Senior Project Manager - Utilities in Canary Wharf

Rider Levett Bucknall’s Utilities & Energy team is one of the UK’s leading independent multi-disciplinary utilities consultancies, supporting clients in the successful planning, procurement, delivery and operation of critical utility infrastructure across some of the country’s most complex development and infrastructure programmes.

Our team works across the full project lifecycle, providing specialist expertise in electricity, water, wastewater, gas, telecommunications, distributed heat network, emerging utilities and infrastructure for hyperscale data centres, advanced manufacturing, logistics, renewable energy, commercial, residential and nationally significant infrastructure projects.

What sets us apart is our genuinely integrated approach. Rather than operating as individual disciplines, our professionals work collaboratively across three complementary service pillars to provide clients with seamless support throughout every stage of a project:

• Commercial Management – Providing strategic commercial advice, procurement, contract administration, cost management, change management, commercial assurance and financial governance from early project development through to final account.
• Technical & Regulatory Advisory – Delivering specialist utility engineering, network strategy, regulatory guidance, statutory approvals, utility procurement, connections strategy and technical assurance to de-risk projects from inception.
• Project & Programme Management – Leading the planning, governance and delivery of complex utility infrastructure programmes, providing project management, PMO, programme controls, stakeholder management and client-side delivery oversight through construction, commissioning and energisation.

As our team continues to grow, we remain committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive and collaborative culture where individuals are encouraged to learn from one another, develop new skills and work across disciplines. Whether supporting a colleague on a technical challenge, assisting with commercial strategy or helping deliver a critical programme milestone, we operate as one team with a shared objective of delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.

Joining RLB’s Utilities & Energy team means becoming part of a high-performing, ambitious and supportive business that is helping shape the future of the UK’s critical infrastructure while offering genuine opportunities for professional development, career progression and exposure to some of the industry’s most exciting and technically challenging projects.

Role Overview

Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) is expanding its Utilities & Energy team and is looking for an experienced Senior Utilities Project Manager to support the delivery of some of the UK’s largest and most complex infrastructure, data centre, energy, industrial and mixed-use developments.

This is not a traditional consultancy role. We’re looking for an experienced project delivery professional who enjoys being at the centre of major infrastructure projects, driving delivery, challenging programmes, solving problems and ensuring utility works are delivered efficiently. Whilst the role covers all utility disciplines, applicants with a strong electricity infrastructure background (11kV–132kV and above) are particularly encouraged to apply.

You will manage utility infrastructure projects through delivery, acting as the client’s representative across complex programmes involving electricity, water, wastewater, gas, telecommunications and district energy infrastructure. Working alongside our commercial, technical and regulatory specialists, you will take ownership of project delivery, governance, programme management and stakeholder coordination from mobilisation through to utility infrastructure commissioning and project close-out.

The successful candidate will be expected to lead delivery in accordance with the clients chosen standard form construction contract.

Responsibilities:

• Managing multi-utility infrastructure projects through construction and commissioning.
• Leading utility delivery across large-scale developments including data centres, logistics, industrial, advanced manufacturing and mixed-use schemes.
• Acting as the primary interface between clients, contractors, and third parties such as statutory incumbent utility providers, regulated and de-regulated utility companies, local authorities and highway authorities.
• Manage the construction of new utility infrastructure and the management of utility constraints in accordance with NRSWA best practice.
• Driving programme performance and holding contractors and utility companies accountable for delivery.
• Reviewing and interrogating contractor programmes, identifying critical path risks and developing mitigation strategies.
• Leading project governance, reporting and PMO functions across multiple concurrent projects.
• Producing high-quality executive reports, dashboards and project controls information for senior client stakeholders.
• Managing project risks, opportunities, change control and key project decisions in accordance with the clients chosen construction contract.
• Chairing project meetings and coordinating multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Monitoring commercial performance alongside RLB’s commercial management team.
• Support utility commissioning, and final handover activities.
• Escalating delivery risks early and driving collaborative solutions.
• Maintaining exceptional client relationships through proactive project leadership.

