At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead major infrastructure projects from inception to completion, ensuring delivery stays on track.
- Company: Established multidisciplinary construction consultancy with a strong presence in infrastructure.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for career progression.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities to work closely with clients and industry professionals.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on significant infrastructure projects while building your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management within infrastructure, utilities, or civil engineering.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
We’re working with an established multidisciplinary construction consultancy that is continuing to expand its Infrastructure team in Manchester. The business is involved in some of the UK’s most significant infrastructure and capital investment programmes, with a particularly strong presence across energy, power, utilities and major civil engineering.
This is a great opportunity for an experienced Senior Project Manager who wants to build their career within infrastructure, taking a leading role across complex, long-term programmes and working closely with clients and delivery teams from early project stages through to construction and completion.
The Opportunity
Joining an established Infrastructure team, you’ll take responsibility for the management and delivery of major projects and workstreams across the North West and wider UK. The wider infrastructure portfolio spans:
- Electricity transmission, distribution and major grid upgrade programmes
- Renewable and low-carbon energy infrastructure
- Utilities and water infrastructure
- Nuclear and highly regulated environments
- Major civil engineering
- Ports, marine and transport infrastructure
A significant proportion of the current workload sits within the energy and utilities market, including major investment into electricity networks, transmission infrastructure, network resilience and the infrastructure required to support the UK's changing energy system. Depending on the commission, you could be involved from early feasibility and development through design, procurement, construction and commissioning, giving you exposure to the full project lifecycle.
You’ll work closely with clients, Tier 1 contractors, engineers, commercial teams and programme controls professionals, often becoming a key point of contact between the client and wider delivery team.
What You'll Be Doing
As Senior Project Manager, you’ll take ownership of your projects and workstreams, providing clear direction and making sure delivery remains on track across programme, cost, risk, quality and stakeholder requirements. Your role will include:
- Leading infrastructure projects and workstreams from inception through to completion
- Managing programme, risk, change and overall project performance
- Working within NEC3 and NEC4 contract environments
- Managing early warnings, compensation events and contractual processes alongside commercial teams
- Coordinating multidisciplinary design, engineering, commercial and delivery teams
- Managing contractors, consultants and wider project stakeholders
- Developing project execution plans, programmes, governance and reporting
- Monitoring progress against key milestones and identifying potential delivery risks
- Supporting procurement and contractor appointment
- Chairing project meetings and providing clear reporting to clients and senior stakeholders
- Resolving project issues and driving actions through to completion
- Supporting and mentoring more junior Project Managers within the team
This is a hands-on, client-facing position. You won’t simply be monitoring a programme from a distance - you’ll be close to the projects, understanding what is happening on the ground and working with the different parties involved to keep delivery moving. There’s also a good level of autonomy. You’ll have experienced infrastructure professionals around you, but you’ll be trusted to take ownership, build relationships with clients and become a key part of their project delivery team.
What We're Looking For
We’re interested in speaking with experienced Project Managers from consultancy, contractor or client-side backgrounds who have developed their careers within infrastructure, utilities, power, energy or major civil engineering. You’ll ideally have:
- Experience delivering infrastructure or major capital projects at Project Manager or Senior Project Manager level
- Good working knowledge of NEC3 and/or NEC4
- Experience managing projects through multiple stages of the delivery lifecycle
- Strong understanding of programme, risk, change and project governance
- Experience coordinating contractors, consultants and multidisciplinary teams
- Confidence working directly with clients and senior stakeholders
- A relevant qualification in Project Management, Engineering, Construction or a related discipline
- Professional accreditation through APM, RICS or another relevant body would be beneficial, although it isn't essential.
Experience within power, utilities, energy transmission or another highly regulated infrastructure environment would be particularly relevant to the current workload.
Manchester & Hybrid Working
You’ll be based from the consultancy’s Manchester office, working on a hybrid basis across home, office and project locations. There will also be a requirement to spend time on live projects and client sites, typically weekly or bi-weekly depending on the commission and project requirements, so you’ll need to be comfortable travelling when required. The balance gives you the flexibility of consultancy working while keeping you close to the clients, contractors and project teams you're responsible for.
Why Join?
There’s a lot happening within the Infrastructure side of the business, making this a particularly interesting time to join. There is already an established portfolio of work and long-term client relationships in place, alongside continued growth across energy, utilities and major capital investment. For someone joining at Senior Project Manager level, that creates the opportunity to:
- Lead nationally significant infrastructure and energy programmes
- Build deeper experience across NEC and complex project delivery
- Gain exposure to different infrastructure sectors rather than being restricted to one market
- Work directly with major clients, contractors and delivery partners
- Take increasing ownership of projects, programmes and client relationships
- Progress into Associate/Director-level positions as the Infrastructure team continues to grow
The consultancy combines the project exposure and multidisciplinary expertise of an established business with a collaborative team environment where individuals can still have genuine visibility and influence. For someone who enjoys leading complex projects, working closely with clients and having real ownership of delivery, there’s quite a lot to like about this opportunity.
Infrastructure Senior Project Manager in Manchester employer: Vertical Recruitment
As a leading M&E engineering contractor based in Cheshire, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through ongoing professional development opportunities, competitive salaries, and a performance-related bonus structure, all while offering the flexibility of hybrid working. Join us to lead impactful engineering projects and mentor a dynamic team, making a real difference in various sectors including manufacturing and critical infrastructure.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Infrastructure Senior Project Manager in Manchester
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Vertical Recruitment, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Infrastructure Senior Project Manager at Vertical Recruitment.
We think you need these skills to ace Infrastructure Senior Project Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Vertical Recruitment
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
