Head of Major Projects

JR United Kingdom; North East; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the energy sector is seeking a Head of Major Projects to oversee significant infrastructure investments across the Northeast. This senior role involves managing a £150m portfolio, ensuring project delivery aligns with safety and commercial standards, and leading strategic initiatives for continuous improvement.

Benefits

Bonus of up to 20%

Enrolment into double-matched pension scheme

25 days holiday (rising with service)

Payment of professional fees

Excellent opportunities for career growth

Medical and dental cover

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead complex portfolios in regulated environments.
• Experience in large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong commercial edge and operational discipline.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership of the Major Projects function.
• Drive end-to-end delivery of major project activity.
• Build relationships with external stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Project Management

Commercial Accountability

Education

HNC qualification or above in a STEM discipline

Electrical Engineering Degree (BEng)

MSc in Project Management

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

MIET

Job description

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Ready to lead the charge on high-value programmes that shape the future of energy?

We’re looking for a visionary Head of Major Projects to take the lead in delivering Northern Powergrid’s most significant and complex infrastructure investments.

As the energy sector transforms, we’re investing in a smarter, more resilient electricity network to power a net zero future for 3.9 million homes and businesses across the Northeast, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. In this senior leadership role, you’ll drive a £150m annual portfolio of major capital programmes—from grid-scale substations to strategic network upgrades.

Reporting directly to the Director of Energy Systems, you’ll shape the direction of our Major Projects function, building capability, driving performance, and ensuring every project meets our standards for safety, customer service, and commercial excellence. You’ll also lead the transition to our future operating model—setting the pace for continuous improvement in one of the most critical areas of our business.

Ready to power up your career? Let’s talk.

Along with a competitive salary of between £85,000 - £95,000 we also offer great benefits such as;

• Bonus of up to 20%
• Enrolment into our double-matched pension scheme
• 25 days holiday (rising with service)
• Payment of professional fees
• Excellent opportunities for career growth
• Medical and dental cover

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Provide visible, accountable leadership of the Major Projects function, ensuring all activity is aligned with business plan commitments and operational priorities.
• Portfolio Delivery: Drive the end-to-end delivery of all major project activity, embedding consistent governance and control to ensure performance is achieved across time, cost, and quality.
• Pipeline & Planning: Maintain a forward-looking, executable pipeline of work supported by robust project scoping and contracting strategies that enable delivery confidence and value for money.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the senior representative for Northern Powergrid Major Projects — building influential, productive relationships with key external stakeholders, customers, contractors, and regulatory partners.
• Organisational Capability: Shape the future of the Major Projects function through strategic workforce planning, capability development, and succession management.
• Transformation & Improvement: Lead the transition to a new Target Operating Model, embedding continuous improvement and modern delivery practices that enhance safety, efficiency, and resilience.
• Commercial Accountability: Ensure major contracts and partner relationships are managed to maximise value, control risk, and drive sustainable performance over the long term.

What We’re Looking For

You’ll be a confident, hands-on leader of capital delivery — as comfortable in the boardroom as you are on-site — with a proven ability to lead complex portfolios in regulated, customer-focused environments. You’ll bring the credibility, presence, and commercial edge to influence senior stakeholders, and the operational discipline to consistently deliver high-impact results.

Qualifications and Attributes

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• HNC qualification or above in a STEM discipline
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale infrastructure projects or portfolios

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Electrical Engineering Degree (BEng) or MSc in Project Management
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) and/or MIET
• Strong track record in regulated utilities or capital-intensive industries

Job Posted: 16 May 2025

Closing date for applications: 16 June 2025

Hold Date for interviews: 23 & 30 June 2025

In order to comply with our electricity distribution license, we have to ensure our colleagues are fit and proper to visit and enter our customers premises. Consequently, as this role may involve visiting and entering our customers premises, please be aware that the successful candidate will be subject to a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Please confirm in our application if you are content for this check to be completed.

Applicants are considered on the basis of their suitability for the post irrespective of sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, race, age or disability, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.