PMO & Project Control - This role has a significant focus on programme management and project controls. Applicants should demonstrate experience in:

• Programme planning and management.
• Critical path analysis.
• Programme management and assurance.
• Project governance.
• PMO reporting.
• Executive dashboards.
• Cost and schedule reporting.
• Change control.
• Risk and opportunity management.
• Earned Value Management.
• Forecasting and performance reporting.
• Action trackers and decision logs.
• Senior stakeholder reporting.

Candidate Profile

Technical Experience

The successful candidate will possess a broad understanding of the planning, procurement and delivery of multi-utility infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on electricity networks. Applicants should have demonstrable experience managing the delivery of complex utility projects involving high and extra high voltage electricity infrastructure, substations, transmission and distribution networks, contestable and non-contestable works, together with clean water, wastewater, gas, telecommunications and district energy infrastructure. Experience should include coordinating multiple statutory undertakers, Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs), Independent Connection Providers (ICPs), transmission operators, utility contractors and multidisciplinary design teams through all phases of project delivery.

Candidates should be confident operating within complex regulated environments, managing utility interfaces, diversions, reinforcement schemes, new connections and commissioning activities, whilst maintaining programme, commercial and technical oversight. A strong understanding of project governance, programme management and project controls is essential, including critical path analysis, risk and opportunity management, change control, executive reporting, cost and schedule performance, PMO governance and contractor performance management. Previous experience delivering utility infrastructure on major developments such as data centres, industrial, logistics, manufacturing, energy or other large-scale infrastructure projects would be highly advantageous, together with a practical understanding of JCT, NEC or FIDIC forms of contract, CDM Regulations, NRSWA and the wider statutory and regulatory framework governing utility delivery.

Essential Experience

• Extensive experience delivering utility infrastructure projects.
• Strong electricity infrastructure experience, ideally at HV or EHV level.
• Experience managing contractors through construction.
• Excellent programme management capability.
• Strong PMO and project controls experience.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to challenge delivery programmes constructively.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• Excellent written reporting skills.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Desirable Knowledge

• NEC3 / NEC4 contracts.
• JCT Contracts.
• FIDIC Contracts.
• CDM Regulations.
• NRSWA.
• Highways Act.
• Utility permitting.
• DNO/IDNO processes.
• National Grid delivery.
• Streetworks coordination.
• Commissioning and energisation processes.

This role would suit individuals currently working for major contractors, ICPs, DNOs, utilities consultancies, client organisations or infrastructure developers who are looking to work on nationally significant projects with greater client exposure and responsibility.

Behaviours

The ideal candidate will be:

• Delivery focused.
• Organised and methodical.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced environments.
• Confident leading meetings with senior stakeholders.
• Calm under pressure.
• A proactive problem solver.
• Commercially aware.
• Collaborative while willing to challenge where necessary.
• Passionate about delivering major infrastructure projects.

RLB Employee Benefits

Our culture is built around enabling you to fulfil your potential, so you can look forward to benefits that include:

• Hybrid Working - Working patterns to support your work-life balance. As well as competitive maternity and paternity packages.
• Well-Rewarded - A competitive salary and generous holiday entitlement. As well as the opportunity to purchase up to five extra days.
• Focus On Wellbeing - We offer a number of health and wellness options, including gym membership and cycle to work schemes.
• Healthcare Packages - Private healthcare insurance and medical support, including dental insurance and eyecare vouchers.
• Personal Development - A continuous learning and development programme, including established APC and in-house mentoring schemes.
• Additional Benefits - We offer a wide range of benefits including a season ticket loan and professional membership subscriptions.
• Exceptional Exposure - You’ll have the opportunity to work on diverse projects across different sectors and regions.
• Social Responsibility - We hold team and social events as well as charity fundraising and volunteering activities.

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitment

We believe in building a diverse and inclusive environment where each person can be themselves, feel valued for their contribution and be challenged and supported to reach their full potential. We have a responsibility to support the communities in which we live and work, and that our workforce should reflect these communities and our clients. Our talent strategy should enable us to overcome bias in the construction industry by recruiting, retaining, developing, and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during any stage of the application or interview process, please contact our recruitment team at: recruitment@uk.rlb.com