Project Director

Lanesra Technical Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering recruitment agency is seeking a Project Director for a high-value wastewater treatment project based in Ashton-under-Lyne. The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary teams from design through to commissioning, ensuring that projects meet regulatory compliance and budget management. This is an excellent opportunity to impact large-scale water projects with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus and car allowance

Health and life insurance

25 days holiday plus additional options

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Project Manager with leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of UK water sector frameworks and regulatory bodies.
• High-level strategic thinking under time and budget pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall direction and strategic leadership for large-scale projects.
• Define and execute project delivery strategies and methodologies.
• Lead integrated design and delivery teams and manage construction execution.

Skills

Project Leadership

Budget Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Risk Management

Technical Acumen

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Tools

NEC3/NEC4 contracts

Digital Design Tools

Job description

Overview

Position: Project Director

Location: Ashton-under-Lyne with hybrid working available

Salary: (Apply online only)k (Neg DOE), car/allowance, bonus and excellent benefits package

Our Client: Is an integrated design and build solution provider operating in the water sector. They have over 1,000 staff working across eight regional centres.

The Role: Our client is looking to strengthen their Delivery team with a Project Director based near Ashton-under-Lyne working on the United Utilities framework. You will report directly to the Regional Operations Director, and you will have full accountability for the successful delivery of a high-value, high risk wastewater treatment project involving multi stakeholders, delivered under NEC4. You will drive the integration of multi-disciplinary teams to deliver complex Wastewater treatment facilities and related infrastructure. From early-stage design through to commissioning and handover, your leadership will be key to achieving best-in-class outcomes across programme, cost, quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Project Scope: Provide a new Storm Treatment Facility and large scale Activated Sludge Treatment facility to an existing WwTW, with a total Design and Build value circa 70m-100m. The project will be delivered in a phased approach. The Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) Stage started January 2025, working towards agreeing the process solution and preferred outline design by December 2025 before entering into Engineering & Construction Contract (ECC) targeting site works starting in January 2026.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Project Leadership
  Provide overall direction and strategic leadership for large-scale Design & Build Water and Wastewater projects, aligning delivery with client and regulatory requirements (e.g., Ofwat, EA, DWI).
• Project delivery strategies
  Define and execute project delivery strategies, construction methodologies, and governance structures.
• Integrated delivery teams
  Lead integrated design and delivery teams, ensuring collaboration between engineering, construction, commercial, commissioning and environmental functions.
• Design Management & Technical Assurance
  Oversee early-stage design development, feasibility studies, optioneering, and value engineering. Ensure robust technical solutions that meet asset performance, sustainability, and regulatory requirements. Champion the use of digital design tools and ensure design buildability.
• Construction Delivery & Programme Control
  Drive the execution of construction works through effective planning, contractor coordination, and performance management. Ensure alignment of construction activities with design intent, project milestones, and safety protocols. Maintain visibility on critical path activities, commissioning schedules, and final handover to operations teams.
• Commercial & Contract Management
  Full accountability for budget management and cost control across all project phases. Administer D&B contracts (typically NEC3/NEC4) and manage risk allocation, change control, and dispute resolution. Lead commercial negotiations, procurement strategy, and contractor/supplier engagement.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Client Interface
  Act as the senior representative to clients, framework partners, statutory bodies, and key internal stakeholders. Build and maintain trusted relationships with Water Companies, Joint Venture partners, and delivery consortia. Lead stakeholder forums, site tours, community engagement, and client reporting.

Experience & Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Environmental Engineering or a related field.
• Extensive experience as a Project Manager and strong experience as a Project Director or equivalent leadership role.
• Strong understanding of UK water sector frameworks (e.g., AMP7/AMP8), CDM 2015, and regulatory bodies (Ofwat, EA, DWI).
• High-level strategic thinking and the ability to deliver complex projects under time, budget, and regulatory pressure.
• Leadership of integrated design and construction teams across multidisciplinary project environments.
• Deep commercial knowledge including NEC3/NEC4 contracts, alliance models, and risk management.
• Strong technical acumen with the ability to challenge and guide design and engineering solutions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication at board, JV, and operational levels.
• Desirable: CEng, MICE, MIET, or equivalent professional membership. Experience working within or alongside major water companies. Familiarity with modern construction technologies, digital twins, and smart infrastructure.

Package & Benefits

• A competitive salary, bonus, car/car allowance.
• 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays (with an additional 5 days available to buy).
• Contribution Pension scheme, Life Assurance, Health Insurance.
• Private Medical Insurance and many more benefits including cycle to work scheme, discounts and savings Hub, kids pass, etc.

Keywords

• Project Director
• Project Manager
• Design & Build
• Construction
• NEC
• Water/Wastewater