Principal Project Manager

South Gloucestershire Council; Yate; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Job summary

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking a Principal Project Manager to lead major transport, highways, environmental and infrastructure projects across the district. You will oversee projects from concept to completion, ensuring on-time delivery, within budget and achieving benefits.

You will provide strategic leadership, manage risks and dependencies, and engage with elected members and communities to secure support.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification and substantial experience delivering complex projects.
• Proven track record managing project teams to meet timescales, budgets and quality.
• Strong stakeholder management with partnerships and influencing decision-making.
• Excellent analytical, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Experience of project governance, performance monitoring and financial management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of complex, high-value projects, with accountability for performance, budgets, milestones and outcomes.
• Provide strategic leadership across multidisciplinary teams and partners to deliver benefits.
• Oversee risk, issues and dependencies, build business cases and funding arrangements.
• Engage elected members, stakeholders and communities to secure support for delivery.
• Provide guidance on project management, drive innovation and ensure governance and assurance.
• Manage and be accountable for project finances and funding performance.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Risk management

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Education

Degree-level qualification

Job description

How you'll make a difference

As Principal Project Manager, you will lead the delivery of major transport, highways, environmental and infrastructure projects that support sustainable growth and improve outcomes for local communities across South Gloucestershire.

Working with elected members, senior officers, funding partners and neighbouring authorities, you will oversee projects from initial concept through to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget and achieve their intended benefits.

What you will be doing

• It will be your responsibility to lead the successful delivery of complex, high-value projects, taking overall accountability for project performance, budgets, milestones and outcomes.
• Working across multidisciplinary teams, consultants and delivery partners, you will provide strategic leadership to ensure projects are delivered effectively and achieve their intended benefits.
• You will oversee risk, issues and dependencies, develop business cases and options appraisals, and manage project finances and funding arrangements.
• Acting as the lead officer for engagement with elected members, stakeholders, partners and local communities, you will build strong relationships and secure support for project delivery.
• As the council's lead adviser on project management matters, you will provide expert guidance, drive innovation and continuous improvement, and ensure robust governance, compliance and assurance arrangements are in place throughout the project lifecycle.
• You will manage and be accountable for project finances, funding arrangements and budget performance.

What we need from you

• It is essential that you hold a degree-level qualification, or equivalent, and have substantial experience leading the delivery of complex projects and programmes that achieve strategic objectives and successful outcomes.
• You will have a proven track record of managing project teams and taking accountability for delivering projects to agreed timescales, budgets and quality standards.
• Strong stakeholder management skills will be key, with experience of building effective partnerships, influencing decision-making and negotiating successful outcomes across a range of organisations and interests.
• We require you to have excellent analytical, communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex issues, develop practical solutions and make informed recommendations.
• You will have experience of project governance, performance monitoring and financial management, ensuring projects are delivered compliantly, efficiently and provide value for money.

What you need to know

• This position is a limited term contract until 31st August 2028.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

• As part of our benefits package, you will receivegenerous annual leave(pro rata), employee wellbeing supportand you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
• We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference, be part of it!