Project Director

SNC-Lavalin; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Manchester is looking for a Project Director to supervise high-impact rail systems projects. The role involves strategic leadership, client engagement, and championing safety and innovation throughout the project lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to HSQE, excellent client management skills, and a proven ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams. This position offers competitive salaries and a range of benefits, including professional development opportunities and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Demonstrable commitment to HSQE with strong leadership.
• Experience managing the implementation of multi-disciplinary works.
• Great client relationship building skills.
• Knowledge of different contracting types, especially target cost.
• Proficient in programme planning and milestone reporting.

Responsibilities

• Engaging with clients to build trusted relationships.
• Leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Directing project teams for cost-effective delivery.
• Ensuring robust change management and risk strategies.
• Promoting digital innovation and new ways of working.

Skills

Leadership in HSQE

Client and stakeholder management

Project risk and change management

Innovation and digital tools

Financial management

Job description

Job Description Overview

AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading design, engineering and project management organisation. We connect people, data and technology to transform infrastructure and deliver sustainable solutions. Our Rail Systems business is at the forefront of delivering complex, multi-disciplinary rail infrastructure projects across the UK and internationally. We work across the whole project life cycle from development, design, construction and entry into service.

We are seeking dynamic and experienced Project Directors to supervise a significant programme of Rail Systems led, multi-disciplinary infrastructure bids and projects across the whole project lifecycle. These are high-impact project delivery & leadership roles, responsible for driving strategic client engagement, ensuring delivery excellence, and fostering a culture of innovation, safety, and inclusion.

Your role

Contributing to bid leadership and developing winning proposals for our largest opportunities you’ll provide strategic project leadership across major Rail Systems and infrastructure programmes through:

• Engaging with clients at regional and national levels to build trusted relationships and drive commercial opportunities.
• Utilise strategic thinking with our Clients to focus on outcomes that satisfy the end users expectations.
• Leading and developing high-performing teams to deliver world-class engineering and construction solutions on time and within budget.
• Directing project teams to ensure cost-effective delivery across the full project life cycle aligned with client specifications.
• Championing safety, environmental responsibility, and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED& I) across all delivery teams.
• Leading bid development and contributing to winning proposals for high-value opportunities.
• Ensuring robust change management and risk mitigation strategies are in place.
• Promoting digital innovation and new ways of working to enhance project outcomes.

About you

• Demonstrable commitment to HSQE with strong leadership in HSQE on own projects.
• Experience of managing the implementation of systems and multi-disciplinary works from design, construction and entry into service.
• Experience of managing sub-contracts as a means of delivering the construction of key works.
• A track record of innovation, embracing new ways of working and use of digital tools.
• Experience of Design & Build either working in a Contractor organisation or within a Design based organisation working with contractors can demonstrate great ability to control these activities.
• Great client and stakeholder management skills.
• Able to build great relationships with Clients to optimise outcomes for Clients and the business.
• Be able to form trusted relationships and have the ability to create a high performing team. Sets SMART objectives and measures performance against these.
• Be able to demonstrate good control of project risk & change management, understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with risk & change.
• Knowledge of different contracting types, especially target cost.
• Experience of resolving commercial disputes, leveraging contracts to grow opportunities.
• Track record of delivering projects to budget and improving financial performance.
• Proficient in programme planning and milestone reporting.
• Focused on precision planning, quality delivery, and minimising rework.

The Individual

You are a strategic thinker and inspirational leader with a passion for delivering excellence. You bring proven team management and mentoring capabilities, and thrive in collaborative, technical environments. You are committed to continuous improvement, innovation, and creating a culture where people feel empowered and valued. Experience in Signalling is not essential.

Reward & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

#LI-UK#LI-ATKINS #LI-Transportation

Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular

At AtkinsRéalis , we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.