At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in delivering a major chemical facility project with a focus on safety and quality.
- Company: Join Designer Group, a growing international engineering business with exciting projects.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive environment, professional development, and a chance to influence site standards.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture that values health and safety.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on innovative projects while advancing your career in a thriving industry.
- Qualifications: Senior project leadership experience in mechanical or process construction is essential.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
Project overview Project Camelot involves the extension of an existing Ecolab chemical facility producing resin used in the cleaning of pharmaceutical vessels and equipment.
While the facility supports the wider pharmaceutical supply chain, this is a chemical / process facility project, not a pharmaceutical project.
Designer Group's scope includes approximately 14,000m of piping, split across clean utilities and black utilities.
The package includes clean utility pipework, black utility pipework, inline equipment, valve installation, minor equipment, pressure testing, flushing, chemical cleaning, passivation, testing, commissioning, insulation and cladding.
The programme is aggressive and will require strong site leadership, disciplined planning, subcontractor control, commercial focus and a right-first-time approach to quality.
The delivery strategy relies heavily on offsite manufacture, prefabrication, modular pipework, accurate progress tracking and early focus on system completion and turnover.
Role overview
The Project Director will take senior responsibility for the safe, commercial and operational delivery of Designer Group's scope on Project Camelot.
This is a hands-on, site-based leadership role suited to a senior project leader with strong experience in mechanical, process piping, industrial, chemical, energy, pharmaceutical construction or complex M&E environments.
Key responsibilities
- Project leadership and delivery
- Take overall site leadership responsibility for Designer Group's delivery on Project Camelot.
- Lead the project team across construction, engineering, planning, commercial, QA/QC, safety, commissioning and turnover.
- Maintain clear control of programme, cost, safety, quality, risk and stakeholder performance.
- Drive the planned delivery sequence of bulk zonal install, sectional test/handover, system drops and system completion.
- Ensure site activities are properly planned, resourced, coordinated and controlled.
- Identify constraints early and ensure they are resolved, escalated or commercially protected where required.
- OSM, fabrication and subcontractor management
- Oversee the offsite manufacture, prefabrication and pipe spool/module strategy.
- Ensure OSM, fabrication, logistics and site installation are coordinated against the construction programme.
- Manage subcontractor performance against agreed scope, safety, quality, productivity and programme requirements.
- Support procurement and delivery of piping, valves, supports, inline equipment and specialist subcontract packages.
- Maintain visibility of fabrication progress, NDT, tagging, material readiness and delivery sequencing.
- Programme, commercial and stakeholder control
- Work closely with planning to maintain a realistic and properly resourced construction programme.
- Track progress against installation output, manpower, milestones and system completion dates.
- Work with the Commercial Manager and QS team to protect Designer Group's commercial position.
- Ensure variations, delays, access issues, design issues and scope changes are identified, recorded and progressed.
- Maintain strong project records, correspondence, meeting minutes and site evidence.
- Represent Designer Group with IPS, Ecolab, the PSCS, consultants, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.
- Required experience and qualifications
The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate
- Senior project leadership experience within mechanical, process piping, utilities, industrial, energy, chemical, pharmaceutical construction or complex M&E contracting.
- Experience delivering large-scale, site-based construction projects with significant subcontractor and supply chain involvement.
- Strong understanding of piping installation, fabrication, testing, commissioning, system completion and turnover.
- Experience working on live operational sites, ideally chemical, process, industrial manufacturing, energy or life sciences facilities.
- Strong commercial and contractual awareness, including change control, variations, cost recovery and subcontractor management.
- Experience managing aggressive programmes, constrained sites and complex stakeholder interfaces.
- OSM, modularisation or prefabricated pipework experience would be highly advantageous.
- Mechanical Engineering, Building Services, Process Engineering, Construction Management or related qualification preferred.
- Trade background with significant senior project leadership experience will also be considered.
Person specification
The successful candidate will be
- A strong, visible site leader with the confidence to take ownership of a high-pressure project.
- Technically credible in mechanical, piping or process-led construction environments.
- Commercially sharp and disciplined around records, notices and change control.
- Highly organised, practical and focused on programme certainty.
- Clear and confident with clients, consultants, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.
- Able to challenge poor performance while maintaining strong working relationships.
- Focused on safety, quality, commercial performance and right-first-time delivery.
Benefits
Why join Designer Group?
This is an opportunity to join a growing international engineering business with a strong UK project pipeline and a clear commitment to safe delivery.
You will be joining a team where health and safety has real visibility, where your input will directly influence site standards, and where you will work across varied, technically interesting M&E projects.
At Designer Group, we invest in our people, support professional development and offer the opportunity to build a long-term career within a business that continues to grow across the UK and Europe.
application process
If you are an experienced Health and Safety Advisor and are interested in supporting major M&E projects across the UK, we would welcome your application.
Apply today and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch with shortlisted candidates.
Designer Group is an equal opportunities employer.
We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation or background.
Project Director - Pharma Process Plant Construction project employer: Designer Group
At Designer Group, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, particularly for our Aviation Electrical Lead role at Heathrow Airport. Our work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, while offering competitive salaries, bonuses, and comprehensive health cover. We are committed to employee growth, providing ample opportunities for professional development in a dynamic and operationally rich environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Director - Pharma Process Plant Construction project
✨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 Designer Group, 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 - Pharma Process Plant Construction project at Designer Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Director - Pharma Process Plant Construction project
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 Designer Group
✨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!
