Senior Project Manager Asset Management in London

An initial 6 month Assigment starting in January ideal for a proven Senior Project Manager with leadership experience in a relevent field (Construction Mgmt, Architecture, Building Surveying, Engineering). You will have advanced knowledge of legislation and H&S requirements and a strong technical ability supported by extensive hands-on delivery.
The Senior Project Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership within the Asset management Projects (AMP ) team, with responsibility for overseeing the delivery, governance and continuous improvement of a portfolio of construction and minor works projects across the University estate.
The role combines hands-on technical management for complex or high‐risk projects with leadership responsibility for a team of PMs and Assistants PM, ensuring consistent standards in safety, compliance, cost control, stakeholder engagement and delivery performance.
The postholder will act as a senior client representative, trusted advisor and escalation point for campus stakeholders, consultants and contractors, embedding the Fit for King's culture and supporting the broader Asset Management & Engineering strategy.

People Management

• Line management responsibility for direct reports. Manage the performance, development, conduct, and absences of staff aligned with all University's HR policies and processes.
• Escalate significant issues to senior leadership as appropriate.
• Allocate work effectively across the team, ensuring tasks align with individual strengths while providing opportunities for growth and development.
• Maintain a "one team" approach through regular meetings, open communication, and a visible leadership presence on site, particularly during key phases of construction activity.

Project Management

• Lead and support the governance, prioritisation, allocation and delivery of construction and minor works projects across the team, providing clear technical leadership and assurance on standards, methodology and outcomes.
• Provide hands‐on construction project management throughout the full project lifecycle to larger/more complex projects.
• Lead and support the governance, prioritisation, allocation and delivery of construction and minor works projects across the team, providing clear technical leadership and assurance.
• Apply strong practical construction knowledge to assess buildability, manage sequencing and phasing of works in live environments, and resolve technical and construction issues on site.
• Lead early‐stage project assessments, including feasibility, option appraisal and resource planning, using construction expertise to inform scope, programme and delivery strategy.
• Assist in the preparation of budget estimates, cost plans and funding proposals, and maintain commercial oversight throughout delivery and at project close‐out.
• Oversee the appointment and management of contractors and consultants, including involvement in interviews, tender evaluations, contract preparation and payment processing in line with University policies.
• Ensure statutory compliance and strong Health & Safety management across all projects, in accordance with the Building Safety Act, CDM Regulations, Building Regulations, relevant Codes of Practice and internal procedures.
• Promote collaborative and professional working relationships with internal stakeholders, consultants and contractors, leading by example.
• Maintain accurate and accessible project documentation to support effective delivery, audit and post‐completion review.
• Review and coordinate monthly project reporting, identifying key technical, commercial and delivery risks and issues.

Escalate significant risks or issues appropriately, ensuring timely, clear and proportionate communication with senior management.

Sustainability & Accessibility

• Embed sustainability and inclusive design into all projects, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, University policies and King's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion standards.
• Act as a senior champion for inclusive design and Equality Act compliance, ensuring accessibility is integral to all construction activity.

Personnel management & General

• Own and deliver change management initiatives aligned with departmental and University strategy.
• Provide senior input into lessons learned, continuous improvement and reporting to senior leadership.

Be prepared to occasionally work outside of normal working hours or weekends in line with project demands.
Capture and document lessons learned from each project, identifying areas for improvement and contribute to continuous improvement across the Campus and Minor Projects team.
Be prepared to undertake any required training and development activities to enhance own and team's capabilities

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant field (e.g., Construction Management, Architecture, Building Surveying, Engineering) or equivalent extensive experience in construction projects in complex environments.
• Advanced practical knowledge of construction legislation and Health & Safety requirements, including BSA 2022 (HRB), Building Regulations, and CDM 2015, with experience acting as a senior client representative.
• IOSH, NEBOSH or an equivalent industry‐recognised Health & Safety qualification.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with proven ability to convey complex technical and risk‐based information clearly to senior stakeholders, non‐technical audiences and project teams.
• Strong technical capability supported by extensive hands‐on experience delivering construction, refurbishment, fit‐out, and minor works projects, including the ability to define and challenge scopes, specifications, and delivery strategies, with a robust understanding of site logistics, sequencing, procurement, and tendering.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical and programme‐related problems, effectively prioritise workloads, and exercise sound professional judgement across a varied project portfolio, including managing conflicting demands, tight deadlines, and changing priorities while maintaining high standards of delivery.
• Experience working in Higher Education or similarly complex, stakeholder‐rich environments, demonstrating the ability to manage competing priorities and sensitive operational constraints.
• Proven leadership and people‐management experience, including line management of project staff, setting clear objectives, mentoring and maintaining high professional and technical standards.

Desirable

• Membership of a relevant professional body, such as RICS, ARB, RIBA or APM.
• Able to remain calm, composed and unflustered when working in high‐pressure or fast‐paced situations.
• Extensive experience delivering construction projects within scientific and laboratory research environments.
• High level of digital competency, including proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Office applications, Lists, Forms), SharePoint, Power BI and CAD software.