Project Management Lead (PML) - South

Stantec UK Careers; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid / Flexible working

Bonus schemes

Private medical insurance

Job summary

Stantec is seeking a Project Management Lead for the UK Water sector, covering London, Cambridge and the South, to drive a high‑performing PM community in a hybrid leadership plus delivery role.

You will partner with Operations Directors and Commercial Leads to align project performance with strategy, manage governance and SOX controls, and lead key delivery initiatives from the front line.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in project management leadership within UK water or broader infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of NEC contracts and governance/SOX controls.
• Excellent financial and risk management skills demonstrated on complex projects.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and PM–PTL collaboration experience.
• Proactive, solution‑oriented with ability to turn around distressed projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and mentor a team of project managers, maintaining competency matrices.
• Drive compliance with PMF and SOX, lead monthly reviews and manage contracts.
• Monitor project performance, address underperforming projects with action plans.
• Foster collaboration with PTL, Global Delivery Centre and resourcing teams.
• Champion HSSE practices and a SaferTogether culture across delivery teams.

Skills

PM leadership

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Safety culture

Job description

Are you ready to shape the future of project delivery across the UK Water sector? At Stantec, we are tackling some of the most critical water and infrastructure challenges facing the UK today.

As our Project Management Lead (PML) covering London, Cambridge and the South, you’ll be the driving force behind our project management community—empowering a high-performing team, inspiring excellence, and fostering a culture built on collaboration and resilience.

Stepping into a high-visibility role alongside our senior commercial and client leaders, you won't just oversee strategy from afar; you’ll be actively on the front line, shaping key water frameworks and taking real ownership of game-changing engineering projects from day one.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Project Management Discipline Lead (PMDL), this is a hybrid leadership and delivery role. Alongside your leadership duties, you will remain active on the front line—supporting key project delivery, framework management, and business development initiatives.

You will act as the operational anchor for project execution, partnering closely with our Operations Directors and Commercial Leads to align project performance with overarching business strategy.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Operational Leadership: Lead, coach, and mentor a team of Project Managers. Maintain team competency matrices and maturity assessments to ensure the right talent is deployed to the right projects and proposals.
• Commercial & Governance Management: Drive compliance with Stantec’s Project Management Framework (PMF) and Sarbanes‑Oxley (SOX) controls. Lead monthly project review processes (ETC, EAC, revenue recognition) and oversee contract administration (NEC/early warnings, compensation events, and payment applications).
• Project Support & Turnaround: Monitor project commercial, quality, and risk positions. Take ownership of distressed or underperforming projects, implementing effective corrective action plans alongside commercial leadership.
• Global & Technical Collaboration: Champion strong PM–PTL (Project Technical Lead) relationships to balance technical and commercial goals. Integrate teams with our Global Delivery Centre to optimize resourcing and global working targets.
• Health, Safety & Environment: Lead HSSE audits and actively champion our SaferTogether culture across all project delivery teams.

Your Impact

In this role, your influence will extend far beyond project bottom lines—you will directly elevate our people, client relationships, and operational efficiency. You will hold direct accountability for key financial metrics, driving accurate forecasting, minimizing margin erosion, and delivering against Gross Margin, DSO, and IGW targets.

Through regular face-to-face engagement, you will build trusted relationships with key client commercial leaders, directly influencing client satisfaction KPIs and securing follow‑on business. Furthermore, as a mentor and Independent Reviewer, you will empower the project management community, set teams up for success from project setup to completion, and continually refine our work processes to enhance overall project execution.

About You

To thrive as a Project Management Lead, you bring a strong commercial focus, natural leadership, and deep expertise in complex infrastructure delivery.

• Experience & Expertise: Proven track record in project management leadership preferably within the UK Water sector or broader infrastructure/energy sector, with strong knowledge of standard contract forms (e.g., NEC) and robust governance/SOX frameworks.
• Commercial Acumen: Excellent financial and risk management skills, with demonstrated success managing project budgets, earned value, pricing strategies, and contractual resolutions.
• Collaborative Leadership: Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to coach project managers, foster PM–PTL collaboration, and build strong relationships with client commercial executives.
• Resilience & Problem Solving: Proactive and solution‑focused mindset, capable of making clear decisions under pressure and turning around complex or distressed projects.
• Commitment to Safety: A passionate advocate for health, safety, and wellbeing in the workplace.

WHY JOIN US

• We put people first:We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
• We are driven to achieve:Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named ‘Best Place to Work’ and ‘International Consulting Firm of the Year’ at the NCE Awards 2024.
• We do what is right:Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE.
• We are better together:A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups).
• Growth:We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK - we want you to be part of it!
• Great Benefits:Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Hybrid / Flexible working:Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.