Project Manager - Formula Student (10-month contract)

Web Recruit Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday + bank holidays

Birthday day off

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Private health cover

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is seeking a Project Manager to lead the Formula Student programme on a fixed-term 10-month contract. Hybrid working from London with travel to events and venues, including Silverstone, is expected.

The role encompasses managing budgets, stakeholders, and on-site operations while driving sponsorships and long-term sustainability. A strong background in live events and complex programmes is essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex programmes or large-scale events involving multiple stakeholder groups.
• Experience handling budgets (£1m+) to achieve targets and maximise value.
• Experience managing strategic relationships with senior external stakeholders.
• Experience influencing and managing volunteer or matrix teams.
• Experience managing programme risks, budgets and governance processes.
• Strong commercial awareness, including sponsorship and partnership management.
• Willingness to undertake regular travel with frequent overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and development of Formula Student.
• Oversee planning and delivery of events, including the Silverstone live event.
• Manage logistics, suppliers, budgets and on-site operations.
• Develop annual business plans, budgets and project schedules.
• Monitor performance, milestones and programme targets.
• Identify and manage operational, financial and safety risks.
• Develop sponsorship and funding opportunities.

Skills

Live events

Programme management

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Sponsorship management

Risk management

Leadership

Travel willingness

Governance

Job description

Project Manager - Formula Student (10-month contract)

Project Manager - Formula Student (10-month contract)

Birdcage Walk, Central London (with hybrid working)

We are now looking for a Project Manager to join us on a full-time basis for a fixed-term contract of approximately 10 months.

About Formula Student

Formula Student is Europe's longest-running educational engineering competition, challenging university teams to design, build and race a single-seat racing car. Recognised across the engineering and motorsport sectors, it equips future engineers with the practical experience, technical expertise and professional skills needed to thrive in industry.

The Role

As Project Manager, you will lead the delivery and development of our flagship student competition, Formula Student.

You will oversee the planning and delivery of competition events, including the annual week-long live event at Silverstone, managing logistics, suppliers, budgets and on-site operations and providing a high-quality experience for competitors, judges and volunteers.

Working with staff, volunteers, universities, sponsors and industry partners, you will manage key relationships and co-ordinate activities to achieve programme objectives.

You will also drive the competition’s ongoing development, identifying opportunities to improve participant experience, strengthen partnerships and support long-term sustainability.

Additionally, you will:

• Develop annual business plans, budgets and project schedules
• Monitor performance, milestones and programme targets
• Identify and manage operational, financial and safety risks
• Develop sponsorship and funding opportunities
• Maintain effective governance and reporting processes

About You

To be considered as a Project Manager, you will need:

• Significant experience leading complex programmes or large-scale events involving multiple stakeholder groups
• Experience handling budgets (£1m+) to achieve targets and maximise value
• Experience managing strategic relationships with senior external stakeholders
• Experience influencing and managing volunteer or matrix teams
• Experience managing programme risks, budgets and governance processes
• Strong commercial awareness, including sponsorship and partnership management
• The willingness to undertake regular travel as required, with frequent overnight stays

Other organisations may call this role Programme Manager, Events Project Manager, Events Manager, Event Operations Manager, Event Delivery Manager, Event Logistics Manager, Live Events Manager, Competition Manager, or Project Delivery Manager.

The Salary and Benefits

• Salary of circa £52,000 per annum, depending on experience
• 26 days’ holiday per annum plus bank holidays
• An extra day off for your birthday
• Benefits, including a stakeholder pension scheme, life assurance and private health cover
• A range of other wellbeing benefits

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced live events professional with a strong track record of leading complex programmes and managing multiple stakeholder groups to join our internationally respected organisation.

You will have the chance to take the lead on Formula Student, working at the centre of this high-profile programme that gives future engineers practical experience and helps prepare them for careers across engineering and motorsport.

About IMechE

With over 110,000 members in 140 countries, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has been at the heart of the mechanical engineering profession since 1847. We strive to improve the world through engineering by developing engineers, promoting engineering, informing opinion and encouraging innovation.

Webrecruit and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

• Extensive live events experience
• Significant experience leading complex programmes or large-scale events involving multiple stakeholder groups
• Experience handling budgets (£1m+) to achieve targets and maximise value
• Experience managing strategic relationships with senior external stakeholders
• Experience influencing and managing volunteer or matrix teams
• Experience managing programme risks, budgets and governance processes
• Strong commercial awareness, including sponsorship and partnership management
• The willingness to undertake regular travel as required, with frequent overnight stays