Schedule and Risk Management Specialist

For more than half a century, Serco has walked alongside the pioneers of space. Serco has supported over 50 ESA missions where our teams have helped launch satellites, guide spacecraft across the void and turn data into discoveries that reshape our world. With thousands of specialists contributing across the entire space lifecycle from satellite testing to launch services, LEOP to operations and surveillance, we’ve become a trusted force in national And European space strategies. And now, the next chapter could include you.

As part of our long-standing partnership with the European Space Agency, we are looking for a Schedule and Risk Management Specialist to join our team at ECSAT, Harwell, UK.

The Schedule and Risk Management Specialist is responsible for planning, scheduling, risk analysis, and schedule performance monitoring across ESA CIP programmes and projects. The role provides expert guidance on schedule engineering, critical path management, trend analysis, and risk-adjusted planning to support informed programme decision-making.

Responsibilities

Schedule Management

• Develop, maintain and analyse project schedules.
• Perform critical path, float and schedule quality assessments.
• Establish and maintain baseline schedules.
• Produce milestone trend charts, schedule KPIs and performance indicators.
• Monitor contractor schedules and identify deviations.
  
  

Risk Management

• Maintain project risk registers and risk tools.
• Support risk identification, assessment, mitigation and monitoring.
• Perform schedule risk analysis and what-if simulations.
• Produce risk-adjusted schedules and alternative planning scenarios.
  
  

Project Support

• Support programme reviews, procurement activities and milestone assessments.
• Participate in Configuration Control Boards and project reviews.
• Advise project teams on recovery plans, acceleration opportunities and schedule optimisation.
• Support schedule and risk management audits.
  
  

Process Development

• Develop scheduling standards, procedures, and best practices.
• Support implementation of new scheduling and risk management tools.
• Deliver training and guidance to project teams.
• Support AI and digitalisation initiatives related to schedule and risk control.

Profile

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Project Management, or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in project planning, scheduling, or risk management.
  
  

Required Skills

• Expert knowledge of scheduling methodologies.
• Critical Path Method (CPM) analysis.
• Schedule risk analysis and scenario modelling.
• Strong analytical and reporting capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder communication skills.
  
  

Preferred Tools Experience

• Microsoft Project Professional.
• Oracle Primavera.
• Deltek Acumen.
• Visio Professional
• Office Timeline.
• Power BI.
• SharePoint.
  
  

Preferred Experience

• ESA, aerospace, engineering, or government programme environment.

What We Offer: More than just a job

Working with Serco at ESA ECSAT means joining a stable and well-established organisation with a long-standing presence in the European space sector. You will be employed on a permanent UK contract with Serco, subject to ESA acceptance and benefit from a supportive working environment where people development and long-term careers are taken seriously.
Serco is committed to supporting your professional growth through regular performance reviews, annual career development planning and access to a wide range of training opportunities. This includes technical and soft-skills training, workshops, conferences, language courses and online learning platforms such as LinkedIn Learning and Serco’s internal learning management system.
You will have regular interaction with Serco management and local support teams, ensuring you feel supported, informed and connected. Serco maintains an open-door approach through its local support offices and provides regular updates on company initiatives, events and opportunities across its European space business.
In addition to a competitive salary, the role includes a comprehensive benefits package. This includes access to a pension scheme, life insurance linked to pension membership, company sick pay from day one depending on length of service and an annual salary review process in line with Serco Group guidelines.
While working at ESA ECSAT, you will benefit from a generous holiday entitlement of 30 days per year, in addition to ESA site public holidays, with the possibility to carry over a limited number of days into the following year.
As part of the Serco team, you will also gain visibility of internal vacancies across the UK, Europe and globally, offering real opportunities for internal mobility without loss of seniority. From day one, you will be part of a company that actively represents its people, listens to feedback and values long-term collaboration with its staff.