Senior Project Manager

Westwood Recruitment are partnering with one of the UK’s largest construction, engineering, and infrastructure companies to look for their next Senior Project Manager to be based in Chelmsford/Didcot.

Overview

They are seeking an experienced HV Substation Senior Project Manager to lead the delivery of a major GIS high‑voltage (HV) infrastructure project, located in Chelmsford/Didcot, from concept through to commissioning. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical knowledge of HV environments, experience with NEC4 contracts, and a track record of managing subcontractors, programme delivery, cost control, and risk/opportunity management.

What You Will Do

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of a two stage HV substation project, ensuring compliance with safety, technical, and contractual requirements.
• Plan and manage project programme, milestones, interfaces, and deliverables to meet customer and business objectives.

Contract & Commercial Management

• Administer projects under NEC4 contract governance, including early warnings, compensation events, change control, and communications.
• Maintain robust cost management practices: forecasting, cost tracking, budget control, and financial reporting.

Technical & Construction Management

• Oversee construction activities within HV environments, ensuring safe working practices and adherence to relevant standards.
• Manage subcontractors effectively: performance, quality, progress, and compliance with contractual obligations.
• Coordinate with engineering, commissioning, and operational teams to ensure quality of delivery.

Risk & Opportunity Management

• Lead risk identification, assessment, and mitigation activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Drive opportunity realization to improve programme, cost, or technical outcomes.
• Maintain and report on project risk registers and mitigation strategies.

Stakeholder & Interface Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Ensure strong communication and collaboration across engineering, commercial, HSE, and operational teams.
• Prepare and present project progress reports, dashboards, and performance updates.

Health, Safety & Environment

• Promote and enforce a strong safety culture, ensuring compliance with HV safety rules, CDM regulations, and company HSE policies.
• Support environmental compliance and sustainability objectives throughout project delivery.

About You (Required Experience & Skills)

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or project management.
• Proven experience managing HV substation or transmission/distribution projects up to and including 400Kv.
• Strong understanding of NEC4 contract mechanisms and commercial governance.
• Demonstrable experience managing multiple subcontractors and designers and interfaces.
• Cost management and financial reporting capability.
• Experience in risk mitigation and opportunity realisation.
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated commitment to health, safety, quality and environmental compliance.
• Experience in working with transmission connected Clients.
• Heavy civil or mechanical and electric engineering background.

What they offer:

• Highly Competitive Salary
• Benefits: 25 days holiday entitlement + Statutory and public holidays + Additional 3 (three) days holiday available on our purchase scheme
• Life Assurance and Career Progression

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