Project Manager

SP Electricity North West; Preston; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days leave

Pension scheme

Employee benefits portal discounts

Employee assistance programme

Professional development

Job summary

SP Electricity North West is seeking an experienced Project Manager to own a portfolio of major utility projects from inception to completion. You will manage delivery up to 33kV and 132kV, balancing budgets, schedules and customer satisfaction.

The role requires a commercially aware, highly organised professional with Prince2 or similar qualification and a track record in utilities project delivery. Pre-employment checks include DBS and references.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a portfolio of projects within the utilities sector.
• Experience delivering customer-led electrical distribution projects at 33kV and/or 132kV.
• Strong project planning, scheduling, budget and risk management skills, including proficiency in MS Project.

Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for the successful delivery of a portfolio of customer projects, overseeing commercial performance, budgets, schedules, risks and governance throughout the lifecycle.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and maintain strong customer relationships while ensuring safety, quality and delivery targets are met.
• Provide regular updates to stakeholders and ensure compliance with regulatory and corporate requirements.

Skills

Portfolio management (utilities)

33kV/132kV delivery

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Regulatory knowledge

Tools

MS Project

Job description

SP Electricity North West manages and invests in the power network that supplies electricity to the 2.4m homes and businesses across the North West. Our 2,400 colleagues manage the 13,000km of overhead lines, 44,000km of underground cables and thousands of electricity substations to keep power flowing and supporting green growth. We’re one of six distribution network operators in the UK and are regulated by Ofgem.

We’re proud that in December 2024 we were named Utility of the Year by Utility Week magazine who said we punched above our weight and used innovation to solve some of the industry’s most difficult challenges. Come and be part of our team and make a difference.

Now part of the Iberdrola and Scottish Power group, we’re collectively building smarter, greener electricity networks that will get Britain growing by investing in a better future, quicker.

A Fantastic Opportunity : Project Manager

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Project Manager to join our Connections Major Projects Team, taking ownership of a portfolio of high-profile customer projects from inception through to completion.

This is a pivotal role where you'll manage the delivery of major electrical demand and distributed generation projects up to 33kV and 132kV, ensuring they are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to the highest standards of customer satisfaction. Working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, you'll play a key role in maintaining strong customer relationships while driving successful project outcomes.

We're looking for a commercially aware and highly organised Project Manager with a recognised project management qualification such as PRINCE2 or APM, alongside proven experience managing a portfolio of customer projects within the utilities sector. Experience delivering electrical distribution projects at 33kV and/or 132kV is highly desirable.

This role offers the opportunity to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects in a dynamic environment. As such, we're seeking someone who is resilient, proactive and confident operating within a demanding workload, balancing multiple priorities while maintaining focus on delivery, quality and customer experience.

The successful candidate must, at the start of employment have permission to work in the UK without sponsorship.

What you’ll be doing

You will take full accountability for the successful delivery of a portfolio of customer projects, overseeing commercial performance, budgets, schedules, risks and project governance throughout the project lifecycle. Working closely with customers, contractors, delivery partners and regulatory bodies, you'll ensure projects are delivered efficiently while maintaining full compliance with regulatory and corporate requirements.

The role will involve leading multidisciplinary project teams, fostering collaborative working relationships and promoting a positive health and safety culture across all project activities. You'll regularly provide updates to both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring transparency, effective communication and strong project control throughout.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be a collaborative and results-driven professional who combines strong analytical and organisational skills with outstanding customer focus. You will demonstrate the confidence and tenacity to overcome challenges, the initiative to drive projects forward and a commitment to continuous improvement, both individually and as part of a wider team.

• Proven experience managing a portfolio of projects within the utilities sector.
• Experience delivering customer-led electrical distribution projects at 33kV and/or 132kV.
• Strong project planning, scheduling, budget and risk management skills, including proficiency in MS Project.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with a strong customer focus.
• Commercially astute with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of relevant technical standards, regulatory requirements and industry codes of practice.

Success in the role will be measured through

• Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) performance.
• Delivery against project performance and business plan targets.
• Compliance with relevant regulatory obligations, including SLC and GSOP requirements.
• Safe, efficient and cost-effective project delivery.

If you're an experienced Project Manager looking to take ownership of a varied portfolio of major utility projects while making a tangible impact for customers and communities, we'd love to hear from you.

What we’re offering:

We value your expertise, In return, you’ll receive:

• 25 days annual leave increasing with length of service
• An employee rewards portal offering discounts on several well-known brands
• A market-leading contributory pension scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Opportunity for professional development through our L&D function

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We’re proud to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We believe that embracing our differences makes us stronger.

Any offer made will remain conditional until pre-employment checks are complete to a level deemed satisfactory by SP Electricity North West. Due to the nature of this role, the following pre-employment checks will be required; references from previous employers, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a Drug & Alcohol test.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.

We don't accept speculative CVs from agencies. Any received we will assert ownership of the candidate and no fee will be payable.