Project Manager

SYSTRA UK & Ireland; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

SYSTRA UK & Ireland is seeking a Project Manager to join the PMO, coordinating governance, administration and commercial oversight across a portfolio of consultancy projects. You will work with project leads and internal stakeholders to ensure robust controls and timely project delivery.

You will oversee project lifecycle, manage risks, support bids, and drive performance reviews while maintaining high standards of documentation and client communication.

Qualifications

• Understanding of project management principles, controls and governance.
• Awareness of budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, and financial reporting practices.
• Ability to interpret contractual requirements and key commercial terms.

Responsibilities

• Provide a professional project management service to clients ensuring commercial and contractual compliance.
• Act as sector lead within PMO and support in-sector project managers.
• Lead and direct a multi-disciplinary project team and manage day-to-day activities.
• Deliver projects safely to time, cost and quality, following IMS and governance processes.
• Manage project costs, invoicing, change control, and client communications.
• Support bid activities and assist with negotiations and disputes.

Skills

Project governance

Coordination

Stakeholder management

Contract data review

Problem solving

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Relevant Project Management Qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel/Word/PowerPoint)

Job description

Around the world, SYSTRA’s specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day.

For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1000 in the UK & Ireland we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

Context

The Project Manager will work alongside other Project Managers within the PMO team to manage the administration, governance, and commercial oversight of agreed elements of the consultancy project portfolio within IFS, ensuring robust project controls, accurate project data, effective reporting, and compliance with company procedures. The role is responsible for maintaining high standards of project administration and supporting Project Leads in the effective setup, management, and governance of projects throughout their lifecycle.

Working closely with Project Leads, operational teams, and other internal stakeholders, the role will act as a key focal point for project governance within IFS, promoting consistency, data integrity, best practice, and effective portfolio management across the consultancy business.

In addition, the role will oversee a portfolio of consultancy projects as well as project manage their own portfolio of projects.

Working collaboratively with Project Leads and the commercial team, the role will ensure projects are established and managed in line with contractual obligations, risks and opportunities are identified and managed effectively, and commercial value is maximised throughout the project lifecycle.

Missions/Main Duties

• Provide a professional, first class, consistent and effective project management service to Clients ensuring commercial and contractual compliance.
• Represent a specific sector within the PMO, acting as the sector lead and offering PMO project support to in-sector project managers.
• Actively liaise and engage with project team members to provide appropriate support to projects and bids.
• Undertake a contract review prior to project start up.
• Arrange client start up meeting and act as principal client contact.
• Lead a planned and effective internal project kick off meeting.
• Lead and direct a multi-disciplinary project team providing necessary support as required.
• Manage the day-to-day project activities, resources, and chair project meetings.
• Deliver projects safely to agreed time, cost, and quality and in accordance with the Project Governance Process and Integrated Management System (IMS) and all other relevant systems and processes.
• Ensure that projects comply fully with all statutory and regulatory provisions including all health, safety, environment and CDM Regulations.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving demonstrating teamwork, innovation, and excellence.
• Proactively review, identify, and resolve any problems in project delivery, including anticipated problems as well as over-spend and late delivery.
• Provide leadership for the project team by building and motivating team members to meet project goals, adhering to their responsibilities and project milestones.
• Carry out regular project performance assessments in line with Project Governance and periodic review requirements.
• Regularly review project costs and raise invoices on a regular basis.
• Ensure project change control procedures are adhered, established, and change control is proactively managed.
• Work closely with the project team to ensure client requirements are properly interpreted and reflected in the deliverables.
• Resolve conflicts over resource allocation.
• Ensure regular effective communication with Client and project team.
• Attend Client meetings as and where required in accordance with project requirements.
• Manage internal project review meetings and complete requirements for Project Reviews.
• Provide project reports as required in line with Project Governance, including the SYTSRA Consultancy PDM requirements, Client and Business requirements.
• Ensure projects, and bids are performed in compliance with all required process and procedures, from conception through to completion including project close out duties.
• Apply procedures and systems to ensure the safety of staff, and others affected by any operations of SYSTRA Consultancy.
• To secure repeat business through proactive client management.
• To support bid activities to help secure work, including assisting with the leadership, management, and co-ordination of bids, in accordance with Project Governance and IMS Procedures.
• Assist in any negotiations, disputes, arbitration (if and where required).
• Provide mentorship, motivation and coaching to less experienced team members in function and within projects.
• Full project life cycle ownership
• Demonstrate behaviours aligned with SYSTRA’s behavioural framework by actively fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, respect, and empowerment, contributing to an environment where all colleagues can thrive, achieve and grow together

Financial & Project Accountabilities

• Support the financial management of projects, including cost tracking, budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, and financial reporting in line with company procedures.
• Support project governance and delivery controls to help ensure projects are managed effectively against agreed time, cost, quality, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain accurate project and commercial records, highlighting risks, issues, and variances to relevant project or portfolio leads.
• Contribute to project reviews, change control, resource planning, and performance reporting as required.
• Support effective communication with project teams, clients, and internal stakeholders to enable successful project delivery and portfolio oversight.

Profile/Skills

• Understanding of project management principles, controls, and governance.
• Knowledge of project lifecycle activities and project delivery processes.
• Awareness of budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, and financial reporting practices.
• Understanding of risk, issue, change, and document control processes.
• A critical aspect of the position is the ability to understand and interpret contractual requirements, key commercial terms, and project financial drivers.
• Confidence and effectiveness in reviewing contract data, monitoring project performance against contractual commitments, and supporting informed decision-making to protect and enhance project profitability.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills
• Good stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Ability to support project planning, monitoring, and reporting activities.
• Problem-solving skills with a proactive and collaborative approach.
• Competence in preparing clear project documentation and reports.
• Ability to work independently while also supporting wider team objectives.
• Effective written & verbal communication
• Effectively analyse complex data and report on findings
• Effective time management of self and others
• Relevant Project Management Qualification
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Workplace Type

Hybrid