Lead Project Controller

Project Controls Lead - Level 7

Location:

Luton initially, transitioning to Reading from September 2026

Working Pattern: 3-4 Days On Site

Contract:

12 Months

Rate: £62 - £65 per hour (Outside IR35)

Security Clearance:
Active SC Clearance Required

Nationality Requirement:
Sole British Nationals Only

We are recruiting on behalf of a leading defence and aerospace organisation seeking an experienced GCAP Project Controls Lead to support a major international defence programme.

This role will support the FCA GCAP Programme Controls Manager in shaping and delivering a best-practice Project Controls framework within a tri-national consortium involving UK, Italian and Japanese partners.

The successful candidate will play a key role in schedule management, programme planning, performance analysis and stakeholder coordination across a highly complex, multi-national engineering programme environment.

• Support the development and delivery of a best-practice Project Controls framework across the GCAP programme
• Develop, maintain and control complex project schedules across large-scale engineering programmes
• Apply recognised scheduling methodologies including Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Coordinate timelines and planning activities across multi-functional and international teams
• Monitor, analyse and report schedule performance, identifying risks and recommending mitigation strategies
• Support schedule optimisation and conflict resolution activities
• Balance programme resources and delivery deadlines to achieve contractual and operational objectives
• Work closely with programme leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure schedule alignment and project delivery success
• Support risk management and scenario planning activities across programme controls functions
• Maintain high standards of governance, reporting accuracy and schedule integrity

• Proven experience within Project Controls, Planning or Schedule Management roles on large, complex engineering programmes
• Aerospace and defence programme experience highly desirable
• Strong expertise in schedule development, maintenance and control
• Experience applying Critical Path Method (CPM) and advanced planning methodologies
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication capability across international teams
• Ability to analyse schedule performance and develop mitigation strategies
• Strong problem-solving and risk management capability
• Experience balancing programme priorities, resources and delivery schedules
• Active SC Clearance essential
• Sole British National essential

• Multi-national programme experience
• Complex defence or aerospace project environments
• Programme controls governance frameworks
• Advanced planning and scheduling tools

This is an opportunity to work on one of the UK's most significant future defence programmes within a highly advanced international engineering environment. You'll be supporting critical programme delivery activities across a complex tri-national consortium while operating at the forefront of aerospace and defence programme controls.