Project Manager

Project Manager

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

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the delivery of EV infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance and quality standards.
  • Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation focused on 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 sectors.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the transition to electric vehicles and sustainable infrastructure.
  • Qualifications: Degree or equivalent experience in project management or related fields required.

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

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.

Project Manager employer: Essex County Council

As a Project Manager for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery in Chelmsford, you will join a forward-thinking organisation committed to sustainability and innovation. Our hybrid working model promotes a healthy work-life balance, while our collaborative culture fosters professional growth through continuous learning and development opportunities. With a focus on delivering impactful projects that enhance community infrastructure, we offer a rewarding environment where your contributions directly support the transition to greener transport solutions.

Essex County Council

Contact Detail:

Essex County Council Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Project Manager

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the EV infrastructure space. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by practising your delivery skills. Think about how you can showcase your experience in managing multiple contracts and your ability to challenge suppliers effectively. Use real-life examples to demonstrate your decision-making prowess and risk management strategies.

Tip Number 3

Research the company thoroughly! Understand their projects, values, and recent news. This will not only help you tailor your responses but also show that you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their mission of rolling out EV infrastructure.

Tip Number 4

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

We think you need these skills to ace Project Manager

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 for the Project Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing EV infrastructure projects and how you’ve tackled similar challenges in the past. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!

Showcase Your Decision-Making Skills:In your application, give examples of how you've made tough decisions in project management. We’re looking for someone who can balance cost, quality, and safety while keeping everything on track. Share those stories that demonstrate your confident decision-making!

Highlight Your Collaborative Spirit:Since this role involves working with various teams, it’s important to show us how you’ve successfully collaborated with different stakeholders. Talk about your experience in managing relationships with suppliers and contractors, and how you’ve ensured everyone is on the same page.

Keep It Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate a well-organised application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role. Don’t forget to apply through our website!

How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council

Know Your EV Infrastructure

Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and technologies in electric vehicle infrastructure. Being able to discuss recent developments or challenges in the sector will show your passion and understanding of the field, which is crucial for a Project Manager role.

Master the Art of Decision Making

Prepare examples that showcase your ability to make tough decisions under pressure. Think about times when you had to balance cost, quality, and safety while managing projects. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Get Familiar with Compliance and Governance

Since the role involves ensuring compliance with various regulations, it’s essential to understand the legal and statutory requirements related to EV infrastructure. Be ready to discuss how you've navigated similar frameworks in past roles.

Showcase Your Communication Skills

Practice explaining complex project details in a clear and concise manner. You might be asked to present a scenario where you had to report on progress or resolve disputes, so being articulate will help you stand out as a candidate who can effectively communicate with stakeholders.