Assistant Head Project Manager

Do you want to work on one or the most exciting transformation projects in the public sector? 

The Defence Housing Service (DHS) is being created through the Armed Forces Bill to deliver a step-change in housing for the UKs Armed Forces and their families following the publication of the Defence Housing Strategy on 3 November 2025, which marked the most significant change to Armed Forces housing in over 50 years. DHS will bring a dedicated focus to improving the homes, communities and lived experience of Service personnel, placing families firmly at the heart of everything it does.

This is one of the most ambitious housing transformation programmes in the UK today. Backed by a 9.2 billion investment, DHS will modernise tens of thousands of homes, introduce a more proactive and customer-focused approach to maintenance, and unlock new opportunities to develop housing on Defence land. DHS will have the focus and agility to deliver change at pace, combining public service values with greater flexibility to build the skills, systems and partnerships needed for the future.

This is a rare opportunity to be part of shaping its culture, influencing how it works, and helping deliver lasting improvements for Service families across the UK.

The Defence Housing team is currently part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), who respond to the evolving needs of our military personnel, and the ways in which they live, work, train and deploy. We are proud to be the expert partner Defence needs for all their infrastructure requirements. From large scale infrastructure projects such as runways for the F35 fighter jets to net carbon-zero accommodation for our Service families, our activities focus relentlessly on our customers, and our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe! DIO , What we deliver every day.

What youll be doing;

• Lead and inspire a high-performing Project Delivery Team, fostering a collaborative, inclusive and customer-focused culture.
• Deliver complex projects that support the future of Defence accommodation services for Service personnel and their families.
• Lead projects through the full lifecycle, from planning and business case development through to procurement, mobilisation and delivery.
• Ensure projects are delivered to agreed time, cost and quality requirements, in line with Defence and Project Delivery Profession standards.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction, ensuring project objectives align with Defence and DIO Accommodation priorities.
• Develop robust business cases, delivery plans and governance arrangements to support informed decision-making.
• Monitor project performance and delivery confidence through effective planning, controls, reporting and assurance activities.
• Identify and manage risks, issues, dependencies and opportunities, driving proactive mitigation and continuous improvement.
• Oversee project resources and workforce planning, ensuring capability and capacity are aligned to delivery priorities.
• Lead benefits realisation activities, ensuring projects deliver measurable value and strategic outcomes.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders across Defence, government and industry.
• Provide high-quality reports, analysis and recommendations to senior leaders, boards and governance bodies.
• Lead project communications, ensuring stakeholders remain informed, engaged and aligned throughout delivery.
• Support external assurance activities, including reviews and audits, ensuring evidence is robust and delivery remains on track.
• Use data and insight to drive decision-making, improve project outcomes and strengthen delivery performance.

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Proven experience leading and delivering large scale projects or programmes through developing and managing project plans, governance arrangements, business cases, and assurance activities in a complex organisational environment.
• Demonstrable ability to lead, motivate and develop high-performing teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive working environment.
• Experience in ensuring successful outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, with experience building effective relationships and presenting to senior leaders, boards and other key stakeholders.
• Strong risk, issue and dependency management skills, with the ability to identify challenges, implement mitigations and support informed decision-making.
• Proven ability to use data, performance measures, project controls and benefits management techniques to monitor delivery, drive continuous improvement and realise project outcomes