Principal Project Manager

Surrey County Council; Reigate; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Surrey County Council is seeking a Principal Project Manager to join its Capital Projects Team. This full-time position offers a dynamic role managing various projects focused on serving local residents, ensuring high standards and cost-efficiency. The role supports flexible working arrangements and emphasizes collaboration across the public service landscape.

Benefits

26 days' holiday, rising to 31 days after 5 years

Extensive Employee Assistance Programme

Pension plan

Training and development resources

Option to buy additional annual leave

Volunteering days

Lifestyle discounts

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex multi-phased projects over £10 million.
• Proven track record of client handovers and full project lifecycle experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver diverse projects from inception to completion.
• Conduct regular site visits for technical and health & safety oversight.

Skills

Project Management

Financial Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Agile Methodologies

Education

Membership or working towards RICS, APM or CIOB

Tools

Construction Contracts Knowledge

Job description

• Directorate: Environment, Property & Growth
• Location: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Woodhatch, Reigate, RH2 8EF

Description

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

The salary range for this position is £52,047 - £57,125 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

We have an exciting strategic and professional opportunity for a full time Principal Project Manager to join our fantastic Capital Projects Team. You will be joining a team that values professional development and supports a commercial and agile approach to its diverse portfolio.

This role is open to hybrid working and as a team we split our time between working from home and collaborating together in the office. Our team currently operates from our Woodhatch office in Reigate, but staff will be expected to operate in a flexible way to meet the needs of our customers and work demands, using agile working methods that allow business to be conducted from multiple locations.

Rewards and Benefits:

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About Us:

Surrey County Council is on a mission to transform our operational estate to better serve our residents, ensuring that 'no one is left behind'. Our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our environment and communities is at the heart of everything we do.

We are a dynamic and dedicated organisation, fully invested in transformation and improvement. Our teams thrive in a fast-paced environment, collaborating to lead, advise, and deliver meaningful change. This strategic delivery role involves working on local, regional, and national projects as part of a multi-disciplinary, cross-functional team.

About the Role:

As a Principal Project Manager within our Capital Projects team, you will manage and deliver a wide range of projects from inception to completion on behalf of our service department clients and stakeholders. Our project list is currently over one hundred projects which includes SBN and SEND school provisions, public service buildings and support for our most vulnerable residents.

You will report into our Contracts Manager and will be working alongside external professional advisors and internal departments such as the Estates, Procurement and Legal teams and alongside the Corporate Landlord and Investment teams. The role is focused on delivering high standard, efficient, cost-saving projects, which meet the organisation's strategic objectives, operational plans, improve the experience of the users and support the lives of our residents.

You will be expected to carry out regular site visits from both a technical and health and safety perspective.

Our Capital Projects Team is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated candidate who has project management or project delivery experience to join our highly professional team and who wish to progress, either through further study or achievement.

Shortlisting Criteria:

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your CV and responses to our application questions will need to evidence the following:

• Member of or working towards professional body accreditation (RICS, APM or CIOB)
• Major project programme experience required to be demonstrated above £10million
• Proven track record of delivering complex multi-phased projects with successful client handovers
• Full project lifecycle experience
• Financial programme budget reporting and management, including governance process
• Significant knowledge of construction contracts – including JCT
• Experience of briefing, managing and directing specialist advisors
• Experience of delivering RIBA Stage Reports and decision gateways

This is a career enhancing role where you'll gain access to a diverse portfolio of projects, each offering unique challenges and opportunities, which will broaden your experience. If you have the vision, confidence and expertise to help Surrey deliver these projects and realise our ambition, we would love to hear from you.

As part of the application process, please upload your CV and answer the following questions:

• Describe a project you have managed. What were the project's objectives, and how did you ensure its successful delivery? (200 words max)
• Provide an example of a time when you supported a diverse, multidisciplinary team to achieve a challenging goal. What strategies did you use to ensure effective collaboration and successful outcomes? (200 words max)
• Discuss a situation where you built strong relationships with stakeholders to enhance service delivery. How did these relationships contribute to the project's success? (200 words max)

Contact Us:

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an information discussion please contact Elaine McKenna.

The advert closes on the 17th of July with a date for interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR):

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about ourvalues .

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook which provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.