Project Director (Major Projects)

Ipsum; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Group Pension

Career development

Virtual GP

Cycle to Work

Discount club

Life assurance

Long service recognition

Maternity pay

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Ipsum is seeking a Project Director for Major HV projects in Sheffield. You will provide executive leadership across pre-construction to energisation and handover, ensuring projects meet client, regulatory and business requirements.

The role requires 5+ years in HV electrical infrastructure, and experience with ICP/DNO/IDNO environments, delivering projects worth £10m+. A full UK driving licence is essential and Chartered status is desirable.

Qualifications

• Experience leading high-value HV infrastructure projects (£10m+).
• Strong governance, risk, and change management.
• Proven ability to deliver safely, on time and within budget.

Responsibilities

• Set delivery strategies, execution plans and governance for major HV projects.
• Lead cross-functional teams in PM, construction, engineering, commercial, QA and commissioning.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, margins, cash flow and resources.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project governance

Education

CEng

ChPP

PMP/PRINCE2

Job description

Project Director(Major Projects)

Location:Sheffield South Yorkshire

Employment type:Full Time Permanent Contract

Working Hours:Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm

What’sin it for you…

We believe in looking after our people, and it shows. When you join Ipsum,you’renot just taking a job —you’restarting a career with real support behind it.

24daysannual leave plus bank holidayswith the additional optiontobuyup to 5additionalholidays

Group Personal Pension Plan

Career development & progression with the opportunity to earn professional qualifications

24/7 access to a virtual GPandMental health support & counselling services

Cycle to Work scheme

Discount club -supermarkets, phone bills, gyms & more!

Life assurance cover

Long service recognition

Enhanced Maternity Pay

Paid volunteering opportunities in your community

About the role…

The Project Director is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic management, and successful delivery of large-scale High Voltage (HV) infrastructure projects with values exceeding £10 million. The role provides executive oversight across all phases of project development and delivery, ensuring projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with client, regulatory, and business requirements.

The Project Director will lead multidisciplinary teams, manage key stakeholder relationships, oversee commercial performance, and drive operational excellence throughout the project lifecycle, from pre-construction through to energisation and final handover. The Project Director will also have experience in turning around troubled projects and bringing them back to client standards.

As a Project Director (Major Projects) you will…

Set delivery strategies, project execution plans and governance frameworks for major HV projects and programmes valued at £10 million and above.

Lead teams across project management, construction, engineering, commercial, quality assurance and commissioning, supporting recruitment, development and succession planning.

Take full accountability for project profit and loss, budgets, forecasts, margins, cash flow and resource utilisation.

Oversee planning, project controls, risk and change management to achieve contractual milestones and successful commissioning, energisation and handover.

Build strategic client relationships and act as the senior contact for network operators, regulators, consultants and other key stakeholders.

Lead executive reviews, governance boards and commercial negotiations, supporting the resolution of significant claims, variations, disputes and compensation events.

Champion a zero-harm culture and compliance with HSEQ standards, CDM Regulations, Electricity at Work Regulations, NERS requirements, DNO/IDNO specifications and environmental obligations.

Maintain strategic engineering oversight, manage design decisions and technical risks, and ensure compliance with National Grid, DNO, IDNO and ICP requirements.

Escalate major risks with clear mitigation plans, lead significant incident investigations and drive corrective action and continuous improvement.

Your focus will be safe, profitable and timely delivery, supported by client satisfaction, contractual compliance, quality, low defect levels and strong team management and retention.

About You…

At least five years’ experience in the high voltage electrical infrastructure sector, with a proven record of delivering projects and programmes worth more than £10 million.

Extensive experience in ICP (Independent Connection Provider), DNO, IDNO and National Grid environments.

Strong knowledge of 132kV substations, cable systems, grid connections, all generation connections, and industrial and commercial HV infrastructure.

Experience in electrical engineering, construction management, project management or a related discipline, alongside demonstrable leadership of large multidisciplinary teams.

Strategic leadership, commercial acumen, financial control and programme management skills, with confidence in contract negotiation and risk management.

Strong decision-making, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build executive stakeholder and client relationships and drive operational excellence.

Experience recovering troubled projects and bringing delivery back to client standards.

A full UK driving licence.

Desirable Qualifications

Chartered Engineer (CEng) or APM Chartered Project Professional (ChPP).

PMP or PRINCE2 Practitioner.

An IOSH or NEBOSH qualification.

Membership of IET, APM or a similar professional body.

Ready to lead complex HV infrastructure projects -

Bring your project delivery expertise, commercial judgement and people leadership to a role with accountability from strategy through to energisation and final handover.

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