Assistant to Project Manager

Vertical Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Pension scheme

Private health insurance

Annual bonus potential

Professional development and chartered

Access to senior mentors

Job summary

Vertical Recruitment is supporting a regeneration-focused construction consultancy in Manchester to recruit an Assistant Project Manager or Project Manager, with opportunity for greater autonomy and influence as the business grows.

You will work with experienced professionals, handling projects from feasibility through delivery, and have room to develop toward senior responsibilities within a flexible, hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Degree in Project Management, Construction Management or related field.
• Experience in project management within construction or built environment.
• Engagement with consultancy environments is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support or lead commissions across RIBA Stages 1-6 and manage workstreams.
• Define scopes, programmes, deliverables and milestones.
• Coordinate clients, design teams, consultants and contractors.
• Prepare programmes and reports; monitor cost, risk and quality.
• Manage risk, change control and governance requirements.
• Assist procurement, tendering and contract administration (incl. JCT).
• Lead or contribute to meetings and maintain client relationships.
• Maintain project documentation, systems and KPIs.
• Support health & safety and CDM 2015 compliance.
• Contribute to lessons learned and continuous improvement.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Programme reporting

Communication

Team coordination

RIBA Plan of Work understanding

Education

Construction-related degree

Job description

We’re supporting a growing, regeneration-focused construction consultancy in Manchester as they look to make another key appointment within their Project Management team.

Rather than recruiting to a rigid job title, the business is focused on finding the right person. That could be an Assistant Project Manager ready for more responsibility, or an established Project Manager looking for greater autonomy and the opportunity to have more influence within a growing consultancy.

This is a relatively young business, but one with an established team, live projects and clear plans for sustainable growth. They have invested in modern systems and technology, operate a genuinely flexible working model and are building the consultancy deliberately around the type of culture they want to create.

For someone joining now, there is an opportunity to become an important part of that growth rather than joining a large, established structure where progression and responsibilities are already defined.

Why This Opportunity?

The attraction of this role goes beyond the individual projects.

You’ll be joining a consultancy at a stage where it is established enough to offer quality work, experienced people and a strong pipeline, but still early enough in its growth for individuals to have genuine visibility and influence.

At Assistant Project Manager level, you’ll work closely with experienced senior professionals while being encouraged to take increasing ownership of projects, clients and delivery.

At Project Manager level, there is scope to operate more autonomously, lead commissions and client relationships and contribute more broadly to how the business develops.

Either way, the intention is to give you room to progress as the consultancy grows.

The Projects

The consultancy has a particularly strong focus on regeneration and placemaking, working on projects that form part of wider plans to transform town centres, communities and strategically important development sites.

Rather than being limited to one building type, the team is involved across individual construction projects as well as larger, multi-project regeneration programmes.

Current and recent experience spans:

• Major town-centre and community regeneration programmes
• Residential and affordable housing development
• Mix-use development incorporating commercial, leisure and community uses
• Public realm and infrastructure improvements
• Cultural and community facilities
• Commercial and workplace refurbishment
• Demolition, enabling works and preparation of sites for future development

The nature of the work means you can gain experience beyond straightforward construction delivery. Projects often sit within larger regeneration strategies involving multiple phases, stakeholders, funding requirements and development partners, providing exposure to how schemes move from early strategy and planning through to construction and delivery.

The team is currently involved in significant regeneration activity across Greater Manchester, including programmes bringing together new homes, commercial space, public realm, community facilities and wider town-centre improvements.

The Role

You’ll support or lead commissions from initial feasibility and strategy through design, procurement, construction and completion.

Depending on your level of experience, responsibilities will include:

• Supporting or leading projects across RIBA Stages 1-6 and managing individual commissions or workstreams within larger programmes
• Establishing project scopes, programmes, deliverables and key milestones
• Coordinating clients, design teams, consultants, contractors and other stakeholders
• Preparing programmes and reports while monitoring cost, risk, quality and overall project performance
• Managing risk, change control and client governance requirements
• Supporting procurement, tendering and contract administration across forms including JCT
• Leading or contributing to project and client meetings and maintaining strong day-to-day relationships
• Maintaining project documentation, internal systems and KPIs
• Supporting compliance with CDM 2015 and construction Health & Safety requirements
• Contributing to lessons learned and continuous improvement

As your experience develops, you’ll be encouraged to take greater ownership rather than remaining in a supporting role indefinitely.

About You

There isn’t one fixed profile for this appointment.

You could be an Assistant Project Manager with around 1-3 years post-graduate experience who feels ready to step up, or an established Project Manager looking for a consultancy where you can have greater responsibility and visibility.

What is more important is that you are ambitious, commercially aware and comfortable working as part of a client-facing consultancy team.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• A relevant degree in Project Management, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying or another construction/property-related discipline
• Previous Project Management experience within construction or the built environment
• Consultancy experience, or experience that translates well into a consultancy environment
• Exposure to multiple stages of the project lifecycle and an understanding of the RIBA Plan of Work
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary project teams
• Good programme, risk and project reporting skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• An understanding of procurement and construction contracts
• Progress towards APM, RICS, CIOB or another relevant professional accreditation would be beneficial

Most importantly, they’re looking for someone who wants to develop with the business, take increasing responsibility and build a longer-term career rather than simply move into the same role somewhere else.

The Business

The consultancy was established to create a more modern and agile approach to construction Project Management, with a particular focus on regeneration and projects that have a tangible impact on places and communities.

They work alongside local authorities, developers, development partners and wider professional teams, supporting both individual projects and more complex regeneration programmes.

The business combines experienced senior leadership with modern systems, technology and a flexible approach to working. As the team continues to expand, there is also an opportunity for people joining now to contribute to the culture, processes and future direction of the consultancy.

It’s a collaborative environment without unnecessary layers of management, giving people good access to senior colleagues and the opportunity to learn directly from experienced professionals.

Progression

One of the biggest advantages of joining at this stage is that your progression doesn't need to follow a predetermined structure.

An Assistant Project Manager joining now can develop towards Project Manager, taking on increasingly independent commissions and client responsibility.

For someone already operating at Project Manager level, the opportunity is to build towards more senior responsibility as the team and project portfolio continue to expand.

Professional development and training are actively supported, including progression towards relevant chartership.

• Competitive salary aligned to experience and level
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Pension scheme and private health insurance
• Annual bonus opportunity and salary review
• Professional development, training and support towards relevant accreditation
• Wellbeing and social initiatives
• Direct access to experienced senior professionals
• Opportunity to grow alongside an expanding consultancy with increasing project and client responsibility

This is a particularly good opportunity for someone who likes the idea of joining a growing Manchester consultancy while there is still genuine scope to make an impact.

Rather than being recruited into a narrowly defined position, you’ll be joining a business that can recognise where you are now, give you the appropriate level of support and responsibility, and create room for your role to develop as both you and the consultancy grow.