Project Manager, Roads & Highways

SMEC; Canberra; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SMEC is seeking a Project Manager to lead major Roads & Highways infrastructure projects in Canberra. You will drive end-to-end delivery, ensuring safety, timeliness and budget adherence while partnering with clients and stakeholders.

The role requires substantial experience in consulting or client-side delivery, with a strong PM skillset and governance. Collaboration across planning, design and delivery is essential for project success.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Project Management or related discipline.
• Strong background in project management, including programme management, cost control, risk management and project governance.
• Experience managing clients and stakeholders across complex, multidisciplinary project environments.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to manage project financials, forecasting and reporting.
• Excellent leadership, communication and coordination skills.
• Experience working with government, transport or road authorities will be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end delivery of Roads & Highways projects or key project packages.
• Oversee programme, cost, risk and quality across project delivery.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across planning, design and delivery phases.
• Manage client relationships and act as a key point of contact.
• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders, including contractors and government agencies.
• Support commercial management including variations, forecasting and reporting.
• Contribute to bids, tenders and project growth opportunities.
• Support the successful delivery of transport infrastructure projects across road upgrades, intersections, highways and related infrastructure.

Skills

Project management

Programme management

Cost control

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Client relations

Communication

Education

Engineering degree

Project Management qualification

Job description

About the job

• Join a global consultancy delivering iconic infrastructure projects
• Work alongside industry-leading specialists in a collaborative, flexible environment
• Shape your career with genuine professional growth opportunities

About SMEC

SMEC is a global engineering consultancy renowned for delivering complex, sustainable infrastructure solutions across transport, water, energy, and urban development markets. Our teams are empowered to innovate, solve technical challenges, and contribute to projects that positively shape communities across Australia and worldwide.

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and gender-equitable workforce and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds across engineering and technical disciplines.

SMEC provides a supportive and flexible working environment that recognises individual contribution, supports career progression, and enables our people to balance work and life at all stages of their career.

We are proud to foster an inclusive culture that supports gender equity, LGBTI+ inclusion and First Nations representation, with access to strong professional networks, role models, and mentoring and sponsorship programs.

• As a family-friendly employer, we offer flexible working arrangements and benefits including 18 weeks of universal paid parental leave.

Infrastructure

At SMEC, we understand that our continued success within the infrastructure market is the result of building long-term client relationships. We listen and understand the specific needs of our clients and deliver a complete value chain of services to provide sustainable solutions across major infrastructure projects worldwide.

The Role

We are seeking a Project Manager with experience gained within consulting and/or client-side environments to support the delivery of major Roads & Highways infrastructure projects in Canberra.

You’ll be responsible for leading project delivery across the full lifecycle, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time and within budget, while acting as a trusted partner to clients and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end delivery of Roads & Highways projects or key project packages.
• Oversee programme, cost, risk and quality across project delivery.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across planning, design and delivery phases.
• Manage client relationships and act as a key point of contact.
• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders, including contractors, government agencies and utility providers.
• Support commercial management including variations, forecasting and reporting.
• Contribute to bids, tenders and project growth opportunities.
• Support the successful delivery of transport infrastructure projects across road upgrades, intersections, highways and related infrastructure.

About You

• 6-12 years of experience delivering Roads & Highways or major transport infrastructure projects.
• Experience within an engineering consultancy and/or client-side project delivery environment is strongly preferred, with an understanding of managing projects on behalf of asset owners, government agencies and major infrastructure clients.
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Strong background in project management, including programme management, cost control, risk management and project governance.
• Experience managing clients and stakeholders across complex, multidisciplinary project environments.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to manage project financials, forecasting and reporting.
• Excellent leadership, communication and coordination skills.
• Experience working with government, transport or road authorities such as Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS), the National Capital Authority (NCA) or similar agencies will be highly regarded.
• Demonstrated experience delivering roads, highways, intersections, active transport or broader transport infrastructure projects.

Don’t meet every requirement? We still encourage you to apply. We recognise that talent comes from many different experiences and backgrounds, and we’re committed to creating an inclusive culture for people from all walks of life.