Project Manager

Manchester Arndale; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Glassdoor award

Digital learning

Retail perks

Professional growth

Flexible pay

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking an experienced Project Manager to deliver refurbishment and building services projects across an account portfolio worth up to £3 million. You will manage multiple projects in occupied environments, coordinating with operations and pre-construction teams to scope, design, procure and handover.

Your background in refurbishment and fit-out within live buildings, plus strong planning and cost-control skills, will help you drive projects on time, within budget and to

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering projects as a Project Manager or Project Engineer.
• Background in mechanical, electrical or building fabric disciplines.
• Experience refurbishing, fit-out or upgrades within existing buildings.
• Experience managing multiple small/medium projects concurrently with budgets and resources.
• Experience operating in live/occupied environments with phased works.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple projects valued up to £3 million across an account portfolio.
• Balance programmes, budgets, resources and client priorities.
• Develop scopes of work, design briefs and contractor proposals.
• Coordinate design development and pre-construction activities.
• Organise site surveys, coordination meetings and phased works in occupied buildings.
• Obtain quotations, coordinate procurement and manage supply chain.
• Maintain project plans, risks and construction phase documentation.
• Monitor costs, forecasts and portfolio performance with the Commercial team.
• Ensure safe delivery and required standards are met.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Delivery in live environments

Programme coordination

Commercial awareness

Tools

Microsoft Project

Excel

Word

Outlook

Teams

PowerPoint

Job description

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager to deliver refurbishment and building services projects across an account with a project portfolio worth up to £3 million.

You will manage multiple projects concurrently, with individual project values typically ranging from £10,000 to £500,000. Works will include office refurbishments, fit-outs, HVAC upgrades, mechanical and electrical installations, and building fabric improvements within live operational buildings.

Experience delivering refurbishment and upgrade projects within existing, occupied buildings is essential. Candidates must demonstrate relevant refurbishment experience alongside any new-build project experience.

Working closely with the Operations Manager and Pre-Construction team, you will manage projects from initial client brief through scoping, design development, pricing, procurement, delivery, commissioning and final handover.

Key responsibilities

• Manage multiple projects valued between £10,000 and £500,000 across an account portfolio worth up to £3 million.
• Balance project programmes, budgets, resources and client priorities.
• Develop client requirements into clear scopes of work, design briefs and contractor proposals.
• Coordinate design development and pre-construction activities appropriate to each project.
• Organise site surveys and coordination meetings, identifying existing building constraints and operational requirements.
• Plan phased refurbishment works within occupied buildings, managing access, service interruptions and business continuity.
• Obtain and review subcontractor quotations, coordinate procurement and manage supply chain appointments.
• Prepare and maintain project plans, risk registers and construction phase documentation.
• Develop, monitor and update construction programmes throughout delivery.
• Coordinate direct employees, subcontractors and supply chain partners across mechanical, electrical and building fabric works.
• Ensure project personnel have the necessary skills, training and resources to deliver safely and effectively.
• Deliver projects on time, within budget and to the agreed quality standards.
• Coordinate commissioning, snagging, certification and final handover.
• Chair project progress and client meetings, recording decisions and tracking agreed actions.
• Monitor individual project costs, forecasts and overall portfolio performance alongside the Commercial team.
• Manage variations and contractual changes, ensuring they are recorded, assessed and reported promptly.
• Identify efficiencies while maintaining quality and client requirements.
• Work closely with Commercial, Procurement and Health & Safety teams.
• Maintain appropriate health and safety controls, technical compliance and project records.
• Build effective client relationships and contribute to continuous improvement.

Essential experience and skills

• Proven experience delivering projects as a Project Manager or Project Engineer.
• A mechanical, electrical or building fabric background, or experience across these disciplines.
• Experience delivering refurbishment, fit-out or building services upgrades within existing buildings.
• Experience managing multiple small and medium-sized projects concurrently, including budgets, programmes, resources and subcontractors.
• Experience working in live or occupied environments and delivering phased works with minimal disruption.
• Understanding of design development and pre-construction activities.
• Ability to develop and manage construction programmes throughout the project lifecycle.
• Strong commercial awareness, including estimating, cost control, forecasting, procurement and change management.
• Experience coordinating direct and subcontracted teams.
• Strong communication, client relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Project, Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams and PowerPoint.
• Understanding of health, safety and legislative requirements relevant to construction project delivery.
• Willingness to travel between contract sites as required.

Desirable experience

• Experience managing projects ranging from £10,000 to £500,000 within a wider account or programme.
• Experience within government, broadcasting or other complex operational estates.
• Knowledge of NEC and other construction contract arrangements.
• Understanding of the RIBA design stages.
• Experience delivering multidisciplinary projects combining M&E, HVAC, fit-out and building fabric works.

About you

You will be organised, proactive and focused on finding practical solutions. You will be comfortable managing several projects at different stages, maintaining commercial control and keeping clients informed throughout delivery.

You will bring a professional, collaborative approach, with a commitment to client satisfaction, safe delivery and effective teamwork.

Applications are welcome from experienced Project Managers and Project Engineers ready to progress, provided they can demonstrate the required refurbishment and project delivery experience.

About The Company

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS?

Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.

Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.

Retail Perks With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!

Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.