Project Director

MWH Treatment; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

MWH Treatment seeks a Project Director for their Delivery team in Dukinfield. The role involves overseeing high-value Water/Wastewater infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while delivering exceptional outcomes. Candidates should possess a degree in a relevant field, extensive project management experience, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams effectively.

Benefits

25 days holiday + Bank Holidays

Contribution Pension scheme

Life Assurance

Health Insurance

Private Medical Insurance

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Project Manager and Project Director.
• Strong understanding of UK water sector frameworks and contracts.
• High-level strategic thinking ability.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale Water and Wastewater projects strategically.
• Drive construction execution and stakeholder engagement.
• Manage project budgets and contract administration.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

Stakeholder Management

Technical Acumen

Leadership

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering

Degree in Construction Management

Degree in Environmental Engineering

Job description

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About The Role

We are looking to strengthen our Delivery team with a Project Director based at Dukinfeild in our United utilities framework.

You will report directly to the Regional Operations Director and you will be havefull accountability for the successful delivery of high-value, high risk projects involving multi stakeholders, often delivered under NEC4 contracts, alliance frameworks, or joint ventures. You will drive the integration of multi-disciplinary teams to deliver complex Water/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

To 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 to meet the Storm Permit requirements in March '27 and the Ammonia Permit requirements March '30. The Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) Stage started January '25, working towards agreeing the process solution and preferred outline design by December '25 before entering into Engineering & Construction Contract (ECC) targeting site works starting in January '26

Outline Storm Scope

• 10,000m3 Storm Storage facility
• Service Diversions
• Storm Pump Stations
• Odour Control

Ammonia Scope

• Ground Works and Piling
• 10,000m3 Activated Sludge Plant
• RAS/SAS Pump Stations
• Interstage Pumping Stations
• Sludge Tanks
• Sludge Thickening Building
• Chemical Dosing Plants
• Odour Control

Key responsibilities will include:

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).
• Define and execute project delivery strategies, construction methodologies, and governance structures.
• 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 (e.g. BIM Level 2+, Common Data Environments) 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.

General

• Ensure your own continuous professional development by participating in external networking/conferences/associations/groups, to stay current on industry changes and innovations.
• Maintain a positive and solution-oriented approach to work, providing open and honest feedback.
• Undertake such other duties, training and/or hours of work as may be reasonably required and which are consistent with the general level of responsibility of this role
• In all internal and external contact, present a professional and positive image of the department and MWH Treatment as well as maintaining mutually constructive, positive and beneficial relationships.
• Take all reasonable steps to ensure appropriate confidentiality

About You

Essential

• 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:
• Chartered Engineer (CEng), MICE, MIET, or equivalent professional membership.
• Experience working within or alongside major water companies (e.g. Thames, Severn Trent, Anglian, United Utilities).
• Familiarity with modern construction technologies, digital twins, and smart infrastructure

Technical Competencies: Expert

1. Contract Management
2. Governance
3. Budgeting and cost control
4. Risk, Opportunities and issue management
5. Project Planning (schedule)
6. Digital Delivery
7. Procurement (negotiations and management)
8. Solutions development (pre- construction / design development)
9. Client, stakeholder and conflict management
10. Resource management
11. Change management
12. Quality management

Behavioural competencies: Expert

1. Communication
2. Collaboration
3. Client Focus
4. Striving for Results
5. Integrity, Trust and Respect
6. Coaching and Providing Feedback
7. Leadership

About Us

MWH Treatment is an integrated design and build provider working in the water sector. With over 1400 staff working across eight regional centres, supporting six long-term water sector frameworks and two recently won frameworks, operating both as a sole contractor but also in joint ventures and alliances.

At MWH Treatment we believe that people matter. We know to build successful, creative teams we need a diverse workforce that can deliver innovative ways of thinking. We provide an environment where you will have the freedom to develop and grow to your full potential, creating opportunity by inviting, embracing, and celebrating difference, our goal as an employer is to motivate, and develop our employees. By fostering a diverse range of talents and perspectives we ensure we have the breadth of viewpoints, experiences, and skills needed to succeed. Embracing diversity of all kinds enables us to provide a work environment and culture that plays a key role in attracting and retaining the right people with the right skills.

As signatories to the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant, we have made a promise to support our forces, working with the CTP to help ex veterans find work in the civilian world. We also support Mates in Mind, a charitable programme to improve and promote positive mental health in the workplace. We don't just tick boxes; we live these values every day.

What MWH offer

Packages include -

A competitive salary

Hybrid Working (Jobs needs dependent)

Car/car allowance (Jobs needs dependent)

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