Senior Project Director in Essex

Senior Project Director in Essex

Essex Full-Time 57059 - 57059 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Essex County Council

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the delivery of high-value EV infrastructure projects and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
  • Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation committed to sustainable transport solutions.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to work across various teams and enhance your career.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of electric vehicle infrastructure in Essex.
  • Qualifications: Degree or equivalent experience in project management or related fields required.

The predicted salary is between 57059 - 57059 £ per year.

For a complete understanding of this opportunity, and what will be required to be a successful applicant, read on.

Project Manager - Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery

Location: Chelmsford

Up to £57,059 per annum

Fixed Term/Secondment (2 years), Full Time

*Hybrid-working role contractually based in Chelmsford. You will work from the Chelmsford office at least one day per week, and across our operational areas on other days, depending on business need.

The postholder will manage the delivery of multiple, high value EV infrastructure contracts. While appointed Charging Point Operators (CPOs) and contractors will undertake physical delivery, the role holder is accountable for ensuring that all delivery proposals, programme activity and outputs are appropriate, compliant, safe, timely, value for money and aligned with ECC’s strategic, legal and reputational requirements. The role requires confident decision making, proactive risk management and constructive challenge of suppliers and partners. Working across transport, highways, legal, finance, procurement, communications and sustainability teams, the postholder will translate complex policy, technical and commercial constraints into effective delivery control, enabling the rollout of EV infrastructure at scale and pace across Essex.

Accountabilities

  • Lead and manage the end to end client side delivery of EV charging infrastructure contracts, ensuring outputs are delivered on time, within budget and to agreed quality and safety standards.
  • Maintain a clear grip on programme scope, milestones, dependencies and critical paths across parallel workstreams, proactively addressing emerging delivery risks or delays.
  • Exercise professional judgement to balance cost, programme, safety, quality, community impact and policy objectives when making delivery decisions.
  • Be a point of control and assurance for appointed Charging Point Operators, contractors and delivery partners.
  • Challenge supplier proposals, methodologies and programmes where they do not meet ECC’s technical, legal, commercial or strategic requirements, securing revisions where necessary.
  • Hold suppliers to account for contractual performance, ensuring delivery aligns with agreed KPIs, funding obligations and governance standards.
  • Lead the resolution of delivery issues and disputes, escalating where appropriate while maintaining momentum and constructive working relationships.
  • Ensure delivery activity complies with relevant highways, planning, electrical, health and safety, environmental and statutory requirements.
  • Identify, manage and mitigate programme and contract risks, ensuring appropriate governance, audit trails and assurance are in place.
  • Maintain oversight of funding conditions and reporting requirements (including national or external funding bodies), ensuring full compliance and accurate evidence capture.
  • Provide clear, concise reporting on progress, risks, decisions and performance to senior leaders, enabling informed governance and intervention where required.
  • Drive continuous improvement in delivery processes, performance management and supplier engagement.
  • Protect and enhance ECC’s reputation by ensuring EV infrastructure is delivered safely, transparently and to a high standard.

The Experience You Will Bring

  • Degree level qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline such as project management, infrastructure delivery, engineering, transport, energy or the built environment.
  • Formal project management qualification (e.g. APM PMQ, PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent), or demonstrable experience applying structured project management methodologies in a complex delivery environment.
  • Demonstrable experience managing multiple live contracts or workstreams simultaneously, maintaining control of scope, cost, programme and risk.
  • Experience acting in a client side or commissioning role, managing delivery by external contractors or suppliers rather than undertaking physical delivery directly.
  • Proven ability to make delivery decisions and trade offs relating to cost, programme, quality, safety, risk and stakeholder impact.
  • Experience recovering or stabilising delivery where projects or suppliers are at risk of underperformance.
  • Experience holding suppliers and contractors to account for performance, outputs and compliance within a contractual framework.
  • Confidence to challenge supplier proposals, delivery plans and methodologies, securing changes where required to protect organisational interests.
  • Understanding of public sector procurement, contract management and governance processes, including value for money obligations and audit requirements.
  • Experience monitoring KPIs, milestones, risks and financial performance, and using this information to drive delivery improvement.
  • Proven ability to manage delivery in regulated or safety critical environments, with an appreciation of legal, health and safety, highways, planning or statutory requirements.
  • Experience identifying, managing and mitigating programme and contract risk, maintaining appropriate documentation, controls and assurance.
  • Ability to work within funding conditions and reporting frameworks, ensuring compliance and robust evidence capture.
  • Sufficient technical understanding of EV charging infrastructure, highways or energy systems to act as an informed client, challenge supplier assumptions and assess delivery risk.
  • Awareness of national and local EV policy, funding programmes and delivery models applicable to local authorities.
  • Ability to interpret technical, financial and programme information to inform delivery decisions (deep technical specialism not required).
  • Confidence and credibility to operate with senior internal stakeholders, suppliers and partners, balancing constructive relationships with firm delivery control.
  • Ability to operate effectively in complex, ambiguous environments and make proportionate, evidence based decisions under pressure.
  • Clear, concise communication skills, capable of translating complex delivery issues into actionable recommendations and transparent reporting.

Senior Project Director in Essex employer: Essex County Council

As a Senior Project Director at our Chelmsford office, you will join a forward-thinking team dedicated to delivering high-quality electric vehicle infrastructure projects that align with strategic goals and community needs. We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative work culture that values innovation and continuous improvement, offering ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With a commitment to employee well-being and a hybrid working model, we ensure a supportive environment where your contributions are recognised and rewarded.

Essex County Council

Contact Details:

Essex County Council Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Project Director in Essex

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Senior Project Director role.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their EV infrastructure goals and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but the perfect fit!

Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! You want to be able to clearly articulate your experience and how it relates to managing multiple contracts and ensuring compliance. Keep it concise and impactful – you want to leave a lasting impression.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Project Director in Essex

Project Management
Contract Management
Risk Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Decision Making
Supplier Management
Compliance Knowledge

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in project management and EV infrastructure. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!

Showcase Your Decision-Making Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to make confident decisions and manage risks effectively. We’re looking for someone who can balance cost, quality, and safety, so share examples that demonstrate your judgement in these areas.

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to explain your experience and how it relates to the job. We appreciate transparency and clarity, especially when it comes to complex delivery issues.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.

How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council

Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of EV infrastructure and project management methodologies. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed multiple contracts or workstreams in the past, and be prepared to give specific examples that highlight your decision-making skills.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

During the interview, be ready to talk about times when you've had to challenge suppliers or resolve delivery issues. Highlight your proactive risk management strategies and how you've maintained momentum while ensuring compliance with safety and legal requirements.

Communicate Clearly

Practice translating complex technical information into simple terms. The interviewers will want to see if you can communicate effectively with various stakeholders, so prepare to demonstrate your ability to report on progress, risks, and performance clearly and concisely.

Demonstrate Your Leadership Style

As a Senior Project Director, you'll need to lead teams and manage relationships with contractors and suppliers. Be ready to discuss your leadership approach, how you hold others accountable, and how you drive continuous improvement in delivery processes.