Principal Project Manager in Croydon

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee‑owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit: We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and advising on related issues – such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation – to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it. Our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle. We play a major role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy.

Overview of the role: This is an opportunity for an experienced, qualified and enthusiastic project management professional to join our Transport and Mobility Solutions (TMS) team supporting with the delivery of Highway projects for predominantly contractor clients across the UK. As the Project Manager, you will be part of the project senior leadership team with a primary focus on overall technical quality, safety, risk, change control, programme, resource allocation and commercial performance. As Project Manager you will report to the Project Director and work alongside a Design Manager. You will work with and lead the wider team, developing and delivering Highway projects from inception to handover and completion. This will include primarily management of Design and Build or contractor led projects from tendering and contract negotiation and administration, to detailed design and construction site services although you may be required to work on other highway projects as required. Your role will require you to liaise closely with multiple stakeholders, client and co‑ordinate multi‑disciplinary design teams, draft and manage the production of reports and tender documents, monitor cost and schedule manage the Health and Safety and Quality Assurance aspects of projects. You will be confident in contributing to a technical team, as well as a key member of a project team, liaising directly with the client, project sponsors and key stakeholders.

Candidate specification: As a professional, you have full awareness of Health & Safety legislation and how it’s applied to the design and construction process within the highways sector. You will have the ability to deliver in the demanding design and build environment and demonstrate relationship skills to deal with potential conflicting client needs, including resolution of complex design/construction issues.

• Significant experience of working on highway design and build or contractor led design projects in a project management or other management role.
• Attained chartership with a recognised engineering or project management institution.
• Demonstrate experience of establishing the project team and developing it through leadership, being responsible for the overall success of the project as per company directives and various contractual arrangements, including NEC.
• Experience in the establishment of tender budgets and prices and monitoring of budgets throughout delivery.
• Ability to resolve cost overruns and identify cost reduction measures and/or revenue gain.
• Ability to manage project capital and invoicing.
• Experience of acting as principal point of contact with the client’s Design and Engineering manager and the client’s commercial and procurement teams for all commercial and contractual aspects.
• Demonstrate understanding of the Designer’s obligations under the CDM Regs.

Due to the nature of our work you are flexible to travel to client sites or alternative offices when required, possibly for extended periods of time.

Desirable:

• Degree in Civil Engineering (or a related subject).
• A Project Management Qualification or working towards such a qualification.
• A working knowledge of risk management in project delivery.
• Ideally be able to demonstrate experience of managing projects throughout its lifecycle.

Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.

Agile working: At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion: We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility: We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

Benefits:

• Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues. Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments. Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues. A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family. Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.
• Financial wellbeing: We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%. Life assurance equal up to 4 × your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 × your salary. Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury. Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing. As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.
• Lifestyle: A minimum of 33‑35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme. Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years' service. Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.
• Enhanced family and carers leave: Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave. Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay. Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• Learning and development: Primary annual professional institution subscription. A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.
• Networks, communities, and social outcomes: Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities. Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.