Project Manager - Civil Assembly Manager

Laing O'Rourke; Dartford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke is seeking a Civil Assembly Manager to join a flagship Nuclear project in the UK. You will lead the preconstruction design and assembly planning, coordinating across civil, structural, manufacturing and development engineering teams to shape the build strategy.

Working across Derby, Bristol, Dartford and other UK locations, you will drive design coordination, risk management and value engineering with external partners, suppliers and clients, supporting project delivery from early

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering (Civil or Structural) or equivalent.
• Minimum 10+ years' relevant experience in technical or operational roles.
• Strong delivery experience in construction and end-to-end design.

Responsibilities

• Support the Construction Assembly Lead in developing construction and assembly plans.
• Coordinate with Civil, Structural, Architectural, Manufacturing and Development Engineering teams.
• Support RR SMR deliverables, including integrated Build Schedule and 4D model.
• Assist the civil assembly scope owner with progress reporting and deliverables review.
• Lead optioneering of construction methods, including risk and schedule impact.
• Liaise with external suppliers and stakeholders for civil assembly scope.

Skills

Degree in Engineering

10+ years experience

Construction delivery

End-to-end design

Collaborative with delivery partners

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Engineering (Civil/Structural)

Job description

With a heritage spanning over 160 years, Laing O'Rourke is an internationally focused engineering enterprise with world-class capabilities. We operate an integrated business model comprising the full range of engineering, construction and asset management services delivering single-source solutions for some of the world's most prestigious public and private organisations.

Laing O'Rourke is delivering some of the most complex and transformative infrastructure projects in the UK—and right now, we're looking for a Civil Assembly Manager to join our team on a flagship Nuclear project.

Are you someone who thrives in the preconstruction phase of big projects? Do you want to work on a unique, ambitious and innovative project combining DfMA and nuclear delivery? Are you interested in collaborating with a blue-chip client on a project that integrates manufacturing-led design right from the start?

Come and be part of a highly innovative, landmark project helping to shape a sustainable, net-zero future. This is a rare opportunity to get involved at the earliest stages of a global nuclear programme, with real scope to influence outcomes in areas like modular construction, engineered safety, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. The project offers unique technical challenges and a broad, multi-disciplinary scope that goes beyond civil engineering. You'll join a collaborative environment where technology, digital tools, and modern methods of construction come together, with strong support for career development, training, and progression. With long-term stability, potential future international opportunities, and a commitment to building an inclusive and forward-thinking workplace, this is a chance to grow your career while contributing to something with lasting impact.

Role Context including; Project, Likely Timeframe of project, Work Environment and Location

• LOR have been engaged on the project from early concept stage. The project is now during the design and preconstruction stages. On-Site works are expected to start from 2027/28.
• Current work locations are primarily LOR and client offices in Derby, Bristol and Dartford on a weekly rotation, with occasional travel to other UK office locations and sites as required (e.g. Sale, London, CEMC).

Key Deliverables And Accountabilities

• Support the Construction Assembly Lead and assist in managing the development and multi-disciplinary coordination of the power plant construction and assembly plan (including assembly sequence and methods) – developing methods and formalising in deliverables.
• Support the Construction Assembly Lead with the coordination of work activities with key RR SMR stakeholders (e.g. Civil, Structural & Architectural, Manufacturing Engineering, and Development Engineering) and external suppliers and stakeholders for the civil assembly scope.
• Support to production of RR SMR deliverables in support of design and Business Development opportunities e.g. overall integrated Build Schedule, 4D digital model, site operational logistics and construction phase layout, and Generic Design development.
• Supporting the civil assembly scope owner, including progress reporting, administration and review of deliverables.
• Support to the Chief Design Engineer in delivering a value engineering solution achieving product economic goals.
• Support to RR SMR Business Development team as required.
• Liaise with marine and geotechnical specialists to inform design and construction feasibility
• Lead optioneering of construction methods for cooling water island works, including Tunnelling and marine interface strategies. Shaft sinking and vertical retention structures. Assessment of constructability, risk and build schedule impact.

Essential

Qualifications / Experience / Key Skills:

• Degree in Engineering Discipline e.g. Civil, Structural (or recognisable qualification).
• Minimum of 10+ years' relevant experience in technical or operational roles.
• Strong technical and delivery experience within construction, end to end design and collaborative working with delivery partners (e.g. JVs, contractors, sub-contractors, consultants etc).

Desirable

• Highly knowledgeable in construction methods, practices and knowledge – in current construction and installation methods and including modern methods of construction methodology.
• Strong stakeholder management skills – influencing, communication, political awareness.
• Strong communication skills – including technical report writing.

Preferable

• Professional Chartership from a recognised professional institution (e.g. ICE, CIOB, IStructE, IET).
• Nuclear or highly regulated construction experience.
• Digital literacy - awareness and skills.

Personal Attributes

• LOR Core values – courage, care, integrity
• Comfortable operating within uncertainty – having flexibility, adaptability and resilience
• Collaborative and proactive
• Curious and possessing a desire to do things in innovative new ways
• Location flexibility (regular travel to Derby, Bristol, Dartford, Manchester offices – site location in future)
• Detailed knowledge of Health and Safety Legislation
• Leadership and people management skills
• Good verbal communication skills
• Good knowledge of plant and equipment
• Logical and well organised
• Ability to manage, support and motivate other personnel
• Team Player
• Able to manage workload by understanding requirements, deadlines
• Ability to manage change and adapt to new procedures

This is a chance to lead from the front—guiding pre-construction design, shaping project outcomes, and managing key relationships with clients, consultants, and internal delivery teams. You'll play a central role in ensuring we deliver technical excellence, innovation, and certainty.

About Us

Laing O'Rourke are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'.