Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
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James Sheppard

Swindon,UK

Summary

Highly accomplished and results-driven Project Manager with 8 years of dedicated experience within the defence and intelligence sector. Proven expertise in end-to-end project lifecycle management, ensuring stringent adherence to scope, timelines, budget, and quality standards. Adept at leading and empowering multi-skilled, cross-functional teams, optimising resource utilisation, and proactively mitigating complex risks to consistently deliver critical outcomes. Demonstrated success in driving operational efficiencies, implementing strategic process improvements, and cultivating robust stakeholder relationships up to 3-star level. Committed to exceeding project objectives and contributing to the strategic direction of defence initiatives.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification

Work history

Service Delivery Manager

Ministry of Defence
Corsham, Wiltshire
12.2024 - 06.2025
  • Spearheaded change management and managed technical deployments for a high-classification telephony service, ensuring alignment with defence strategies and compliance with governmental policies.
  • Led diverse teams (technical, security, testing, assurance contractors, and permanent staff), fostering high performance.
  • Collaborated on WITO Transition between MSPs for a critical high-classification telephony service and served as Local Security Officer for high-side data systems.
  • Exercised delegated financial authority, managing significant project expenditures.
  • Authored Outline Business Cases (OBCs) and Full Business Cases (FBCs) for approvals up to £50M, including high-level briefings up to 3-star within UK Strategic Command.
  • Provided programmatic leadership for a £40M critical infrastructure project supporting defence taskings.

Project Manager

Ministry of Defence
Corsham, Wiltshire
10.2023 - 12.2024
  • Managed highly sensitive, technically complex projects in challenging environments.
  • Established direct communication with finance, commercial, engineering, and senior leadership for seamless collaboration.
  • Acted as technical design lead and single point of contact for system integration.
  • Created and updated project plans and reports, providing concise briefings to senior leadership.
  • Successfully delivered a £100M critical power infrastructure project across defence estates (UK and overseas).

Lead Systems Engineer

Ministry of Defence
Corsham, Wiltshire
06.2021 - 11.2023
  • Lead systems engineer on a pivotal £100M global infrastructure project.
  • Technical lead for server consolidation and migration initiatives, aligning with digital transformation.
  • Primary project controls officer due to strict 'need-to-know' on varied technical projects.

Project Engineer

AFL Telecoms
Swindon, Wiltshire
07.2019 - 06.2021
  • Managed mission-critical projects in the manufacturing industry
  • Specialized in fiber-optic cables for subsea Oil & Gas applications
  • Led project meetings with clients and end customers
  • Ensured timely project completion and high-quality documentation
  • Implemented rigorous project controls and managed day-to-day client interactions
  • Oversaw financial forecasting with focus on project control metrics
  • Collaborated closely with quality assurance and manufacturing teams
  • Enhanced operational efficiency through structured project control frameworks

Electrical Project Engineer

Socomec UK Ltd
South Cerney, Gloucestershire
08.2017 - 06.2019
  • Managed development of critical power systems for the commercial sector
  • Designed HV power systems using AutoCAD and AutoDesk products
  • Created detailed designs and network interconnectivity plans
  • Coordinated project deliveries and led client kick-off meetings
  • Participated in factory acceptance testing abroad

Project Engineer

Vysiion Ltd
Chippenham, Wiltshire
10.2014 - 07.2017
  • Contributed to system integration and digital transformation projects
  • Designed and implemented systems: intrusion detection, surveillance, data networks
  • Worked on digital infrastructure for data centers, offshore wind farms, and remote sites
  • Maintained strict project controls with detailed reporting on budgets, risk, and procurement
  • Aligned technical execution with strategic goals for scalable solutions across sectors

Education

BEng (Hons) - Marine Engineering

University of Plymouth
09.2011 - 06.2014

National Diploma Level 3 - Manufacturing Engineering

Bath College
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset
09.2008 - 06.2011

Skills

  • Project management and leadership
  • Agile and waterfall methodologies
  • Risk and cost management
  • Scheduling and resource optimization
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Operational efficiency and process improvement
  • Program leadership and system integration
  • Server consolidation and migration
  • Networking and cybersecurity
  • Technical design and cryptography
  • Problem-solving and strategic alignment
  • Team collaboration and communication

Certification

  • AWS Cloud Practitioner
  • AgilePM Foundation and Practitioner
  • AutoCAD Professional Certification
  • SAFE (Security Awareness in Fragile Environments) & SAFE+ (Working with Close Protection teams)
  • Actively holding high level British Government and NATO Security clearance

Timeline

Service Delivery Manager

Ministry of Defence
12.2024 - 06.2025

Project Manager

Ministry of Defence
10.2023 - 12.2024

Lead Systems Engineer

Ministry of Defence
06.2021 - 11.2023

Project Engineer

AFL Telecoms
07.2019 - 06.2021

Electrical Project Engineer

Socomec UK Ltd
08.2017 - 06.2019

Project Engineer

Vysiion Ltd
10.2014 - 07.2017

BEng (Hons) - Marine Engineering

University of Plymouth
09.2011 - 06.2014

National Diploma Level 3 - Manufacturing Engineering

Bath College
09.2008 - 06.2011

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