, tools and applications of best practice will be crucial in delivering successful outcomes for our clients.    

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative and innovative environment, shaping projects that drive meaningful impact.   

Location

Flexible working - we operate in a hybrid working environment, where there is limited requirement to attend your base office and travel is driven by client needs. Client locations include: 

• Bristol 
• Andover 
• Portsmouth 
• Cardiff 
• Swindon 
• Cheltenham 

You will have opportunity to: 

• Implement processes covering multiple project controls functions (e.g. scope, schedule, cost, risk, performance reporting).  
• Collect and analyse project data to assess performance against project goals and objectives.  
• Plan, build, maintain, and interrogate resource loaded schedules from first principles (including WBS, PBS, OBS, Basis of Estimates etc) through to Schedule Risk Analysis and management against monthly milestone reporting. 
• Identify and communicate scope changes, schedule slippages and potential impacts as well as supporting the identification of mitigating actions. Ensure trends of cost and schedule are identified, manage the change management process and communicate corrective actions.   
• Drive effective risk management through the identification, assessment, and mitigation of project risks, working collaboratively to ensure proactive and effective management. 
• Lead stakeholder engagement activities, facilitating collaboration and communication among all project participants.  
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior team members, fostering their professional growth and development. 
• Develop your own project controls expertise even further through a range of on-the-job learning, training and formal qualifications. 

About You 

• Experience in one or more project controls disciplines e.g., planning, scheduling, risk management, cost management, and earned value management.  
• Expertise in applying various project control methodologies and tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Primavera, Active Risk Manager, Schedule Risk Analysis), adapting them to diverse project contexts. 
• Certification in Project Management or Project Controls (PMQ, PRINCE2, Project Planning and Control etc.) is desirable. 
• Analytical mindset with the ability to identify and solve problems, make informed decisions, and manage project risks effectively.  
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information to clients and stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.   
• Strong interpersonal skills, enabling successful collaboration with stakeholders across all levels. 

We know that potential skills-gaps and an expectation to ‘need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.  

Apply today by completing our online application 

Life at PA 

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work. 

We believe diversity fuels ingenuity. Diversity of thought brings exciting perspectives; diversity of experience brings a wealth of knowledge, and diversity of skills brings the tools we need. When we bring people together with diverse backgrounds, identities, and minds, embracing that difference through an inclusive culture where our people thrive; we unleash the power of diversity – bringing ingenuity to life.  

Find out more about Life at PA here. 

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits: 

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare for you and your family 
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days  
• Generous company pension scheme 
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives 
• Annual performance-based bonus 
• PA share ownership 
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn) 

We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief veteran status, or other by any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We are on a journey towards ensuring our workforce is diverse at all levels and that our firm is representative of the world around us. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups. 

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us at: recruitment[email protected]

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