Project Manager - Dorset

VIVO Defence Services; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

VIVO Defence Services seeks a Billable Works Project Manager to oversee project lifecycles from conception to delivery. This role demands strong technical acumen, compliance with Health & Safety standards, and excellent project management skills, ensuring high-quality service delivery across South/Southwest England.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

6% employee matched pension contribution

Company car or car allowance

Single private medical cover

Life assurance 2x annual salary

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in managing suppliers and contractors.
• Experience in supervising site operations.
• Developed IT skills for documentation and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the lifecycle of Billable Works projects.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety standards.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and resolve issues.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Risk Management

Cost Control

Health & Safety Compliance

Education

HND in Building, Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering

Management-level Health and Safety qualification (e.g., SMSTS)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Maximo system

Job description

Who We Are

VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.

What We Do

We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.

Location: Dorset, to cover the South/Southwest of England

Permanent, full time

Salary: Competitive + Company car/Car allowance

The Billable Works Project Manager plays a pivotal role in overseeing the full lifecycle of Billable Works projects, from initial concept through to design, pricing, delivery, and final handover. Operating within a defined area of responsibility, this position ensures that all projects are delivered to a high standard, on time, and within budget. The role demands technical competence, independent decision-making, and clear communication skills to provide expert guidance and effective support to clients and stakeholders, always aligned with the values of VIVO.

The Role

A key responsibility of the role is to manage the delivery of all Billable Works in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements, particularly Health & Safety and environmental standards. The Billable Works Project Manager is expected to ensure strict compliance with all relevant legislation and internal policies, proactively embedding a culture of safe working and continuous improvement across project delivery.

The position requires the ability to monitor and guide Supply Chain partners, ensuring the appropriate deployment of skilled personnel to the correct tasks. It is essential that work is delivered safely, efficiently, and to the required quality standards, with a strong focus on achieving key performance indicators. The Project Manager reviews and ensures the quality and suitability of all submitted Risk Assessments and Method Statements, confirming they meet acceptable standards prior to commencement of works.

A collaborative and consultative approach is vital, as the Project Manager regularly engages with local Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs), Customer Service Representatives, and Site Managers to agree on the scope, priorities, and programme of Billable Works. Tasks must be progressed effectively through the Maximo system, with all project documentation completed accurately and submitted on time, including uploading to the SharePoint system for transparency and record-keeping.

Customer satisfaction is central to the role. The Project Manager provides end users and managers with optimal technical solutions to meet requirements and is expected to support the resolution of customer issues wherever possible. In doing so, the postholder contributes to broader objectives such as supporting the Ministry of Defence’s carbon reduction targets. The ability to manage stakeholder expectations, resolve complaints, and make commercially sound decisions that deliver value for money is fundamental.

Cost control, stakeholder engagement, and risk management are integrated components of the role. The Project Manager is responsible for managing contract risk collaboratively, ensuring that risks are identified, mitigated, and communicated across all levels. Clear planning, accurate budgeting, and dynamic response to changing operational needs are essential to the role’s success.

To fulfil these responsibilities, the Billable Works Project Manager must have demonstrable experience in managing suppliers and contractors in a project management context. This includes driving performance to achieve KPIs, managing costs, and implementing effective stakeholder and project control. Experience in supervising site operations, performance management, and collaborative problem-solving is equally important.

Please note: This is a mobile role, with extensive travel required across the South and Southwest regions of England. Candidates must be able and willing to commit to this as part of their role.

What You'll Bring

The role requires a HND-level qualification in Building, Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience. A management-level Health and Safety qualification, such as SMSTS, is essential, along with evidence of continuing professional development. Developed IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Office applications, are also required to manage documentation and reporting tasks effectively.

This role suits a technically proficient and commercially aware professional who can confidently lead and deliver projects in a complex and highly regulated environment. The Billable Works Project Manager is a key contributor to maintaining and enhancing infrastructure, ensuring operational readiness, compliance, and client satisfaction across the estate.

What We Offer:

• 25 days annual leave
• 6% employee matched pension contribution
• Company car or car allowance
• Single private medical cover
• Life assurance 2x annual salary
  
  

VIVO Defence Services

The role you have applied for is with VIVO Defence Services, a joint venture between Serco and EQUANS. By applying for this role, please be aware that information contained within your CV may be shared between VIVO Defence Services, Serco and EQUANS during the recruitment process.

At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. Therefore, we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool.

We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working and operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.