Director of Project Management

An established and growing independent construction consultancy is looking to appoint a Director of Project Management to lead the next stage of development of its Project Management offering. This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a dedicated Project Management function within an already successful consultancy. You will have the autonomy to shape the function - from its people and processes through to its clients, commercial strategy and future direction.

Project Management is already an established service within the business, with existing commissions, client relationships and internal delivery capability in place. The next step is to appoint a senior specialist who can take ownership of the service and develop it into a defined, standalone offering.

The company is a leading independent construction consultancy with an established presence in the UK property and construction market. The business provides a range of project and commercial advisory services to developers, investors, private clients and organisations across the built environment. Projects span a diverse range of sectors, including:

• Residential and mixed-use development
• High-end residential
• Commercial
• Education
• Healthcare
• Industrial and logistics

The consultancy has built its reputation around providing a highly personal, senior-led service and has developed a strong base of repeat and referred clients. Despite continued growth, it retains the agility and entrepreneurial culture of an independent business, with senior individuals given genuine influence over its direction.

As Director of Project Management, you will take strategic and operational ownership of the PM service. Initially, the focus will be on working with the existing team and client base to establish the structure required for the next stage of growth. You will have genuine influence over the structure of the function, future recruitment, project delivery standards, target clients and sectors, and the wider commercial strategy.

Your remit will include:

• Leading and developing the Project Management offering.
• Establishing best-practice processes, governance and reporting.
• Providing senior oversight across key PM commissions.
• Developing the existing internal Project Management capability.
• Building and developing a dedicated PM team as the service grows.
• Setting the professional and technical standards for the future PM team.
• Working closely with the wider leadership team on business strategy.
• Strengthening and expanding existing client relationships.
• Identifying and securing new Project Management opportunities.
• Developing the commercial strategy for the service.
• Helping position Project Management as a core standalone discipline within the consultancy.

This is a hands-on leadership position. The successful individual will remain close to clients and projects while simultaneously developing the team, systems and infrastructure around them. For the right individual, this is an opportunity to build a business within a business - with the foundations already in place but genuine freedom to shape what comes next.

This opportunity is likely to suit an established Director or Associate Director from a construction consultancy background who is ready for greater ownership and the opportunity to build a service. You will ideally bring:

• Strong consultancy-side Project Management experience.
• A track record of leading complex construction projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Chartered status or recognised professional accreditation, such as MRICS, MAPM or equivalent, reflecting the high professional and technical standards of the wider business.
• Excellent client and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of consultancy fee structures.
• The ability to establish best-practice PM processes, governance and reporting.
• Confidence developing existing client relationships and generating new opportunities.
• An entrepreneurial, accountable and commercially minded approach.
• A commitment to professional excellence, integrity and continuous improvement.

The business places significant value on professional standards and technical credibility. The incoming Director will be expected to bring a similar level of professional standing and industry recognition, while setting the benchmark for the future Project Management team. Most importantly, they are looking for someone who wants to create, lead and take ownership of something, rather than simply occupy a senior position within an established structure.

The appointment forms an important part of the consultancy's long-term growth plans. The successful individual will be given the mandate to establish Project Management as a significant standalone service, build a specialist team and take increasing responsibility for its commercial performance and strategic direction. As the function develops, so too will the scope, responsibility and influence of the role within the wider business. For someone who has reached a senior level within an established consultancy but wants greater autonomy, visibility and ownership, this offers a compelling next step.

An established platform. A blank canvas for the PM function. And the autonomy to build it!

For a confidential conversation and further information on the opportunity, please get in touch with Freya at Vertical Recruitment.