At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage complex engineering projects, ensuring quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
- Company: Join Dowds, a leading engineering and construction firm with a commitment to excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy 41 days holiday, early finish Fridays, private medical, bonuses, and wellbeing initiatives.
- Other info: Be part of a company that values growth, responsibility, and employee wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while driving innovation in engineering.
- Qualifications: Proven project management experience and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
Dowds is an established, multidisciplinary engineering and construction Building Services Engineering company headquartered in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1978, our expertise spans the full lifecycle of complex-built environments from initial design and systems integration through to installation, commissioning, and handover. Across specific sectors: life science, commercial, education and healthcare.
Operating at a gold standard for best‑managed company and investors in people, our vision is to set the standard for excellence, driving progress, responsibility, and lasting impact while keeping our clients and our people at the heart of what we do.
We're seeking a Project Director to join our delivery team, where you will have full accountability for programme, cost, quality and safety. Dowds is evolving through growth and transformation, strategically partnering with our clients to deliver MEP across various locations. This opportunity will suit a driven individual who can lead, manage and develop projects, staff and relationships.
What you’ll be responsible for:
- Provide strategic leadership and governance across assigned MEP programmes, embedding Dowds Group values, ensuring effective reporting, escalation, and board‑level assurance.
- Take full accountability for programme delivery, including safety, quality, cost, and schedule performance, driving design certainty, planning excellence, and critical path control.
- Own commercial and financial performance, protecting margin through robust CVR forecasting, cost control, and proactive risk and opportunity management.
- Lead a strong safety‑first culture, ensuring full statutory and contractual H&S compliance and clear assurance reporting to senior leadership and the Board.
- Provide technical and quality oversight across all MEP disciplines, ensuring compliant design, commissioning, testing, handover, and delivery of digital O&M and asset data.
- Act as the senior client‑facing representative, leading key governance forums, managing senior stakeholder relationships, and progressing modern methods of construction (MMC), BIM, and digital delivery to improve productivity and outcomes.
What we are looking for:
Essential:
- Proven ability to deliver complex projects of comparable size, value and sector, with full accountability for programme, cost, quality and safety.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of UK construction and engineering statutory requirements, delivery methods, and governance processes.
- Demonstrable knowledge of Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) systems of work and a visible safety‑first leadership approach.
- Evident leadership and management capability, able to set direction, lead multidisciplinary teams, and model behaviours aligned to company values and brand.
- Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing cost control, forecasting, margin protection, and contractual risk at programme level.
- Excellent analytical, reporting and communication skills, with experience using project controls, document management and reporting systems (e.g. document control platforms, cost and programme tools, Excel).
Desirable:
- Building services/MEP HNC/HND/Degree qualified.
- Professional membership of a relevant body (e.g. CIBSE, IET, CIOB) or working towards chartership.
- IOSH Managing Safely, SMSTS or equivalent senior health & safety qualification.
- Broad technical qualification or background enabling effective challenge and assurance across MEP disciplines.
- Experience working within an SME or high‑growth environment, demonstrating a broad commercial and operational mindset.
- Experience using a wider range of digital delivery and reporting systems (e.g. SharePoint, Dynamics, Asta Powerproject, Anaplan, or equivalent).
- Experience operating at board or executive stakeholder level, including governance forums, assurance reporting, and senior client engagement.
- Formal M&E or Project Management qualification (e.g. APMP, PRINCE2, MSP, or equivalent).
Why Join Dowds:
- 41 Days Holiday
- Early Finish Fridays
- Private Medical
- Bonus
- Wellbeing Initiatives
- Pension
- Work from home
- Plus, many more
Dowds is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Project Director in London employer: J.F. & H. DOWDS LTD t/a DOWDS
At Dowds, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With 41 days of holiday, early finish Fridays, and a commitment to health and safety, we empower our Project Directors to lead impactful projects while enjoying a supportive environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Join us in London, where your expertise will contribute to shaping the future of engineering and construction across vital sectors.
Contact Detail:
J.F. & H. DOWDS LTD t/a DOWDS Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Director in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Dowds and understanding their projects. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their values and goals. We want to see that you’re genuinely interested in what we do!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've led teams and managed projects successfully. We love candidates who can demonstrate their ability to drive results and foster collaboration.
✨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, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Dowds.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Project Director role. Highlight your experience in managing complex projects, focusing on programme delivery, cost control, and safety. We want to see how your skills align with our values and the specific requirements of the job.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for Dowds. Share your leadership style, your approach to stakeholder management, and how you’ve driven success in previous roles. Keep it engaging and relevant!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, don’t just list your responsibilities—show us your achievements! Use metrics and examples to demonstrate how you've successfully delivered projects, managed costs, and ensured quality and safety. We love numbers that tell a story!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do—just follow the prompts!
How to prepare for a job interview at J.F. & H. DOWDS LTD t/a DOWDS
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand your past projects, especially those that align with the role of Project Director. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and the outcomes. This will show your depth of experience and ability to lead complex projects.
✨Demonstrate Your Leadership Style
As a Project Director, your leadership style is crucial. Prepare examples that showcase how you've led multidisciplinary teams, managed conflicts, and fostered a safety-first culture. Highlighting your approach to team dynamics will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Dowds' Values
Research Dowds' core values and mission. During the interview, weave these into your responses to demonstrate that you align with their vision of excellence and responsibility. This shows that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to MEP disciplines and project management methodologies. Brush up on relevant statutory requirements and HSEQ systems. Being able to confidently discuss these topics will highlight your expertise and readiness for the role.
