Principal / Chief Project Manager

slihrms; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AtkinsRealis is seeking a Principal/Chief Project Manager to lead high‑profile nuclear projects for core clients. You will shape delivery strategies, guide multidisciplinary teams and ensure safe, on‑time performance while managing commercial outcomes and stakeholder relationships.

You will own governance, risk, change and financial performance, translating client needs into concrete plans and ensuring successful delivery across long‑term frameworks and major commissions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex engineering, infrastructure or major project delivery.
• Strong client mindset with ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Commercial judgement and ability to forecast, manage risk and deliver value under regulated conditions.
• Ability to balance safety, cost, schedule and client outcomes in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex projects, programmes or portfolios for core clients, delivering clear outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships with senior clients and stakeholders to understand priorities.
• Translate client requirements into delivery strategies, plans and measurable outcomes.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across project management, engineering, safety, and other capabilities.
• Own commercial performance, forecasting, risk, change and project controls.
• Establish governance and delivery arrangements compliant with nuclear and defence environments.
• Coach and develop project managers and team members.

Skills

Project leadership

Client management

Strategic planning

Nuclear/regulated delivery

Job description

Overview

Are you an experienced project leader who can build trusted client relationships, lead multidisciplinary teams and deliver critical outcomes across complex, highly regulated nuclear programmes? We're looking for Principal / Chief Project Managers to lead some of Reactor Operations' most important work for our core clients: EDF, Rolls-Royce Submarines, Urenco and Westinghouse. Our teams support EDF's operating nuclear fleet through generation, life extension, defuelling and the transition towards decommissioning; help Rolls-Royce Submarines design, manufacture and sustain the reactor plants that support the UK's Defence Nuclear Enterprise; and deliver engineering, safety, infrastructure and project solutions for Urenco and Westinghouse across the nuclear fuel cycle. We also support the broader Atkinsrealis business across defence, new build, decommissioning, fusion and net zero initiatives. As a Principal / Chief Project Manager, you'll be at the heart of these long‑term client partnerships. You'll shape delivery strategies, lead complex projects and programmes, bring together our technical capabilities and create the confidence, clarity and commercial discipline needed to deliver safely and successfully. You'll also help identify what our clients need next, strengthen our strategic relationships and support the continued growth of Reactor Operations.

Your role

You'll combine project leadership, commercial judgement, client engagement and strategic thinking to deliver complex engineering projects and programmes.

Depending on your experience and the scale of the role, you'll:

• Lead complex projects, programmes or portfolios for our core clients, establishing clear outcomes and creating the conditions for safe, high‑quality and predictable delivery.
• Build trusted relationships with senior clients and stakeholders, developing a deep understanding of their operational, programme and strategic priorities and longer‑term needs.
• Translate complex client requirements into clear delivery strategies, integrated plans and measurable outcomes, from engineering and safety case through to infrastructure, manufacturing and operational support.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across project management, engineering, nuclear safety, human factors, digital and other specialist capabilities, bringing the right expertise together around the client's mission.
• Own commercial performance, forecasting, risk, change, opportunities, financial management and project controls, maintaining delivery confidence on long‑term frameworks and major commissions.
• Establish effective governance, assurance and delivery arrangements that meet the expectations of nuclear, defence and other highly regulated client environments.
• Guide teams through complex technical, delivery and stakeholder challenges, balancing safety, security, quality, schedule, cost and client outcomes.
• Work with Portfolio, Key Account and Technical Leaders to identify emerging client needs, shape propositions, lead bids and convert strong delivery into sustainable growth.
• Coach and develop project managers and wider team members, strengthening capability and encouraging knowledge sharing.
• Champion project management best practice and continuous improvement across the wider business.

At Chief Project Manager level, the scope may extend to leadership of major programmes, portfolios, long‑term frameworks or strategic client relationships across one or more of these core accounts.

About you

We recognise that experienced project leaders build their careers in different ways. We're interested in the strengths, perspectives and leadership experience you can bring to our core client portfolios, rather than expecting every successful candidate to have followed the same career path.

You may bring:

• Significant experience leading complex engineering, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy or major project delivery, ideally within nuclear, defence or another highly regulated sector.
• A strong client mindset, with experience building trusted relationships and working collaboratively with senior client, regulatory, stakeholder and delivery teams.
• Confidence operating with significant accountability while creating space for others to contribute and succeed.
• Strong commercial judgement, with an understanding of how delivery decisions influence client outcomes, framework performance, risk and sustainable growth.
• Experience across areas such as commercial management, forecasting, risk, change, contracts, resources and financial performance.
• The ability to create clarity and direction within complex or ambiguous environments.
• An inclusive leadership style and a genuine interest in coaching, mentoring and developing others.
• The ability to communicate complex information clearly and create alignment across multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.
• An ability to combine attention to detail with a strong understanding of the wider strategic and commercial picture.
• Experi