At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting student accommodation projects from start to finish, ensuring quality and sustainability.
- Company: Dynamic company focused on innovative student living solutions across the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a chance to shape future living spaces.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team dedicated to excellence and innovation in construction.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on student communities while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in project management with a focus on large-scale developments.
Overview
We are seeking a highly accomplished and visionary Project Manager to lead the delivery of exceptional student accommodation schemes and enhancement projects, spanning both greenfield and brownfield developments across the United Kingdom. This pivotal role demands a blend of strategic leadership, technical excellence, and strong project management capabilities to ensure success throughout every stage of the project lifecycle, from inception through to completion and handover.
As a key member of our development team, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of purpose-built student accommodation. You will champion innovation, quality, and sustainability, ensuring that each project sets new benchmarks in design, safety, and environmental performance while consistently delivering outstanding value to stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
1. Project Leadership and Delivery
- Provide leadership and oversight across all project phases: acquisition, inception, feasibility, design (RIBA stages or equivalent), pre-construction, construction, commissioning, and handover.
- Develop, monitor, and maintain detailed project programmes, budgets, and cost plans, including forecasting, variation control, and value engineering.
- Lead the procurement of consultants, contractors, and suppliers, administering contracts in accordance with JCT, NEC, or other relevant UK standard forms.
2. Governance, Risk, and Compliance
- Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, maintaining comprehensive risk registers and mitigation strategies throughout the project lifecycle.
- Ensure full compliance with UK building regulations, planning approvals, health and safety legislation (including CDM), fire safety standards, sustainability objectives, and Gateway requirements under the Building Safety Act.
- Uphold rigorous quality assurance standards to protect the approved design intent, ensure safety, and maintain statutory compliance on site.
3. Stakeholder and Team Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including landowners, local authorities, planning bodies, clients, consultants, supply chain partners, subcontractors, and local community representatives.
- Provide clear leadership to internal teams and external consultants and contractors, ensuring effective communication, well-defined responsibilities, and consistent performance delivery.
4. Performance Monitoring and Reporting
- Oversee the preparation and delivery of comprehensive project documentation, including progress reports, cost updates, quality inspection records, and health and safety compliance reports.
- Manage and coordinate all handover activities, including commissioning, snagging, client and resident satisfaction, and the management of the defects liability period.
Essential Experience and Skills
- Minimum of five years’ experience delivering high-rise or large-volume student accommodation developments—or comparable large-scale residential or mixed-use projects—across the full project lifecycle, from inception to completion.
- Proven track record of successfully delivering high-rise, new-build, and/or major refurbishment schemes within complex, urban, and constrained environments.
- Extensive experience with UK contract forms (JCT, NEC, or equivalent) and procurement processes.
- Strong financial acumen, including expertise in project budgeting, cost control, forecasting, and financial management.
- Proficient in programme and schedule management, with the ability to develop, monitor, and adjust timelines to mitigate delays.
- Comprehensive knowledge of UK planning processes, including Building Safety Act (BSA) Gateway approval stages, building regulations, fire safety requirements, and CDM regulations.
- Deep understanding of sustainability frameworks (e.g., BREEAM), ESG principles, and net zero strategies within the built environment.
- Familiarity with BIM, Lean construction methodologies, and digital project management platforms (e.g., MS Project, Primavera).
- Strong leadership skills with experience in building and managing high-performing project teams, coordinating subcontractors, and driving on-site performance.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively across multiple disciplines and with senior leadership.
- Solutions-focused mindset, adept at navigating and resolving design, construction, and regulatory challenges.
Qualifications and Certifications
- Applicants must hold chartered status with a recognised UK professional body, such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), or possess an equivalent project management accreditation.
- In addition, candidates with recognised architectural qualifications and relevant professional experience will be viewed favourably.
Project Manager in Manchester employer: Dwell Student UK
As a leading employer in the student accommodation sector, we offer a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to sustainability and quality ensures that our projects not only meet but exceed industry standards, providing employees with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. With a strong focus on professional development and a supportive culture, we empower our team members to grow their careers while contributing to the future of purpose-built student housing across the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Manager in Manchester
✨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 Dwell Student UK, 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 Manager at Dwell Student UK.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Manager in Manchester
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 Dwell Student UK
✨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!
