Principal Project Manager - Mass Transit Renewal

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Hybrid working

Flexible working hours

Job summary

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is seeking a Principal Project Manager to lead the Mass Transit Renewal programme in Sheffield. The role focuses on delivering large, interdependent projects with strong governance and stakeholder engagement.

You will manage budgets, coach project teams, oversee procurement, and ensure delivery on time and within scope, while building trusted relationships across the organisation and with partners. Hybrid working is available at Sheffield Head Office.

Qualifications

• Level 6 qualifications or equivalent experience in highways, civils, transport engineering, or transport planning.
• Practitioner-level project management skills (Prince2 or similar) or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable experience of managing and delivering large and/or complex projects.
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands.

Responsibilities

• Drive a set of projects to deliver against funding, outputs, and timescales.
• Manage, lead and coach a team of Project Managers.
• Identify and manage interdependencies across projects and across the programme.
• Manage project budgets and ensure robust financial control.
• Produce and maintain accurate project documentation, including schedules, reports, risk logs, and forecasts.
• Proactively manage risks, issues, and changes to keep projects on track.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Risk management

Education

Level 6 qualifications or equivalent in highways/civils/transport engineering/transport planning

Tools

Prince2 or similar

Job description

Principal Project Manager - Mass Transit Renewal

Application Deadline: 22 November 2026

Department: Public Transport Development

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Reporting To: Lucy Mitchell

Compensation: £55,949 - £59,907 / year

Description

• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent - Full Time
• Salary: Grade 12 £55,949 - £59,907
• Location: Sheffield (hybrid working)

The Mass Transit Renewal programme is a critical investment to modernise and future-proof the region’s Supertram system. Given the scale, complexity, and strategic importance of the programme, we’re growing our delivery team.

This is an exciting time to join SYMCA as we deliver this extensive programme to upgrade the Supertram network and ensure the trams are reliable, safe, comfortable and fit for the future. Work has started and will continue over several years to renew the tram stops, the tracks, the traction power and the control & communications systems. The tram depot will be extensively refurbished and a fleet of new trams will be built and brought into use on the network.

As we continue building the delivery team we’re looking for a Principal Project Manager to join us. You will play a key role in driving this ambitious programme of transformational change to public transport in South Yorkshire.

You’ll lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage large budgets to ensure projects are delivered on time and within scope. You’ll also be responsible for stakeholder engagement, governance compliance, and risk management throughout project lifecycles.

Please note South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority does not hold a sponsorship licence and cannot provide Skilled Worker sponsorship for any roles advertised.

About the role

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Driving a set of projects to ensure delivery against agreed funding, outputs, and timescales.
• Managing, leading and coaching a team of Project Managers.
• Identifying and managing interdependencies across the projects you are responsible for and working with others to do the same across the programme.
• Managing project budgets and ensuring robust financial control.
• Producing and maintaining accurate project documentation, including schedules, reports, risk logs, and forecasts.
• Proactively managing risks, issues, and changes to keep projects on track.
• Overseeing procurement processes, including tender documentation and contract administration.
• Building strong relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, partners, and the public, managing engagement effectively.

You’ll be a confident and experienced Project Manager with a proven track record of delivering large, complex and interdependent projects. You’ll combine technical knowledge with strong leadership and communication skills, and you’ll be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.

About you

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Level 6 qualifications or equivalent experience, ideally in a highways, civils, transport engineering, or transport planning environment.
• Practitioner-level project management skills (Prince2 or similar) or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable experience of managing and delivering large/and or complex projects.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Excellent communication skills, able to produce clear, concise reports and advice for diverse audiences.
• Commercial awareness.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and adaptability to changing circumstances.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement.

Benefits

All colleagues have access to a Local Government Pension Scheme and the chance to be part of an organisation where you can really make a difference. Located in Sheffield City Centre, we are well-placed for transport links and encourage employees to take advantage of the active travel facilities. Work/life balance is extremely important to us here at SYMCA with our recognised family/friendly policies, genuine work flexibility, recognition, and shared success.

• Holiday Entitlement – From 28 to 36 days annual leave entitlement (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays. Pro-rata for part time colleagues.
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme – The ability to purchase up to a further 15 days per year in addition to your normal annual leave.
• Hybrid working – Our offices are a space where we come together and collaborate. Most of our roles are offered on a hybrid basis with the exception of some support roles being onsite full time. Please note, unless specified within the job advert, we cannot accommodate remote working contracts.
• Flexible Hours Scheme – Most roles within SYMCA work under the Flexi-Scheme which allows office-based employees’ flexibility and discretion over their working hours. Under the scheme employees can accrue a defined amount of credit or debit of working hours, and to take time-off in the form of Flexi-Leave or banked Annual Leave.
• Rewarding You - Reducing everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more with Reward Gateway and Cycle-to-Work schemes.
• Training on the job - Support with upskilling skills through on-the-job training and qualifications.
• Professional Membership Fees – Where membership to Professional bodies is applicable to your role, SYMCA will reimburse your membership fees where applicable and following approval by Line Management.

Diversity at South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority

Our workforce is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

All employees are eligible to request Flexible Working arrangements from day one of employment as such all requests will be considered subject to operation requirements.

Where candidates share disabilities within the application process, if they demonstrate that they meet all essential criteria from the Role Profile within their application, they will automatically be invited to interview.