At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead major tunnelling projects from planning to delivery, ensuring safety and quality.
- Company: Join Dragados, a leader in sustainable infrastructure development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional growth, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on vital infrastructure while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in Civil Engineering or related field; experience in tunnelling projects required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
The Senior Project Manager – Tunnelling is responsible for leading the successful development, procurement, planning, and delivery of major tunnelling and underground infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland.
The role spans both the pre-contract and post-contract phases of projects, providing leadership throughout the project lifecycle from opportunity development and tendering through to construction delivery, commissioning, and close-out.
The position requires extensive experience in the planning and delivery of complex tunnelling works, including TBM, SCL/NATM, drill and blast, shafts, mined structures, cut-and-cover tunnels, underground stations, utility tunnels, and associated civil engineering works.
The Senior Project Manager shall ensure that projects are delivered safely, efficiently, sustainably, and profitably whilst maintaining the highest standards of quality, environmental performance, stakeholder engagement, and client satisfaction.
A key responsibility of the role is ensuring continuity between tender assumptions and project execution through a structured handover process and ongoing support during mobilisation and early delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development of tender strategies, delivery approaches and construction methodologies for major tunnelling and underground infrastructure opportunities, ensuring alignment with client requirements, project constraints and business objectives.
- Provide technical leadership during the preconstruction phase, including buildability reviews, methodology development, logistics planning, temporary works strategies, programme development and risk management for complex tunnelling schemes.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary bid teams, integrating engineering, construction, commercial, planning, procurement, HSWQE and ESG functions to develop robust, innovative and competitive tender submissions.
- Lead value engineering, opportunity management and risk workshops to optimise project solutions, improve certainty of delivery and maximise project profitability.
- Support client engagement, Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), tender interviews and stakeholder workshops, acting as a senior technical representative and contributing to the development of long-term client relationships.
- Review contract requirements, project risks, operational constraints and commercial assumptions to ensure tender proposals are fully deliverable and aligned with business objectives.
- Ensure compliance with internal governance processes, supporting bid reviews, approval procedures and strategic decision-making throughout the tender lifecycle.
- Lead the transition from tendering to delivery through a structured mobilisation and handover process, ensuring effective transfer of bid assumptions, risk registers, methodologies, commercial commitments, programme constraints and key stakeholder requirements to the project team.
- Project Delivery Leadership
- Lead the safe, successful and profitable delivery of tunnelling projects from contract award through to completion, ensuring achievement of safety, programme, cost, quality and client satisfaction objectives.
- Direct and coordinate multidisciplinary project teams, ensuring effective integration of engineering, construction, commercial, planning, procurement and HSWQE functions throughout the project lifecycle.
- Manage project risks, opportunities, resources and interfaces, implementing proactive mitigation measures and driving timely, informed decision‑making.
- Maintain and develop strong relationships with clients, designers, supply chain partners, statutory authorities and other key stakeholders, acting as the senior project representative.
- Oversee project controls, governance, cost management, forecasting, reporting and contractual compliance, ensuring accurate performance monitoring and effective management of change.
- Lead commissioning, testing, handover and close‑out activities, ensuring all contractual, technical, quality and operational requirements are achieved and lessons learned are captured.
- Leadership, Safety & Business Excellence
- Champion the highest standards of Health, Safety, Wellbeing, Quality and Environmental (HSWQE) performance, embedding a strong safety culture throughout both tendering and delivery phases.
- Promote sustainability, innovation and continuous improvement, ensuring Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives are integrated into project planning, procurement and delivery activities.
- Lead, mentor and develop project teams, fostering collaboration, professional development and high performance across all project functions.
- Contribute to the growth and continuous improvement of the UK & Ireland business by sharing knowledge, supporting strategic initiatives and strengthening tunnelling capability across both pre‑construction and delivery functions.
- Technical Skills and Competencies
- Extensive expertise in major tunnelling and underground construction projects.
- Strong understanding of geotechnical engineering and tunnelling risk management.
- Proven leadership of multidisciplinary project teams.
- Strong commercial and contractual awareness, particularly NEC and FIDIC contracts.
- Ability to lead complex stakeholder environments.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Strong understanding of project controls, planning, risk management and cost management.
- Demonstrable experience managing major infrastructure projects in highly regulated environments.
- Strong knowledge of HSWQE management systems and ESG requirements.
Qualifications, Certifications and Experience
- Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline.
- Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Construction Manager, or equivalent professional accreditation desirable.
- Experience in major tunnelling or underground infrastructure projects.
- Proven experience leading projects through both tendering and delivery phases.
- Experience on major UK infrastructure projects such as rail, metro, highways, water, utility or energy sectors.
- SMSTS certification.
- CSCS Black Card or equivalent.
- Temporary Works and Tunnelling Safety training desirable.
- Knowledge of UK CDM Regulations and relevant tunnelling industry guidance.
- Excellence: Promoting innovation, development, training and continuous improvement to achieve the highest quality of project delivery.
- Integrity: Acting ethically and transparently. Demanding the best standards of integrity from its employees, suppliers and other stakeholders.
- Trust: Nurturing positive relationships at all levels of the organisation, with our clients and supply chain by developing strong and long‑term relationships based on mutual trust.
- Sustainability: Commitment to sustainable development to make an efficient and ethically responsible contribution to society and the environment.
- Profitability: Ensuring our profitability as well as contributing value to the communities in which we operate as part of our sustainability agenda.
Dragados is committed to act based on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion principles.
Equal opportunities, non‑discrimination and respect for human rights are basic principles contained in the Dragados Code of Conduct that apply to all Dragados employees.
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Project Manager - Tunnelling in London
✨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 Dragados UK & Ireland, 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 Senior Project Manager - Tunnelling at Dragados UK & Ireland.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Project Manager - Tunnelling in London
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 Dragados UK & Ireland
✨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!
