Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager

Full-Time No working from home possible
Pegasus Search & Selection

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead major water infrastructure projects, ensuring successful delivery from start to finish.
  • Company: Join a growing team focused on significant UK water infrastructure schemes.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 27 days' leave, flexible working, private medical insurance, and professional development support.
  • Other info: Hybrid working available, with opportunities for career-defining growth.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of UK water resilience with impactful projects that matter.
  • Qualifications: Experience in managing large-scale infrastructure projects and strong leadership skills required.

Senior Project Manager – Major Water Infrastructure (NEC ECC)

Location: London / Colchester / Peterborough (Hybrid)

The Opportunity

We're looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager to join a growing Major Projects team delivering some of the UK's most significant water infrastructure schemes.

This role offers the opportunity to lead the delivery of nationally important projects, including a major desalination scheme and a £180m strategic water resource project delivered as part of the RAPID programme. These projects are vital to improving long-term water resilience and involve complex stakeholder environments, major infrastructure delivery and Development Consent Order (DCO) processes.

Working as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team, you'll take ownership of project delivery from inception through to completion, ensuring successful outcomes for clients while managing programme, commercial and technical risks.

The role is based across London, Colchester and Peterborough, with approximately two days per week spent on project sites.

The Role

As Senior Project Manager, you'll act as the client's representative, leading the successful delivery of complex infrastructure projects through every stage of the project lifecycle.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Leading the delivery of major capital projects within the UK water sector.
  • Managing multidisciplinary teams comprising consultants, designers, contractors and specialist advisers.
  • Taking responsibility for programme, cost, risk and quality performance across multiple workstreams.
  • Administering and managing projects under the NEC Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC).
  • Providing strategic leadership throughout project planning, design, procurement and construction.
  • Managing project governance, reporting and client communications.
  • Identifying, managing and mitigating project risks while driving programme certainty.
  • Working closely with commercial teams to achieve the best value and commercial outcomes.
  • Coordinating stakeholders across complex delivery environments, including regulatory bodies, statutory consultees and delivery partners.
  • Supporting projects requiring Development Consent Orders (DCO) and other statutory planning processes.
  • Building trusted client relationships through proactive communication and high-quality project delivery.
  • Mentoring junior team members and contributing to the continued growth of the project management team.
  • Supporting business development activities, fee proposals and the pursuit of future opportunities.

About You

  • You'll be an experienced infrastructure Project Manager ready to lead complex programmes and comfortable working in challenging stakeholder environments.
  • We're looking for someone with:
  • Significant project management experience delivering major infrastructure projects within the UK water sector.
  • Demonstrable experience managing large-scale capital projects from inception through to delivery.
  • Strong knowledge and practical experience administering NEC ECC contracts.
  • Experience working on Development Consent Order (DCO) projects or other nationally significant infrastructure schemes.
  • Excellent leadership skills with experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
  • Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of project controls, risk management and governance.
  • The ability to build lasting relationships with clients, contractors and key stakeholders.
  • Excellent communication and reporting skills.
  • A degree in Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline (preferred).
  • Chartered status, or working towards chartership, with APM, RICS, CIOB or another relevant professional body.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to work on projects that will shape the future of UK water infrastructure, delivering solutions that improve resilience and security for generations to come.

In return, you'll join a supportive Major Projects team offering:

  • 27 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year.
  • Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.
  • £250 annual wellbeing allowance to spend on health, fitness or leisure activities.
  • Private medical insurance with access to a 24/7 virtual GP.
  • Matched pension contributions.
  • Payment of one professional subscription.
  • Employee Assistance Programme offering confidential financial, legal and wellbeing support.
  • Enhanced family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
  • Ongoing training, mentoring and support towards professional development and chartership.
  • A genuine opportunity to work on career-defining projects that make a lasting impact on the UK's critical infrastructure.

Hybrid and flexible working arrangements are available, with travel between client, site and office locations required depending on project and business needs.

Senior Project Manager employer: Pegasus Search & Selection

As a leading global construction consultancy, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative work culture that empowers our employees to excel in their roles. Joining us as a PMO Lead means you'll have the opportunity to work on significant Energy & Natural Resources programmes, with strong career progression and professional development opportunities. Our commitment to innovation and excellence ensures that you will be part of a team that is shaping the future of the UK's energy infrastructure.

Pegasus Search & Selection

Contact Details:

Pegasus Search & Selection Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Project Manager

Join Construction Networks

Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!

Show Off Your Skills on Site

If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.

Utilise Construction Job Sites

Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Pegasus Search & Selection, to express your interest!

Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles

Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Senior Project Manager at Pegasus Search & Selection.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Project Manager

Project Management
NEC Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC)
Development Consent Order (DCO) processes
Stakeholder Management
Risk Management
Commercial Awareness
Leadership Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.

Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.

Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.

Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.

How to prepare for a job interview at Pegasus Search & Selection

Brush Up on Technical Knowledge

For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.

Showcase Your Projects

Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.

Understand the Team Dynamics

Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.

Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving

Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!