Project Lead (SZC) in Suffolk

Workplace type: On-site

Location: Sizewell C, Suffolk (site-based)

Job type: Full-time

Job function: Project Delivery, Operations

Industries: Construction, Civil Engineering, Nuclear

Salary range: £90,000 – £100,000 + company car + private healthcare scheme + gym + performance bonus

• Company car: Company car (available for personal use) with a monthly rental value
• Pension: Automatically enrolled into the WJ Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme. Contributions are made at 5% for both employee (minimum) and employer (maximum).
• Private Healthcare: At six months of service, option to be enrolled into Westfield Health Cash Plan for Specialist Consultations & Diagnostics, Scanning Service (MRI, CT & PET Scans), Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments (Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Homeopathy and Osteopathy)
• Profit Related Bonus: A profit related annual bonus will be payable in December if WJ meets its profit targets
• Group Life Insurance: Automatically included in the WJ Death in Service Group Insurance at 3 times salary after 6-month probation period
• Gym Membership: Exclusive, discounted access to thousands of gyms, pools and spas with just one pass via our fitness partner, Hussle

About the role

Lead WJ's largest and most strategic account: Sizewell C. With £20M+ of secured works and a further £40M+ in negotiation, our SZC portfolio spans dewatering, water treatment, surface water management, abstraction wells, pumping tests, water sampling & testing, instrumentation & monitoring and design including temporary works. As SZC Project Lead you'll be WJ's senior representative on site directing our Project Managers, delivery teams and subcontractors, and managing relationships with SZC Ltd, the Civil Works Alliance and their stakeholders as we operate at Tier 1, 2 and 3 levels.

What you'll do

• Own safe, on-programme delivery of a multi-disciplinary £20M+ portfolio on a nuclear new-build site.
• Direct PMs, site teams and subcontractors, and champion nuclear safety culture.
• Manage NEC contract interfaces across multiple tiers, sharing commercial accountability with our MQS and Head of BD.
• Help convert the £40M+ opportunity pipeline through delivery excellence and early positioning.

What you'll bring

• Senior PM experience on major infrastructure programmes (nuclear new-build, HPC, HS2, Tideway or similar).
• Nuclear sector experience and eligibility for site security clearance (BPSS/SC).
• Strong NEC3/4 contract management across contractor tiers.
• Stakeholder credibility from boardroom to site cabin.

About WJ

WJ is the UK’s leading water management specialist the partner and contractor of choice for major construction and infrastructure programmes. Founded by academics and evolved through expertise, we apply scientific principles to solve complex water challenges: over 40 years’ experience and 4,000+ projects worldwide, including the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the London Olympic Park, Crossrail, Tideway, HS2 and currently Sizewell C. Our expanding service lines span dewatering & groundwater control, water treatment, surface water management, I&M, pumping tests, well drilling and professional services which are grounded in engineering, delivered in partnership. Our values of Confidence, Pride, Clarity & Integrity, and Independence guide every decision we make, and our ambitions are big: the AMP8 water sector, defence, energy and infrastructure markets.

Reports to

Operations Manager (Line Manager), with regular reporting to the Senior Leadership Team given the strategic importance of the SZC account.

Direct Reports

SZC Project Managers and site delivery teams (engineers, supervisors, technicians and operatives deployed on SZC works).

Direct control of subcontractors engaged on WJ’s SZC packages.

Key relationships

Operations Manager, SZC Ltd, Civil Works Alliance (CWA) and their stakeholders and subcontractors (Project Director to Supervisor level), Managing Quantity Surveyor, Head of Business Development, Sales Manager, Water Treatment Manager, I&M Manager, Design/Technical Team, Finance Manager, Regulators (EA), Suppliers & Subcontractors.

Key areas of responsibility

SZC Account Leadership

• Act as WJ’s senior representative and single point of accountability for all WJ works on the Sizewell C project.
• Own the SZC delivery strategy, ensuring the portfolio of secured works (£20M+) is delivered safely, on programme, to specification and to budget.
• Represent WJ at senior client forums, programme reviews and alliance meetings, engaging credibly from Project Director down to Supervisor level.
• Champion nuclear safety culture and SZC site standards across all WJ teams and subcontractors.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Manage WJ’s relationships with SZC Ltd, the Civil Works Alliance (CWA), their stakeholders and their subcontractors.
• Navigate WJ’s concurrent positions at Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 contractor levels on site, managing the differing contractual interfaces, obligations and reporting lines that each entail.
• Build and protect WJ’s reputation on site as the basis for repeat work and pipeline conversion.
• Coordinate stakeholder communications, progress reporting and issue escalation across multiple concurrent contracts.

