Project Manager

Serco; Idstone; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holidays: 25 days + bank holidays

Pension: Up to 6%

Training & development: 1100+ courses

Health & wellbeing programmes

Discounts & employee networks

Job summary

Serco is seeking a Project Manager in the Estates Department at the UK Defence Academy, Swindon. You will deliver mechanical and electrical projects safely, with governance aligned to RIBA Plan of Work and MOD requirements, supporting capital programmes and site-wide improvements.

You will lead project teams, manage KPIs, costs, and scheduling, while ensuring environmental, health, safety, security and quality standards.

Qualifications

• ONC/HNC/HND in Building Services Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience managing Building Engineering Services projects.
• Management-level health, safety and environment qualification (SMSTS or IOSH).
• Excellent organisational and IT skills with Excel, Word, CAFM, Teams and SharePoint.
• Experience supervising project teams, managing KPIs, costs, planning and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical and electrical projects ensuring safety and governance.
• Manage PPM and reactive subcontractor activities, service variations and asset replacements.
• Update CAFM Explorer data and maintain accurate project information across systems.
• Deliver projects from feasibility through post-occupancy following RIBA Plan of Work and Serco governance.
• Ensure compliance with MOD processes, building standards and CDM 2015; manage procurement and cost control.
• Lead project meetings and collaborate with colleagues to achieve value-for-money outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Problem solving

Education

ONC/HNC/HND Building Services Engineering

SMSTS or IOSH Health & Safety qualification

Tools

Excel

SharePoint

CAFM Explorer

Teams

Job description

Location: UK Defence Academy, Swindon, SN6 8LA

Salary: Competitve, depending on experience

Schedule: Permanent, full time, Mon-Thurs 8am-4pm, Fri 8am-3:30pm

Ready to impact a better future?

As a Project Manager in our Estates Department team, you’ll make sure essential projects across the Defence Academy are delivered safely, smoothly, and with purpose. Your work will support a site that trains future leaders and makes a real positive impact on communities and society.

You’ll bring clarity, structure, and confidence to a diverse programme of mechanical and electrical projects – creating impactful solutions while supporting an environment where colleagues can grow and do work that truly matters.

What You’ll Do As a Project Manager

• Work with customers to fully understand their requirements and translate them into agreed statements of need.
• Manage PPM and reactive subcontractor activities, as well as service variation and asset replacement projects, supporting larger capital programmes where required.
• Update and proactively manage CAFM Explorer data, ensuring tasks, asset changes, and documentation are accurate and complete.
• Maintain accurate project information across Service Variations, cost tracking, programme updates, and documentation management systems including SharePoint and the Technical Library.
• Deliver projects from feasibility through post-occupancy, following the RIBA Plan of Work and Serco project governance processes.
• Ensure compliance with MOD processes, building standards and approvals, and Serco requirements for buildability and maintenance.
• Follow procurement processes, including appointing contractors and managing all contract administration and cost control.
• Uphold Environmental, Health, Safety, Security and Quality Standards, ensuring works follow CDM 2015 and contractor control processes.
• Carry out site quality audits, ensuring contractors work safely and meet agreed methods and risk assessments.
• Lead project meetings, collaborate effectively with colleagues, and support value-for-money outcomes.

Does this sound like you?

• ONC, HNC or HND in Building Services Engineering (Mechanical or Electrical).
• Experience managing Building Engineering Services projects, ideally with contractor-side understanding.
• A management-level qualification in health, safety and environment (such as SMSTS or IOSH).
• Excellent organisational and communication skills, with strong IT capability across tools like Excel, Word, CAFM, Teams and SharePoint.
• Demonstrable experience supervising project teams, managing KPIs, costs, planning, stakeholder engagement and performance management.
• Proven experience leading complex FM estates projects, including space utilisation and knowledge of standards such as British Standards, SFG20 and BSRIA.
• Experience managing Safe Systems of Work, site activities, scope setting, and problem-solving in fast-moving environments.

Vetting And Checks

This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you may need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

Discover all you need to keep growing

We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.

What We Offer

• Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays (and the option to buy up to five additional leave days each year)
• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Training and development: Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
• Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Charity: Paid volunteering day, tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Employee networks: Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

A Little Bit About Us

At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our Inclusive Recruitment Commitment

We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).