At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major infrastructure project, managing a large team and complex stakeholder relationships.
- Company: A leading UK infrastructure main contractor with a focus on multidisciplinary projects.
- Benefits: Up to £140,000 salary, 30% bonus, £8,000 car allowance, and family healthcare.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career progression and a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Take ownership of high-profile projects and make a significant impact in the infrastructure sector.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Project Director on £100m+ projects and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 140000 - 140000 £ per year.
Are you a Project Director with proven experience leading major, multidisciplinary infrastructure projects for a Tier 1 or leading main contractor? Do you have experience taking responsibility for complex infrastructure schemes valued at £100m+, ideally from pre-construction and design through to construction and delivery? Are you looking for the opportunity to take overall leadership of a high-profile infrastructure project, managing a large project team and complex stakeholder environment through a challenging delivery programme?
Location: Home Counties - predominantly site based, with potential for 1 day per week working from home
Salary: up to £140,000 per annum DOE + up to 30% bonus and £8000 car allowance
- Car Allowance: £8,000
- Bonus: up to 30%
- Pension: 6% company contribution
- Healthcare: Family private healthcare and additional healthcare benefits
- Holiday: 26 days annual leave, increasing with service to a maximum of 30 days, plus holiday purchase scheme
Role Overview:
A leading UK infrastructure main contractor is looking to appoint an experienced Project Director to take overall responsibility for the delivery of a major infrastructure project. The scheme is currently progressing through the development and design stages, with enabling works and mobilisation planned for 2027.
This is a complex, multidisciplinary project incorporating significant civil engineering, building, architectural and MEP elements alongside interfaces with specialist infrastructure systems. The Project Director will take overall leadership of a project team of approximately 80 people, with a senior management team reporting directly into the position.
A major focus of the role will be successfully transitioning the scheme through pre-construction and design into full delivery, ensuring programme, commercial, safety and technical requirements remain aligned. The programme is particularly challenging, and the successful candidate will need to demonstrate experience delivering complex infrastructure projects against demanding timescales while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.
The position will also involve significant senior-level stakeholder management across the client, delivery partners, designers, statutory bodies and other external organisations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for a major infrastructure project.
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary project team of approximately 80 people, establishing the culture and standards required for successful delivery.
- Take overall accountability for programme, cost, value, safety, quality and project performance.
- Lead the project through development, design, pre-construction, mobilisation and construction.
- Manage a senior project leadership team including project, construction, commercial and health and safety functions.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior client representatives, delivery partners, designers and external stakeholders.
- Drive the project programme and ensure key milestones are achieved against a challenging fixed completion date.
- Oversee design development and ensure the emerging solution remains deliverable, commercially viable and aligned with the agreed budget.
- Provide senior oversight of NEC contractual requirements, project risk and commercial performance alongside the commercial leadership team.
- Ensure subcontractors and supply chain partners are effectively procured, integrated and managed throughout the project lifecycle.
- Identify and manage significant programme, commercial, technical, stakeholder and delivery risks.
- Provide visible leadership around health, safety and wellbeing, ensuring programme pressures never compromise safe delivery.
- Lead the project through the necessary contractual and pre-construction stages before transition into the main construction phase.
- Maintain effective communication with internal directors and provide clear reporting on programme, commercial position, risk and overall project performance.
Essential Requirements:
- Previous experience operating at Project Director, Programme Director, Delivery Director or equivalent senior project leadership level.
- Strong background working for a Tier 1, major main contractor or comparable major infrastructure delivery organisation.
- Proven experience taking overall responsibility for infrastructure projects or major project packages valued at £100m+.
- Experience leading large multidisciplinary project teams and senior management functions.
- Strong understanding of major infrastructure project delivery from pre-construction and design through to construction.
- Exceptional leadership capability with the ability to establish culture, direction and accountability across a large project organisation.
- Strong senior stakeholder management experience within complex client and delivery environments.
- Commercially astute with experience overseeing project cost, value, risk and contractual performance.
- Experience working with NEC contracts or comparable major infrastructure contracting arrangements.
- Strong understanding of programme management and experience delivering complex projects against challenging timescales.
- Demonstrable commitment to health and safety leadership within major construction or infrastructure environments.
- A stable career history demonstrating progression and sustained responsibility within major project environments.
Desired Requirements:
- Experience taking a major project from development or pre-construction through into construction and subsequent delivery.
- Experience working on multidisciplinary projects incorporating significant civils, building, architectural and MEP interfaces.
- Experience managing major projects involving multiple delivery partners, specialist contractors and high-profile external stakeholders.
The Candidate:
This position will suit an established major-project leader who is comfortable taking overall ownership of a complex and highly visible infrastructure scheme.
You do not necessarily need to come from one particular infrastructure sector. The priority is demonstrable experience leading £100m+ projects within a Tier 1 or major main contractor environment and the ability to manage large teams, challenging programmes, commercial performance and complex stakeholder relationships.
You will need to be a visible and engaging leader who can establish the right project culture while maintaining accountability across programme, safety, commercial and delivery performance.
The role requires someone comfortable operating both strategically with senior stakeholders and practically with the project leadership team to resolve issues and maintain momentum.
This is an opportunity to take overall leadership of a significant UK infrastructure project from its current development stage through mobilisation and major construction.
If you are interested in applying for this role, please email your CV to Brooke Stell at Carrington West or call (phone number removed) for a confidential discussion.
Project Director employer: Carrington West
Carrington West is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises employee growth and development. With a strong focus on improving residential environments in Harlow, team members benefit from competitive daily rates and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that positively impact the community. The collaborative culture fosters innovation and supports professional advancement, making it an attractive place for experienced project managers looking to make a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Director
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Carrington West, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Project Director at Carrington West.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Carrington West
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
