Project Manager (Civils) in Ilkeston

The Civil Project Manager is responsible for planning, managing, and delivering civil engineering projects within the water and wastewater sector, ensuring works are completed safely, on time, within budget, and in compliance with regulatory, environmental, and operational requirements. The role involves coordinating multidisciplinary teams and contractors, managing risks and stakeholder interfaces, and ensuring that constructed assets meet quality, performance, and whole-life standards while minimising disruption to live water operations and customers.

Job Responsibilities

• Plan, manage, and deliver civil engineering projects within the water and wastewater sector, ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, regulatory, and operational requirements.
• Administer projects under NEC forms of contract (NEC3/NEC4), including management of early warnings, compensation events, programme submissions, change control, and contractual communications.
• Lead and coordinate contractors, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams to achieve programme, cost, quality, and performance targets.
• Develop, monitor, and control project programmes, budgets, and forecasts, taking corrective action where required.
• Ensure robust health, safety, and environmental management, promoting a strong safety culture and compliance with statutory obligations.
• Manage project risks and opportunities through proactive risk identification, mitigation, and NEC early warning processes.
• Oversee site activities, ensuring works are delivered in accordance with approved designs, specifications, and quality standards.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement with operations teams, regulators, landowners, and customers to minimise disruption to live water services.
• Ensure effective procurement, contract management, and supply chain performance.
• Manage commissioning, testing, and handover of completed assets, ensuring all documentation, certifications, and asset data are complete and compliant.
• Prepare and present regular project reports on progress, cost, risks, and performance to senior management and stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement, lessons learned, and best practice in project delivery.

Additional Information

• Flexibility to travel to sites across regions.
• Willingness to undertake overnight stays as required by project needs.

Knowledge and Skills required

• Technical and Industry Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of civil engineering works associated with water and wastewater infrastructure, including pipelines, pumping stations, treatment works, reservoirs, tanks, drainage, and earthworks.
• Understanding of water and wastewater treatment processes and operational constraints.
• Knowledge of construction methods, temporary works, ground conditions, and buildability considerations.
• Familiarity with asset management principles, whole-life costing, and durability in aggressive environments.

• Strong capability in project planning, scheduling, cost control, risk management, and programme management.
• Strong working knowledge of NEC forms of contract, including early warnings, compensation events, programme management, change control, and collaborative working principles.
• Ability to administer NEC contracts effectively, manage variations, assess compensation events, and ensure compliance with contractual timescales.
• Experience managing procurement strategies and supply chains within NEC contractual frameworks.

• Strong understanding of health, safety, and environmental requirements relevant to the water industry.
• Knowledge of civil engineering standards, specifications, permits, and regulatory approvals.
• Experience with quality assurance systems, inspections, testing, and handover documentation.

• Effective communication and coordination with operations, engineering, regulators, landowners, and the public.
• Ability to manage construction activities in live operational environments with minimal service disruption.
• Skills in leading site meetings, risk workshops, and technical reviews.

• Ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in complex site environments.
• Commitment to safety leadership, continuous improvement, and best practice project delivery.

Experience required

• 5 Years + in the water industry

Essential Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Professional membership or working towards chartered status with a recognised institution (e.g., ICE or equivalent).
• Formal project management qualification or demonstrable competence.
• NEC contract training or certification with proven experience administering NEC contracts (NEC3 or NEC4).
• CSCS (or equivalent) card appropriate to role and site responsibilities.
• Relevant health, safety, and environmental training (e.g., SMSTS, IOSH Managing Safely, or equivalent).
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel.

Desirable Qualifications

• Professional Project Management qualification (e.g., APM, PRINCE2, or equivalent).
• SMSTS or equivalent site safety management training.
• EUSR Water Hygiene card and confined space training.
• Experience with project planning software (e.g., MS Project, Primavera).
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams.