Associate Project Manager - Commercial

Arcadis; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global consultancy in Manchester seeks an experienced Associate Project Manager to lead the delivery of large, complex projects. This role involves managing project financials, providing leadership to project teams, and building strong client relationships. Candidates should have extensive experience in infrastructure project management, strong stakeholder management skills, and preferably hold chartered status. This position is crucial for promoting a positive culture and ensuring effective project delivery.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience managing large or complex projects in a consultancy environment.
• Proven ability to manage senior stakeholders and lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial and contractual awareness with experience managing risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of large or complex projects to meet scope, time, and quality.
• Manage financial performance, budgets, forecasts, and cash flow of projects.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior client stakeholders.

Skills

Managing large infrastructure projects

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Leadership and mentoring

Education

Chartered professional status from a recognized institution

Job description

Role Description

As an Associate Project Manager, you will lead the delivery of large, complex or higher‑risk projects, or a portfolio of projects, operating with a high level of accountability while remaining actively involved in delivery. You will provide senior leadership to project teams, manage significant commercial and delivery risks, and work closely with client stakeholders to achieve successful project outcomes.

Alongside project responsibilities, you will support the development of people and contribute to the continuous improvement of project management practices within Arcadis.

Key Accountabilities

Project & Programme Leadership

• Lead the delivery of large or complex projects, or a coordinated portfolio of projects, ensuring delivery to agreed scope, programme, cost, quality and safety requirements.
• Establish appropriate governance, controls and reporting arrangements proportionate to project scale and risk.
• Manage delivery, commercial and stakeholder risks, escalating issues where necessary and ensuring appropriate mitigation is in place.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Hold accountability for project or portfolio‑level financial performance, including budgets, forecasts, cashflow and risk exposure.
• Lead complex commercial discussions and negotiations within agreed authority levels.
• Support optimisation of financial performance through effective planning, resourcing and risk management.

Client & Stakeholder Leadership

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with senior client stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted delivery lead for clients on complex or sensitive project matters.
• Support work‑winning activities through input to bids, proposals and delivery strategies.

Leadership & People Development

• Provide leadership, mentoring and development support to Project Managers and Senior Project Managers.
• Contribute to succession planning and capability development within the Project & Programme Management community.
• Promote a positive, inclusive and high‑performance culture across project teams.

Risk, Safety, Health & Sustainability

• Champion high standards of safety, health, environmental and wellbeing performance.
• Ensure sustainable and responsible practices are embedded into project delivery.

Digital & Continuous Improvement

• Encourage effective use of digital tools, data and delivery systems across projects.
• Lead or support improvement initiatives that enhance delivery efficiency, quality and client value.

Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive experience managing large or complex infrastructure or built‑environment projects in a consultancy or comparable environment.
• Proven ability to manage senior stakeholders and lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial and contractual awareness with experience managing significant delivery risk.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the development of people and teams.
• Chartered professional status with a recognised institution advantageous.