Project Manager – Geotechnical Sub-Alliance (GSA)

Balfour Beatty plc; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working (up to 40% remote)

25 days annual leave

Pension and incentive plans

Volunteering leave

Recognition schemes

Job summary

Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead delivery on a major geotechnical scope for Sizewell C. You will coordinate safety, quality, programme, and commercial performance across multidisciplinary teams and industrial partners.

You will drive procurement, forecasting, and change control under NEC4 Alliance contracts, while championing safety and operational excellence on a high-profile UK project.

Qualifications

• Experience leading major civil/geotechnical projects as Project Manager
• Deep knowledge of ground engineering techniques (diaphragm walling, piling, soil improvement)
• Strong NEC contract experience (NEC4 Alliance/Option C/E)
• Proven ability to manage large multi-disciplinary teams and complex supply chains
• Strong commercial awareness including forecasting, cost control, and negotiations
• Capable of managing and driving programme performance and risk
• Effective stakeholder management with clients, partners, and senior leaders
• Solution-focused, decisive leadership under pressure
• Proven leadership track record developing high-performing teams
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence
• Experience in chairing risk reviews and coordinating with alliance partners

Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for project delivery across safety, quality, programme, and commercial performance
• Lead and integrate operations, design, plant, procurement, and commercial functions for geotechnical works (e.g. diaphragm walling, soil mixing, piling)
• Set and drive high standards of performance, governance, and delivery across the project
• Champion a Zero Harm culture, including leading investigations, setting safety KPIs, and ensuring close-out of actions
• Establish and oversee quality strategy, audits, and compliance with ITPs and client requirements
• Own the master programme, including critical path management, sequencing, and mitigation of risks and delays
• Define and implement procurement strategy, including management of key suppliers and long-lead items
• Drive productivity improvements and set measurable KPIs aligned to programme and commercial outcomes
• Lead commercial strategy, including forecasting, CVRs, earned value, and contract negotiations
• Provide contractual leadership under NEC4 Alliance, including managing change, early warnings, and compensation events
• Chair risk-reduction and stakeholder meetings, maintaining strong relationships with the client and alliance partners
• Lead, develop, and manage project teams, including performance, succession planning, and disciplinary processes
• Ensure high standards of communication, including site briefings and client reporting

Skills

Project management

Ground engineering

NEC contracts

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Programme management

Stakeholder management

Decision making under pressure

Team development

Safety and quality

Risk management

Job description

About The Role

We’re looking for an experienced Project Manager to play a key role in delivering one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects. As part of the Geotechnical Sub-Alliance (GSA) at Sizewell C, you’ll lead complex ground engineering works that are critical to preparing the site for a new nuclear power station.

What you'll be doing

• Take full accountability for project delivery across safety, quality, programme, and commercial performance
• Lead and integrate operations, design, plant, procurement, and commercial functions for geotechnical works (e.g. diaphragm walling, soil mixing, piling)
• Set and drive high standards of performance, governance, and delivery across the project
• Champion a Zero Harm culture, including leading investigations, setting safety KPIs, and ensuring close-out of actions
• Establish and oversee quality strategy, audits, and compliance with ITPs and client requirements
• Own the master programme, including critical path management, sequencing, and mitigation of risks and delays
• Define and implement procurement strategy, including management of key suppliers and long-lead items
• Drive productivity improvements and set measurable KPIs aligned to programme and commercial outcomes
• Lead commercial strategy, including forecasting, CVRs, earned value, and contract negotiations
• Provide contractual leadership under NEC4 Alliance, including managing change, early warnings, and compensation events
• Chair risk-reduction and stakeholder meetings, maintaining strong relationships with the client and alliance partners
• Lead, develop, and manage project teams, including performance, succession planning, and disciplinary processes
• Ensure high standards of communication, including site briefings and client reporting

Who we're looking for

• Proven experience as a Project Manager on major civil engineering or geotechnical projects
• Strong technical understanding of ground engineering techniques such as diaphragm walling, piling, and soil improvement
• Solid working knowledge of NEC contracts, ideally NEC4 Alliance or Option C/E environments
• Demonstrated ability to manage large, multidisciplinary teams and complex supply chains
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience with forecasting, cost control, and contract negotiations
• Ability to manage and drive programme performance, including critical path and risk management
• Confident stakeholder manager, with experience dealing with clients, partners, and senior leadership
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with the ability to make informed decisions under pressure
• Strong leadership skills, with a track record of developing high-performing teams
• Commitment to high standards of safety, quality, and operational excellence

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

Benefits

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About Us

Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering is one of the UK’s leading specialist geo-technical contractors, providing innovative piling and ground improvement solutions across all sectors.

Our comprehensive ground engineering capabilities, equipment and experience provide the solid foundations for infrastructure and buildings of any height, ranging from city skyscrapers to cross-country rail and road projects.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we want everyone to be able to thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. We’re making great progress through our Value Everyone DEI Action Plan, but we know we’ve got more to do. Find out more about our values and DEI initiatives.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

We are committed to our processes being barrier-free and will support adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please let the recruiter for this role know if you require any adjustments.

We’re looking to continually improve our recruitment process, so if you have any feedback, please share this with us via [e-mail]