Senior Project Manager - Future Opportunity in Rochester

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Office based in Rochester, Kent, with travel within the UK.

Who are we?

The TSS (Technical Safety Services) Family of Companies is one of the largest independent laboratory and hospital service providers with locations across the United States and United Kingdom. Our customers include leading life sciences and healthcare companies and renowned research institutions. We are a leading provider of environmental monitoring solutions, testing, calibration and certification services for controlled environments, medical gas systems, and laboratory instrumentation.

How will you make an impact?

As a Senior Project Manager, you will own the end-to-end delivery of a portfolio of technical construction, refurbishment and repair projects in regulated environments (cleanrooms and bio-containment). Projects typically range from a few thousand pounds through to £1m+ and are predominantly planned reactive, upgrade and investment works. You will lead project governance across safety, quality, programme and commercial performance, acting as the primary point of contact for key client stakeholders. You may also be required to lead a small team of Project Managers and Assistant Project Managers; setting standards, coaching performance, and balancing resources to ensure consistent delivery.

This is a senior role for a proven technical project leader who is comfortable working in live operational environments and coordinating multiple stakeholders, suppliers and internal teams to deliver safe, compliant and high-quality outcomes.

What will you do?

• Portfolio & POD Leadership
  • Lead delivery across a portfolio of projects, balancing resource, priorities and client commitments.
  • Line manage, coach and develop Project Managers and Assistant Project Managers (where applicable), setting clear expectations, routines and quality standards.
  • Embed consistent project controls: stage gates, reporting, change control, risk management and lessons learned.
• Pre-Construction, Scoping & Planning
  • Lead scope definition, site surveys, phasing and logistics planning (often in live, controlled environments).
  • Develop and maintain integrated programmes, resource plans and cost plans; ensure assumptions are documented and agreed.
  • Own stakeholder engagement from bid/hand-over, including client, end users, QA/HSE, subcontractors and internal operations.
• Delivery, Site Management & Governance
  • Lead end-to-end delivery from mobilisation through completion, commissioning/verification and handover.
  • Chair key project meetings, drive actions to closure, and maintain accurate reporting.
  • Manage interfaces between trades, validation/testing activities and client operational constraints to minimise downtime and disruption.
• Team Collaboration (POD-based delivery)
  • Collaborate across the wider Project Management Team and Clean Air Technologies as a whole, coordinating delivery with engineering, operations, commercial, QA/HSE and field teams to maintain a “one team” approach for the client.
  • Create clear roles and responsibilities (RACI) across internal teams, suppliers and subcontractors and ensure interfaces are actively managed.
  • Lead effective project routines: weekly team workload planning, look-ahead planning, site coordination meetings and lessons learned; remove blockers and enable others to deliver.
• Commercial, Contracts & Procurement
  • Own budgets, forecasting and cost-to-complete; maintain financial control and margin discipline.
  • Manage subcontract procurement, work package scope, supplier performance, variations and change control.
  • Work with internal commercial/operations teams to administer contracts (e.g., JCT/NEC) and manage claims/compensation events where applicable.
• Quality, Technical Assurance & Compliance
  • Set and maintain quality standards and inspection/testing plans appropriate to controlled environments.
  • Ensure deliverables meet client, regulatory and internal requirements, including documentation, certification and handover packs.
• H&S, Risk & Site Compliance
  • Lead project risk management and ensure timely escalation and mitigation of safety, programme, commercial and technical risks.
  • Ensure compliance with CDM 2015 duties as relevant to the role and your organisation’s procedures; coordinate with client and principal contractor/principal designer arrangements where applicable.
  • Review and approve subcontractor RAMS and permit requirements; ensure safe systems of work are planned and followed.
• Client, Stakeholder & Internal Reporting
  • Act as the day-to-day senior interface for clients, building trust through transparent reporting, proactive issue management and dependable delivery.
  • Provide clear updates to internal leadership on performance, risks, opportunities and resource needs across your team.
  • Drive continuous improvement through post-project reviews, standard templates and coaching of the wider PM community.
• Quotations, Variations & Work Winning Support
  • Lead pricing inputs for project opportunities, variations and remedial works, ensuring scope clarity, buildability and appropriate risk allowances.

How will you get here?

Education and Experience

• Proven experience as a Project Manager/Senior Project Manager delivering construction, refurbishment and/or repair projects (mechanical/electrical/building fabric) in operational environments.
• Typically 5+ years’ project delivery experience, with evidence of owning programme, budget, procurement and stakeholder management end-to-end.
• Degree/HNC/HND or equivalent experience in Engineering, Construction Management, Building Services, or a related discipline.
• Project management qualification (APM/PRINCE2/PMI) is desirable; equivalent demonstrable experience is acceptable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership and communication skills: able to influence at all levels (client, subcontractors, internal stakeholders) and calmly manage conflict/escalations.
• Excellent planning and controls capability (programme, change control, cost tracking and governance routines).
• Commercial awareness: competent in procurement, work packages, variations and contract administration (ideally familiarity with JCT/NEC).
• Strong H&S mindset with experience working under construction site rules; confident reviewing RAMS and managing safe systems of work including preparation of construction phase health and safety plans.
• Relevant site H&S training (e.g., SMSTS/SSSTS) and/or IOSH Managing Safely (desirable).
• Comfortable operating in regulated/controlled environments where documentation, quality and downtime constraints are critical.
• Proficient with MS Office; confident using project controls tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera P6, Asta Powerproject, or equivalent).
• Strong written skills for producing client-facing reports, handover packs and technical/compliance documentation.

Job Specific Requirements

• Full & clean UK driving License
• Regular criminal records check required for client sites

TSS Family of Companies is a passionate equal opportunity employer and celebrates diversity. Interested in a role but not sure it’s the right fit for you? Call us and let’s talk.