Construction Project Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Annual leave 26-30 days

Performance pay

Pension scheme

Health & wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Thames Water is recruiting a Construction Project Manager (internal title Project Engineer) to lead delivery of capital projects across our buildings network. Based from a Thames Valley site such as Reading or Newbury, you will scope, procure and manage projects from £30k to £2m, ensuring CDM, health and safety, and stakeholder coordination throughout.

You will oversee tenders, contractor performance, budget control and handover, while maintaining governance and reporting.

Qualifications

• Hold a suitable construction management qualification or equivalent.
• Experience scoping construction projects from conception to procurement.
• Strong organisational, planning and time management skills.
• Full UK driving licence and own transport.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with high standards.

Responsibilities

• Independently scope and deliver projects, working closely with Operational Specialists to define requirements.
• Manage the end-to-end tender process, including contractor selection, evaluation and award.
• Ensure CDM and health & safety compliance; overseeing Designers and Contractors.
• Review pre-construction documentation, including Construction Phase Plans, RAMS and H&S plans.
• Coordinate contractor inductions and communicate site risks and hazards.
• Monitor project performance across health & safety, environmental, quality, programme and budget targets.
• Forecast and report project expenditure, escalating risks and ensuring governance.

Skills

Project management

Contractor management

Health & safety

Financial management

Communication

Organisational skills

Education

HND/HNC/BEng/NVQ Level 4 in Construction Management or equivalent

Job description

As a Construction Project Manager, you will be responsible for the management and delivery of projects on Thames Water buildings. This includes structural projects (Lifecycle) and the delivery of facilities for staff (Welfare), on our huge range of buildings, which include Listed buildings and those of operational importance.

You manage a portfolio of projects ranging from approximately £30,000 to £2million, from scoping the projects from scratch to completion, including reporting throughout and managing the handover.

Please note that the internal job title for this role is 'Project Engineer'.

What you'll be doing as a Construction Project Manager

• Independently scope and deliver projects, working closely with Operational Specialists to define requirements.
• Manage the end-to-end tender process, including contractor selection, evaluation and award.
• Ensure full CDM and health & safety compliance, acting as Client and overseeing Principal Designers and Contractors.
• Review pre-construction documentation, including Construction Phase Plans, RAMS and H&S plans, ensuring safe project delivery.
• Coordinate contractor inductions and communicate relevant site risks and hazards.
• Monitor project performance across health & safety, environmental, quality, programme and budget targets, maintaining accurate records.
• Manage contractor performance, resources and site issues, liaising regularly with Controllers of Premises.
• Forecast and report project expenditure, escalating risks where required and ensuring compliance with company governance procedures.

Base location: This position will be based out of one of our Thames Valley sites (e.g., Reading or Newbury) and will cover the surrounding area.

Working pattern or hours: Hybrid - 36 Hours per week (Monday to Friday).

• Hold a HND/HNC/BEng/NVQ Level 4 in Construction Management, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil Engineering or equivalent, or have a strong Construction, Mechanical or Electrical background
• Have strong construction or facilities management experience.
• Have good experience scoping construction projects, from conception to procurement of Contractors.
• Have had previous experience managing contractors and auditing their performance, motivating all to achieve high standards of compliance.
• Have good project management, communication and financial management skills as well as having sound knowledge of construction methods, health and safety, and legal regulations.
• Possess strong organisational, planning and time management skills; able to manage multiple projects simultaneously without compromising on standards and quality.
• Have the ability to develop friendly and professional customer-focused relations with others.
• Hold a full UK driving licence and have your own transport.

We’re the UK's largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

• Offering a salary up to £60,000 per annum plus Car Allowance of £4,500 (depending on skills and experience).
• Annual Leave: 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances - from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.