Senior Project Manager (Water / Utilities) in Bristol

We are growing our Project Management team within the Water and Regulated Utilities sector and have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Project Manager. You will lead the delivery of complex infrastructure projects and programmes for major UK water utilities and environmental agencies. This role involves managing multidisciplinary teams, ensuring commercial success, and driving excellence in project governance.

What you need to do to be effective in this role:

• Lead the delivery of complex water infrastructure projects and programmes from inception to close-out.
• Act as the primary client lead for major programmes with organisations such as Thames Water and the Environment Agency, providing strategic direction, ensuring governance compliance, and driving successful outcomes across multiple workstreams.
• Take full responsibility for planning, scheduling, cost control, and risk management across multiple workstreams.
• Manage and mentor project teams, ensuring collaboration and high performance.
• Oversee contract administration and commercial management, including NEC3/4 compliance.
• Develop and maintain project management plans, dashboards, and reporting systems.
• Engage with senior stakeholders across utilities, contractors, and internal teams to maintain strong relationships.
• Ensure governance, health & safety, and regulatory compliance throughout project lifecycle.

The skills and experience you need to have for this role:

• Project Leadership: 5-8 years’ experience delivering complex infrastructure projects/programmes end-to-end, ideally in water or regulated utilities.
• Team Management: Proven ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams.
• Commercial Awareness: Strong understanding of contract management (NEC3/4), cost control, and risk management.
• Sector Knowledge: Experience in the water industry or regulated utilities, with awareness of governance requirements and sector-specific delivery models.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent communication and influencing skills, with experience managing senior client relationships.
• Tools: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management platforms (e.g. MS Project, Primavera P6), with familiarity in reporting tools such as Power BI and document control systems like SharePoint.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Project Management, or related field.
• Professional qualifications such as APM PMQ, PRINCE2 Practitioner, or equivalent.
• Chartered Status (e.g. ChPP, CEng, MRICS) preferred.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a growing team delivering critical infrastructure projects for major UK water companies and regulated utilities, with opportunities to lead high-profile programmes and develop your career towards leadership roles.

Your benefits:

• Annual leave: A healthy holiday allowance that starts at 25 days pa, plus the option to buy, carry over or sell.
• Community spirit: You can take three volunteering days each year to spend time on causes close to your heart.
• Mental health: Mental Health First Aiders are here to support you, backed up by Unum’s Help@hand app.
• Financial benefits: A path to peace of mind: life assurance, pension scheme and income protection.
• Physical wellbeing: Your health is a priority for us too, so we offer medical insurance, private GP access and discounted gym membership.
• Flexible working: Our flexible approach to hybrid working is there to suit you, your family and your team.
• Career development: A pathway at Ridge that’s focused on your professional, personal or educational aspirations.
• Extra benefits: Performance bonus, car allowance and more based on your role - and progression.

We believe that everyone performs their best when they feel like they belong and can be their true selves at work. As an equal opportunities employer, we will support you to ensure you have everything you need to be successful and achieve your best in your career at Ridge.