Project & Programme Delivery

• Direct the delivery of a multi-disciplinary portfolio covering dewatering, water treatment, surface water management (pumping systems), water abstraction wells, pumping tests, water sampling & testing, I&M, and design work including temporary works designs.
• Provide direct line management and leadership to the SZC Project Managers, site delivery teams and subcontractors.
• Plan and secure resources (people, plant, equipment, materials) with the Operations Manager and service line leads to meet programme demands.
• Ensure design deliverables, including temporary works designs, are properly planned, checked, approved and implemented in accordance with WJ and SZC design management procedures.
• Drive programme performance, early warning of risks, and recovery planning where required.

Safety, Quality & Environment

• Ensure all WJ works comply with SZC site rules, nuclear safety culture expectations, CDM duties and WJ’s SHEQ requirements.
• Ensure environmental compliance across abstraction, discharge, sampling and monitoring activities, including permit and consent conditions.
• Lead incident prevention, investigation and learning across the SZC portfolio.
• Ensure quality records, inspection & test plans, and handover documentation meet nuclear-grade expectations.

Commercial Management (Shared Accountability)

• Share commercial accountability for the SZC account with the Managing Quantity Surveyor (commercial control) and the Head of Business Development (pipeline growth).
• Support the MQS and project QS in contract administration under NEC forms, including early warnings, compensation events, programme submissions and change control across all tiers.
• Ensure accurate cost and value reporting, forecasting and cash recovery across the SZC contracts.
• Identify, protect and pursue WJ’s commercial entitlement while maintaining collaborative client relationships.

Pipeline Growth & Work Winning

• Work with the Head of Business Development and Sales team to convert the £40M+ SZC opportunity pipeline, providing delivery input to bids, pricing and negotiations.
• Identify emerging scopes and early opportunities on site, positioning WJ ahead of formal procurement.
• Support pre-qualification, tender submissions and client presentations for new SZC packages.

Reporting & Governance

• Produce regular account reports for the Operations Manager and Senior Leadership Team covering safety, programme, commercial performance, risks and pipeline.
• Ensure all SZC activity aligns with WJ’s IMS, QMS and SHEQ requirements and with SZC/CWA governance and assurance processes.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Degree in civil engineering, construction management or a related discipline, or equivalent experience at senior project management level.
• Proven track record as a Senior Project Manager delivering complex works on major infrastructure programmes (e.g. nuclear new-build, Hinkley Point C, HS2, Thames Tideway or similar).
• Nuclear sector experience, including working within nuclear safety culture on new-build or licensed sites.
• Strong experience managing works under NEC3/4 contracts, including operating at multiple contractor tiers.
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, including Project Managers, site delivery teams and subcontractors.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with credibility from Project Director to Supervisor level in client, alliance and subcontractor organisations.
• Strong commercial acumen, including cost/value awareness, change control and forecasting.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain security clearance for the SZC site (e.g. BPSS/SC).
• SMSTS, CSCS and full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable

• Technical knowledge of dewatering, groundwater control, water treatment, abstraction wells, pumping tests or instrumentation & monitoring.
• Experience of temporary works management (e.g. as TWC) and design management processes.
• Experience working within alliance/collaborative delivery models such as the Civil Works Alliance.
• Chartered or working towards chartership with a relevant institution (e.g. ICE, APM, CIOB).

Working Conditions

Site-based at/near the Sizewell C project, Suffolk, with periodic travel to WJ’s UK Head Office (Kings Langley) and other WJ facilities.

The role involves regular presence on a live nuclear new-build construction site and may require out-of-hours working to support operational demands.

General Expectations

• Uphold WJ’s values and commitment to safety, quality and environmental performance, and champion nuclear safety culture.
• Promote continuous improvement and collaborative working across WJ, SZC Ltd, the CWA and their supply chains.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the role’s seniority and delivery function.