Senior Project Manager - Site Consents

Great British Energy Nuclear is an arm’s length body of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, dedicated to supporting the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies in Great Britain. We play a crucial role in advancing nuclear new build, ensuring the UK’s energy security and achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Great British Energy – Nuclear focuses on fostering innovation, facilitating investment, and coordinating efforts across the nuclear industry to build a resilient and sustainable energy future.

The Senior Project Manager (SPM) will develop and implement the integrated project delivery model, governance, management arrangements, and delivery plans, as well as manage the successful delivery of all project activities within delegated authority and reporting into project governance within the early phases of the SMR Project. The main areas of scope for the SPM will be managing the delivery of site characterisations, major permissions and consents for nuclear power station site, enabling works and the associated development sites.

The purpose of this role is to provide leadership to major projects, ensuring their management from inception to completion. The Senior Project Manager will work with multiple stakeholders both internal and external to ensure the project is completed to the agreed scope, time, budget, against the required nuclear industry quality standards, in a safe manner, and in line with the intended objectives and benefits.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement comprehensive project plans, defining scope, schedule, budget, resources, and risk management strategies.
• Facilitate regular review sessions to ensure project strategies remain aligned with evolving project needs and stakeholder expectations.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation to ensure transparency and compliance with governance requirements, facilitating audits and reviews.
• Actively manage the budget throughout the relevant processes and escalate and manage risks as they arise.
• Utilize forecasting techniques and scenario analysis to anticipate financial risks, enabling timely budget adjustments and mitigation strategies.
• Ensure any changes in scope are communicated to stakeholders promptly and managed through a formal change control process to prevent scope creep.
• Develop risk mitigation plans and contingency strategies to address resource constraints and ensure continuous project progress.
• Prepare interactive reports using digital tools (e.g., Power BI) to provide stakeholders with real-time access to project status, budget health, and risk assessments.
• Collaborate with the wider SMR Project team (e.g. Commercial) to manage suppliers and contracts successfully, and to address any issues proactively to ensure that all SMR Project obligations are met.
• Ensure timely updates are provided to key internal stakeholders through periodic status meetings and progress reports.
• Communicate with statutory, legal and local authorities, residents’ associations, and contractors to maintain and promote a positive SMR Project image.
• Work closely with regulatory bodies to secure licenses and approvals, managing compliance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Negotiate and administer relevant project agreements with outside parties, including local authorities, developers, and wider stakeholder groups.
• Develop resource management plans that anticipate future project needs, ensuring timely recruitment or reallocation of resources.
• Implement and manage quality control measures, along with regular quality audits and peer reviews, to ensure adherence to engineering standards, nuclear industry regulatory compliance and safety requirements.
• Lead by example in demonstrating integrity, transparency, and ethical behaviour in all dealings with clients, stakeholders, and team members.
• Promote a collaborative culture within multidisciplinary teams to ensure alignment on project goals and efficient problem-solving.
• Implement regular team-building activities and alignment workshops to strengthen cross-functional collaboration and adherence to safety standards.
• Ensure team members adhere to updated nuclear industry standards and safety protocols and stay up to date on evolving project management methodologies and best practices, through attending relevant training and development.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required:

• Demonstrable experience delivering large-scale energy infrastructure projects, preferably within the nuclear sector or other highly regulated environments.
• Strong experience operating within complex regulatory frameworks, including an understanding of nuclear safety, licensing, statutory processes, and project assurance requirements.
• Proven ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary teams in technically complex, safety-critical project environments.
• Sound knowledge of project governance, risk management, change control, and delivery assurance within major capital programmes.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capability, with a strong focus on identifying, assessing, and managing project risk.
• Highly effective communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage technical and non-technical audiences at all levels.
• Ability to build collaborative, high-performing teams and support the ongoing development of team capability.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment characterised by ambiguity, change, and evolving delivery requirements.
• Ability to lead confidently and constructively across multi-party delivery environments, establishing alignment and maintaining momentum.
• Proven track record of acting with integrity, professionalism, and sound judgement in the management of complex projects and stakeholder relationships.
• Strong experience in NEC contract administration, including the practical application of contractual processes, change control, early warnings, compensation events, and programme management.
• Experience in the use of CEMAR or an equivalent contract management system is required.
• Experience of pre-project site characterisation, including the coordination and interpretation of baseline information to inform project scope, risk, and delivery planning.
• Working understanding of intrusive and non-intrusive survey methods and their application in project development, design, and risk reduction.
• Knowledge of environmental management systems and their application to project planning, delivery, and compliance management.
• Experience managing planning applications and securing statutory consents, permits, and approvals within complex infrastructure or regulated development contexts.
• Strong working knowledge of CDM Regulations, with proven ability to apply CDM and wider health & safety requirements throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Experience within a start-up, new organisation, or similarly evolving delivery environment would be advantageous.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Professional project management qualification (APM PMQ, PMI PMP, or equivalent).
• Chartered Member of a relevant professional institution (e.g., ICE, IStructE, CIOB, APM, IMechE, IET) strongly preferred.
• NEC Accredited Practitioner with proven experience acting in a client-side Senior Project Manager / Client Project Manager role with responsibility for NEC contract administration, including use of CEMAR or equivalent contract management software.