Project Manager (Site & Infrastructure) in London

About: SailGP is the world’s most exciting racing on-water. The annual, global championship – established in 2018 and now in its fourth season – features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe. The high-tech, high-speed action features sailing's best athletes racing in identical F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h who compete for the sport's top prize money, with US$4.3 million at stake over the season. SailGP is a global organisation with defined values that shape the culture of its diverse team: deliver quality, break boundaries, make an impact, stand together and strike a balance.

Summary: The Project Manager ensures that complex, multi-functional event sites are delivered as a single integrated operational system, feeding back into and providing direction for the specialist design, planning and procurement teams. The role is critical to ensuring that all site elements function safely, efficiently, and in alignment with overall event budgets and timelines. The role will require vetting, selecting or hiring the appropriate staff to support onsite operations and traveling to all events to oversee and manage the construction of all facilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• End-to-End Site Delivery
  • Ensure all site elements are efficiently designed and delivered in line with the approved delivery strategy, budget and programme.
  • Manage and direct all SailGP staff and contractors onsite that are involved in the construction, deconstruction and pack-up of all facilities.
  • Manage and coordinate transitions between build, live event and de-rig phases.
• Cross-Functional Integration
  • Manage and resolve spatial, timing and logistical conflicts between disciplines.
  • Act as the primary on-site manager for the construction, deconstruction and optimisation of all structures and facilities including: Hospitality Lounges and Grandstands, Merchandising stores, Media centre, Staff and public facilities, Partner activation facilities, Onsite Broadcast production facilities, Technical communication facilities, Team Base and Tech Services infrastructure, Docks.
• Site Planning & Sequencing
  • Lead pre-event site planning, programming, layout reviews and delivery strategy, ensuring that the plans and programs proposed or requested by the operational teams are sufficiently detailed, feasible and cost efficient.
  • Develop and manage detailed site sequencing and access plans, ensuring that the plan is as efficient as possible.
  • Direct the execution of complex build schedules, utilising a holistic understanding of the site to make informed decisions on sequencing that prevent cascading delays and cost overruns.
  • Ensure critical path activities are identified and protected.
  • Negotiate change requests from contractors.
  • Refine plans and programs to further optimise future events.
• Infrastructure & Site Delivery Oversight
  • Oversee installation of temporary infrastructure and site systems.
  • Ensure works are delivered safely, to specification and within required timeframes.
  • Monitor integration between temporary build and any permanent venue infrastructure.
  • Verify readiness of site systems ahead of operational handover.
• Live Event Site Operations
  • Maintain oversight of site functionality during live event days.
  • Coordinate rapid response to operational or infrastructure issues.
  • Support Operations teams with real-time site adjustments.
  • Ensure continuous safe functioning of all site systems.
• Health, Safety & Compliance
  • Ensure enforcement of all health & safety legislation and event standards.
  • Review RAMS and ensure safe systems of work are implemented on site.
  • Conduct regular site inspections and coordinate corrective actions.
  • Maintain a proactive safety-first culture across all contractors.
• Contractor & Stakeholder Coordination
  • Act as the primary on-site manager for contractors and suppliers.
  • Ensure adequate controls over site access and site inductions are in place prior to and during construction and deconstruction operations.
  • Manage logistics and workspace allocation.
  • Facilitate coordination and planning between competing functional requirements.
  • Provide clear on-site direction to ensure alignment of delivery activities.
• De-rig & Site Closure
  • Oversee safe and efficient dismantling of all temporary infrastructure.
  • Ensure full site clearance and compliance with handover requirements.
  • Coordinate contractor exit and post-event restoration activities.

Key Expectations:

• Essential:
  • Proven ability to manage people with diverse skill sets appropriately and with respect.
  • Significant expertise in directing large-scale construction and technical site lifecycles.
  • Significant expertise in helping to develop and manage a program, ensuring all work streams adhere to their respective programs.
  • Proven ability to manage high-stakes, multi-contractor site operations with the presence and authority required to maintain absolute control across a diverse global portfolio.
  • Proven ability to manage complex site logistics and sequencing.
  • Strong decision-making and problem-solving under pressure.
  • Excellent communication, reporting and stakeholder coordination skills.
  • Solid health & safety knowledge (RAMS, site compliance frameworks).
  • SMSTS qualified.
• Desirable:
  • Experience coordinating across technical and operational disciplines.

Location: As a globally focused position, this role will be based out of our London office in regular communication with the design, procurement and finance teams. It will involve extensive international deployment, requiring frequent travel to our event locations across the world. SailGP is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to building an inclusive team culture.