At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting highways projects, ensuring top-notch design and community engagement.
- Company: Join Southwark Council, shaping the future of London’s streets and places.
- Benefits: Enjoy 29 days leave, a competitive pension, and great learning support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to tackling inequalities and improving lives.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing complex transport projects and leading teams.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 € per year.
Do you want to shape Southwark's streets and places for the future? Southwark Council is looking for an experienced and motivated Principal Project Manager to lead a high‑profile programme of highways capital projects. This key role has responsibility for taking projects from inception through to completion of outline design, ensuring strong project governance, excellent design quality and meaningful engagement with our communities.
You will lead a multidisciplinary team and work closely with residents, councillors, contractors and partners to deliver schemes that support Southwark’s ambitions for safe, inclusive and well‑designed streets. We are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities.
What You’ll Be Doing
- You’ll lead and manage a programme of highways capital projects from inception through to completion of outline design, ensuring projects are well‑governed, financially controlled and delivered to a high standard of design quality.
- You’ll take a hands‑on approach to project and programme management, commissioning and managing external consultants and contractors to deliver specialist work.
- A key part of the role is working closely with local communities and residents’ groups, shaping proposals through meaningful engagement, clearly communicating plans and resolving issues as they arise.
- You’ll represent the Council in internal and external forums, providing expert advice on project development, contract specifications, tendering processes and contractor performance.
- You’ll be responsible for preparing and monitoring budgets, delivering funding bids and ensuring robust financial and quality management systems are in place.
- You’ll lead and performance‑manage a multidisciplinary team, support continuous improvement of the service, and work collaboratively with colleagues across the Council and partner organisations to ensure projects deliver best value and meet the needs of Southwark’s communities.
- You’ll also keep abreast of best practice in highways, street design, project management and community engagement, help strengthen partnerships that support future funding opportunities, and deputise for the Group Manager when required.
What We’re Looking For
- Significant experience managing complex highways or transport capital projects
- Strong programme and financial management skills
- Experience of leading and performance managing professional teams
- A track record of working collaboratively with communities, stakeholders and partners
- Confidence operating at senior level and representing the service in internal and external forums
- A commitment to high‑quality design, inclusive engagement and continuous improvement
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long‑term health condition
Benefits
- 29 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays
- Competitive pension scheme
- Excellent support for learning and development
- Shift enhancements for out of hours and weekend working associated with this post
This post is Full Time, 36 hours a week.
Recruitment Timeline
- Advert Closing Date: 13/05/2026
- Shortlisting Date: 15/05/2026
- Interview Date: 26/05/2026
Principal Engineering Project Manager in London employer: Southwark Council
Southwark Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to shaping the future of our borough through meaningful community engagement and high-quality project delivery. With a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and continuous professional development, employees benefit from a supportive work culture that values their contributions and fosters growth. Located in one of London's most vibrant areas, Southwark offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on the lives of residents while enjoying competitive benefits such as generous annual leave and a robust pension scheme.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineering Project Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend local events, and engage with community groups. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for Southwark! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers or during interviews, share your enthusiasm for shaping the community and improving local infrastructure. It’ll make you stand out!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching recent projects in Southwark. Knowing the ins and outs of current initiatives will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineering Project Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Principal Engineering Project Manager role. Highlight your experience with highways capital projects and your ability to engage with communities, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see how you've led teams in the past! Share examples of how you've managed multidisciplinary teams and delivered successful projects. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of this role.
Communicate Clearly:Effective communication is crucial for this position. Use clear and concise language in your application to convey your ideas and experiences. Remember, you’ll need to communicate plans and resolve issues with various stakeholders!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Southwark Council.
How to prepare for a job interview at Southwark Council
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the key highways capital projects that Southwark Council is involved in. Familiarise yourself with their objectives, challenges, and how they align with community needs. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're genuinely interested in making a positive impact.
✨Engage with Community Insights
Since community engagement is crucial for this role, think about how you can incorporate local perspectives into your project management approach. Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with communities in past projects, and be ready to discuss how you would continue this practice at Southwark.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Project Manager, you'll be leading a multidisciplinary team. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've led teams in the past, managed performance, and fostered collaboration. Highlight your ability to motivate others and drive projects to successful completion.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Financial management is a key aspect of this role, so brush up on your budgeting and financial control skills. Be ready to discuss how you've managed project budgets in previous roles, including any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This will show that you can ensure projects are delivered within financial constraints while maintaining quality.
