Project Director

ESP Utilities Group Ltd; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading utilities management company in Leatherhead seeks a Project Director to oversee the delivery of major water, energy, and utilities projects. This role demands 10+ years of experience in managing utilities infrastructure, with strong leadership skills and a proven track record in regulatory environments. Responsibilities include strategic governance, financial management, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful project outcomes within safety and compliance standards. The ideal candidate will possess relevant engineering qualifications and strong commercial acumen.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years delivering or managing utilities infrastructure, with 5+ years in leadership roles.
• Proven track record in water/wastewater or heat/cooling infrastructure.
• Experience in program management, cost management, risk & change management.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, procurement, and delivery of utilities projects.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.
• Oversee project managers and act as client interface.

Skills

10+ years in utilities infrastructure

Strong communication with stakeholders

Commercial acumen

Program management experience

Health & Safety leadership

Education

Chartered Engineer (CEng/PE)

Professional certifications: PMP, APM, PRINCE2

Job description

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Project Director

As the Project Director you will lead the end-to-end planning, procurement, delivery, and commissioning of major water, energy and other utilities plants and associated infrastructure.

• Ensure safe, compliant, on-time and on-budget outcomes.
• Own the program P&L and portfolio outcomes.
• Oversee internal and external project managers.
• Support as the key senior interface to clients, regulators, and other public sector agencies.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Strategy & Governance
• Program & Portfolio Management
• Financial Management & P&L Ownership
• Procurement, Tendering & Contracting
• Delivery & Construction Management
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Stakeholder & External Relations
• People Leadership & Performance

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• 10+ years delivering or managing utilities infrastructure, with 5+ years in leadership roles.
• Proven track record in either water/wastewater regulated infrastructure or heat/cooling non-regulated infrastructure.
• Strong communicator with senior stakeholders including client, regulator and other public sector bodies.
• Strong commercial acumen: P&L management, design and build appointments and any associated claims/variations.
• Experience in program management, cost management, risk & change management.
• Regulatory familiarity with utilities networks such as drinking water standards, environmental permitting, planning approvals.
• Health & Safety leadership and quality assurance experience.

Preferred

• Chartered Engineer (CEng/PE) or equivalent in Civil/Mechanical/Process/Environmental Engineering.
• Professional certifications: PMP, APM, PRINCE2, or NEC/FIDIC accreditation.
• Experience with BIM (ISO 19650), ISO 55001 asset management, ISO 9001 quality.
• Knowledge of public sector procurement and contract forms (NEC Options, FIDIC, EPC/DB).
• Experience delivering in alliance/framework or multi-party collaboration models.
• Core Competencies
• Leadership & Influence - Sets vision, aligns stakeholders, resolves conflicts.
• Commercial & Contracting - Negotiation, change control
• Technical Judgement - Process understanding, constructability, commissioning.
• Regulatory Savvy - Navigates approvals, audits, statutory constraints.
• Stakeholder Management - Public sector, community, regulatory, political interfaces.
• Risk & Assurance - Proactive mitigation, scenario planning, recovery strategies.
• Communication - Executive-ready reporting, clear escalation, public briefings.
• Delivery Excellence - Drives schedule and budget adherence with uncompromising safety.