Lead Engineering Project Manager

Stopford Ltd; Knutsford; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international engineering firm in Knutsford is seeking a Lead Engineering Project Manager to manage projects and teams efficiently. This full-time role offers a competitive salary alongside benefits like a profit-related bonus and private medical insurance. Suitable candidates should have a degree and experience in relevant industries. The company promotes working in a hybrid model, providing a good work-life balance.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Profit related bonus payment (10%)

Pension (5% employer and 5% employee)

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Additional day off for your Birthday

Private medical insurance

Employee assistance programme

Free on-site parking

Reimbursement of professional membership fees

Long service awards

Qualifications

• Considerable experience in nuclear, oil & gas, petrochemicals, energy, or renewable energy.
• Experience in a design, engineering, and construction environment.
• Knowledge of contract forms (IChemE, NEC, FIDIC, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Oversee project management and delivery within the Group.
• Manage project budgets and cost control functions.
• Recruit and support team members.
• Communicate project expectations effectively.

Skills

Project management

Strategic thinking

Team management

Budgeting and cost control

Risk management procedures

Stakeholder communication

Education

Degree in relevant field

Chartered Engineer / Manager

Tools

Project Management software

Construction management systems

Job description

Overview

Stopford are recruiting for a Lead Engineering Project Manager to join our team to work with highly skilled professionals who are constantly striving to deliver excellence and best practice. You will be based at our office in Knutsford with the opportunity for hybrid working. This is a full-time permanent position, and in return, you will receive a competitive salary.

Stopford's business activities are at the forefront of the energy transition and together with our clients and partners, we are playing our part in tackling the biggest challenges of our time: Energy Security; Environmental Sustainability and Energy Affordability.

The Lead Engineering Project Manager role

Reporting to the Project Group Director, the Lead Engineering Project Manager shall be responsible for project management and delivery of all projects within the Group. Responsible for the successful evaluation, planning and execution of a range of projects by building and managing a team of Project Managers and Engineers; developing and ensuring compliance with appropriate processes and procedures; and working closely with the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Leads and other Group Leads to manage the successful delivery of the Group's portfolio of Projects.

Key Responsibilities of the Lead Engineering Project Manager

• Being accountable for project results to the Project Director.
• Management of the Project Delivery team.
• Provision of support in the management of project budgets and cost control functions including budgeting, scheduling, change management, estimating, tracking progress, forecasting, and earned value management.
• Supporting in recruitment of resources (Project Managers, Project Engineers and Project Controllers).
• Developing Group Risk Management procedures and ensure project risks are managed accordingly.
• Clearly communicating expectations to team members and stakeholders.
• Acting as mediator between stakeholders and project team members, resolve issues and solve problems.
• Tracking and reporting on programme and project milestones and progress, provide weekly and monthly reports to Directors.

Role requirements for our Lead Engineering Project Manager

• Educated to a degree level and ideally a Chartered Engineer / Manager.
• Have considerable experience in either nuclear, oil & gas, petrochemicals, energy or renewable energy industries.
• Have significant experience of working in a design, engineering and construction environment at FEED and PMC / EPC(M) phases of the project.
• An ability to think strategically and develop long range plans, understanding the implication of changes to contract scope.
• An ability to work collaboratively with all engineering, commercial and construction disciplines.
• Experience of managing and building a team of project engineers, suppliers and sub-contractors.
• Knowledge and Experience of Designer, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor Roles under CDM.
• Knowledge and understanding of different forms of Contract (IChemE, NEC, FIDIC etc).

Security Clearance

The successful candidate may be required to achieve and maintain security clearance of at least Security Check level (SC clearance) for this role.

About Stopford

Stopford is an international energy and environmental engineering company. Our professional services span Technology and Innovation, Consultancy and Project Delivery. We are an industry leader with a portfolio spanning research and development through to design and commissioning of process, power, and renewables technology. With a worldwide clientele in emerging and existing industries, we provide a full range of project management and engineering services.

Benefits

Employment at Stopford brings many benefits including:

• Competitive salary
• Profit related bonus payment (10%)
• Pension (5% employer and 5% employee)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Additional day off to celebrate your Birthday
• Private medical insurance
• Employee assistance programme
• Free on-site parking
• Reimbursement of professional membership fees
• Long service awards

Please go to our website for a full job description to familiarise yourself with all of the responsibilities, skills and experience required before you apply.

Please note that we do not accept applications from agencies, and you must be eligible to live and work in the UK with no restrictions.

We look forward to receiving your CV for the post of Lead Engineering Project Manager.

Closing date: 19 October 2025

Stopford reserves the right to bring forward the closing date if we receive a suitable number of quality applications from which to make a shortlist. Therefore, we would recommend that you apply as soon as possible.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive we are unfortunately not able to respond to each applicant. If you have not been called for interview within 3 weeks of the closing date, you should assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.